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2012Jan22Sermon32.mp3

Although. Look at at first glance i am nearly an expert on the art of falling. How so. You know i'm a nurse while avid cyclist icycle something like 12,000 miles a year especially this year as i prepare for my. Ride to beat hunger across america which begins this april. My annual cycling distance equals halfway around the circumference of our earth and so i'd know a lot about vikings. My doctors tell i have. Great cardiovascular fitness my weight stays down i benefit. Intellectual energy those little endorphins. I stay in touch with the natural world isolove. And i regularly meditate relax while riding which calms my spirit and nourishes my soul. But there's really one big downside to cycle. Do this much cycling means i necessarily periodically fall right off my bike and say hello suddenly. Can a pavement. Just like. Mister simmons dead. An average it's only way i can mention i fall couple three times a year i miss curbs or wet leaves. Sometimes i have mechanical failure 3 years ago i missed a branch and the trail outside of washington rover my handlebars and broke two ribs. Was here in august. August. Distressed. For the third time. Bike. Means to fall. Two-cycle means to fall. The larger and more universal point which philip simmons so pointedly made is much more important for us to all understand spiritually and that is. Nevermind. To live. Is the fall. I called him again. We've all suffered will suffer our own falls the fall from youthful ideals. The waning of physical strength. The failure of a cherished hope the loss of our near and dear the fall into injury or sickness. And sooner or later the fall to our certain ends we have no choice but. Fall. And little to say. To the time. For the memes. I want to explore this powerful truth.. About falling in our lives. First one to do it at the most literal and concrete. We americans slip. Imphal alot. Homework sidewalks. Restaurants parking lots churches and schools. Tragic. Painful regular. Did you know that it is estimated that each year 8 million people injured themselves significantly. In slip and fall accident. 540000 of which require hospital. And did you further know and this statistic shocked me. 20 more than 20,000 americans die each year that's 55 americans each day. From falling. It is the second. Leading cause of death. By accident. Beyond automobile. Let me bring these statistics closer to home as the minister of this particular congregation which has a lot of retired. Like vero beach does. I have become in the last 18 months. Hanes. Aware of the prevalence. And danger of people falling and hurting themselves. Just since i've been here. Painfully high number of people in this room. Has fallen. Indoors and out. Falling is not just an inconvenience. It complicates and shortens our lives. As many of you know from. Brown family. Now i know this may sound a little too practical for church but. Please be careful. To prevent falling at home and when you move about be as mindful as you can about slipping and falling hazards in your environment. That's why i put this little blue thing in your orders of service this morning. Your environment and how. I'm medications can affect you and just pay attention. To the facts about falling. Whenever we look back on a fall we always feel stupid and foolish how did i do that. Is jordana on the pavement or or down the bottom of your stairs we always. Feel like we could have prevented it how we just paid. More attention. Yes. Falling is inevitable part of life. Every sooner will fall but let's. Keep them to a minimum or at least have spiritual ones not physical. But before i move on. To what yeah and i want to really encourage you to take this home and read. What is important is making our homes environment of course is not the grist for a sermon. As i've already said what i want to talk to you about. In the spiritual setting is the inevitable inevitability of falling in the larger spiritual sense of the word. As this morning's reading talked about. I do not have course wanted to discourage any of you about the hazardous. Nature of life this morning. It is always important to remember especially talk about life's dangerous and diminishment. Good life on this planet is. Is also filled with so much wonder and blessing and convenience and safety. Grace. You know. Any day in and day out. So much goes. Safeway on well and we don't pay attention to the. The ease of that. Indeed. One of the most foremost spiritual. Reasons we come together every sunday here's to give thanks. Add to reminder cells of all the many ways we are quietly blessed. Buy life's manifold gifts and graces everyday faithfully. The sun comes up. Babies are born. And children found. Happily and safely off to school and friends. Still starbucks with. Excited caring chattering. Coworkers left sharing lunch. Everyday mozart is enjoyed. And perhaps. Even after enjoying a bit of jay leno's lovers snuggle their way into a good night sleep. Every day were showered with countless ordinary blood. But is also true. We can never forget this for long that life also regularly trips us up. Again to live in a creation as open. And as fluid and random as ours is to fall sooner or later we all fall. We fall into some measure of. Sorrow or pain or tragedy we fall into diminishment disability and lost. Has there ever been anyone. Who's lived more than a few decades who hasn't. No. Even the luckiest. It's universal. It's built right into the structure of things. It's the law of nature. And we would do well that i think the spiritually prepare are so. Weather necessity of falling. Spiritual quest near me. It's not that we fall of course we fall. The question is. How do we respond. Physically emotionally and most important spiritually when we suddenly find ourselves. Face down in life. How do we respond. How do we learn. As a matter of the human heart. To pick ourselves up. And dust ourselves off and get back. To the game as best we can. The game of our own. Improv. Challenging. Complicated life especially when. The fall we take. One of the central themes of my ministry. 4. Almost 40 years. Is what is on. My heart and mind this morning and you'll see it in my newspaper columns here in town. If it's just a theme that i. Theological see if i can never get away from. And because it's so important i've included in this sermon series on the 12 gates. To the holy city of your own life. The spiritual key it seems to me. And successfully moving through life. Through the falls that. Anytime. Is to possess a stoical. Yet supple. Heart. If you're able to have a stalker yet supple heart. You will. After the inevitable. of emotional and spiritual adjustment you'll be able. With that simple heart. To begin moving again. Ask okay what's next. With creativity purpose joy and strength proper do human being even with the new diminishment. Now what do i mean by having. Au apple. It means that we must and logical spiritual sequence first. Except. Being system truth. A four-wheel surfer. And second to adapt mostly to adapt in here yes sometimes with our feet in our hands and our habits. Mostly in the heart. To get our lives. Moving again in light of the new information we have about what. The life. New. Reeks of course understood. What the word means in common parlance today. The quality often described. To the general unflappable people of the british isles we simply have an unemotional. Stiff upper lip in the face of adversity i got a friend named dr. edward frost to use the sabbatical in england. He tells a story one of his sabbatical is met this very unfortunate brit. It seems the man had suffered unbelievable string of hard knocks in his life. In a matter of his wife developed cancer and died. The factory where he worked closed. His son went to jail. And he himself develop shingles. After listening this unfortunate man story edward said is sympathetic. It look back i'm riding the crest. That's what we mean by stoicism in common park. But to be a stoic in the original philosophic mean to be absurdly brave like that. It simply means. As you face the inevitable setbacks and falls of your life you find the spiritual wisdom and maturity. The laws of nature. That's what stoicism means to accept. The laws of nature it is. Your life even when you don't want them. It really comes down to a spiritual choice if you are always free to make you can either accept. The laws of nature in the laws of fate or you can resist them and fight them. And you'll still have to face them. Women refuse them. The. Happy. You know there's that old saying why should i be happy when there are so many of you. All about. Kevin hart memes when you fall. Or when you experience any of those unwelcome ways in which we stumble or are heard in life. That you accepted as natural. As part of life. Let me put this all another way being stoical in the greek sense. Means that you do not take difficulties when they come your way personally. You don't take. Cursive. Why did god do this to me why is life treating me this way. The wise stoic life isn't out to get anyone in particular. We're all. Going to fall. It's part of nature so it's not about you married yourself. I mean basically is the point don't flatter yourself that about you. The question is the one that. Simmons ass. How can i live richly in well in face of this lost how can i fall toward grace. Fall toward life as well as fault work that how can i. Fall gracefully. Being truly stoical and accepting a new information about your life. And then moving with a new life giving suppleness of heart and being. Can be really hard spiritual work. When we take a hard fall of any sort at work. At home in a relationship in a marriage. Or off the ladder. The first thing we do is we deny we refuse we complain that's what human beings do when they fall. But eventually. If we succeed in our lives emotional and spiritual. E46 speed we have to say things like. Now i'm a person. Who's going to live with cancer. Now i'm a person. Never achieve my once dreamed. Career goal i guess. Now i'm a parent with a child is going to struggle with mental illness. For his whole life. Now i'm a person confined to a walker. Now i'm someone who has. Have had a loss and must live without. Love of my life. Now 20 years old i'm in a marriage which i will not leave but which cannot satisfy me. Epsom basic level. Now i must live with more limitation in pain than i ever dreamt would be required of me. And to all these. To all these now statement. You must add. Knowing and accepting this how can i still live richly in. How can i live richly in well. These are examples of what it means to have a stalker. Estoppel. We accepted our heads the imperfect laws of life and nature and we adapt. Adapt. In our heart. Adapt. To the new information. Go with the flow. And. Learn. The turn toward life. It's easier after a fault. Turn away from. Over recent studies have been a number of exhaustive studies by psychologists and. Social scientists and those who study aging. About what makes for strong happy and successful human beings over lifetime. And the one universal. A characteristic. All these studies point. Is adaptable. Adaptable. Are you willing. 2. Make adjustments. And face the new facts. Of your les. It's adaptable. Having a supple. Heart. Meemic. Concrete sense of affirming what i'm saying is to think about. Think about a mountain stream clear beautiful mountain stream might be like your life that suddenly. As a log jam in. What does the stream do. The stream doesn't stay damn forever it finds a new pathway around the log jam. So that it can achieve its fulfillment. Streamwood. To eventually wind. Tennessee. This is the way we must have death when we have a log jam in our life a lot. We don't let the water dam up forever. Sinkhole. We find a new way. The flow new fresh channels. So that our lives. Can flow on. In purpose. And it helped. I think i told you about this guy once before in the last date smite i didn't really go back and look but i. I think i've told you this story. When i look back in washington d.c. everyday i commuted 11 miles up the capital crescent trail from where i live near the white house up to my church in bethesda. Lots of of of. Of commuters and others. With regularity i'd see this one guy. Who was. Remarkable in a couple of ways one he had this remarkable smile. He was always smiling he was always a happy guy we always exchange. Was his bike. It was not a typical by. It was a unique custom built bike which like all bikes had gears and wheels that would take it forward. But he has had a curious custom built horizontal machinery. With his hands in front of him. Like this bike. He had to pedal that way because. He was a paraplegic. Use his legs. I can't say i know exactly. Why he always have that special. Smile but i know why he had the special bike. It's the only way he could bike. You had to adapt. Exercise. Accept the fact that hey now i'm a guy without working legs. I don't want that. Exercise. Without legs. So he powered his life. And his smile. Powered. His bike with his hands. And his heart. With an open smile. Again. The words of philip. This book is for everyone. Who is live long enough to discover that life is both more and less than we hoped for. We have no norris pleasures. Sunlight on a freshly mowed lawn leaves trembling with a rain a child. Laughter the site. Of a lover stepping out of a bat. We also. I've seen marriages sour. And careers crash we have seen children. Lost to illness and accident but beyond the dualities of feast and famine. We glimpse something else. The blessings shaken out of an imperfect life. Route. From a blighted tree. And then he goes on. And this is i think is epic. Because of my als. I can no longer hike the high mountain ridges that's around my new hampshire home. But i can take my wheelchair. Up on the mountain road and smell the balsam. It's all a matter of four. What does the snail say when riding on the turtles back. Anthony evans. Am i dying. I am learning to accept the world. Madness and mayhem. Also it's. Right now with my weekend arms i can barely lift a kleenex to blow my nose. But i can still sit with my son. As he identifies the broad-winged hawk circling over our field. I have been learning to live richly in the face. This is the world. I choose. To remain. This is what it means. To learn how to. To be stoic. You keep your heart open. You keep your life. You choose to remain in the world. Asbestos. With whatever. You've got less. No matter what diminishment. Or disappointment. Comes your way you keep living and loving. You accept new information you keep choosing to be. And finally human. You can. Is that is what you. You are destined. To be fully. And richly. It is purposeful a life as. Can yes. Doors. Close. All the time. They are slammed shut. Our faces. And we find ourselves faced down. To live is to fall. But no matter what stores are close to me. We are free to move always through the. Gracious arch. Historical. And supple heart we are always free to say to ourselves into our. What's next. What's next. What's next. Is abundant and holy life.

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2011Mar13Sermon128.mp3

Early. On the morning of august 14th. 1942. Nazi soldiers. Surrounded the jewish ghetto in the town of bobowa poland. And began rounding up all the men. Women and children. Terrified and still in his pajamas. 12 year old samuel oliner. Hit on a roof. And watch. Terrible. Chaosflo. Here in his own words. Or what happened to him next. After several hours which seems like a lifetime i escaped from the ghetto. Peasants along the way told me what had happened the trucks had taken the others. Including my entire family to a forest. They're the soldiers forced them to undress. In the most vile and humiliating way and then made them walk about 60 ft. Across huge planks laid across a mass grave. They then shot them. And watch them fall into the gray. It took 18 hours. Kill 1000. And bury them. What's a thin coat of soil. After that. Oliner goes on. I wandered around the countryside for 3 days days and in disbelief. I slept in barns or infield and ate food awful and finally i decided. To go across the hills to the village of bystra. We're catholic woman. Name spell wiener pipes which lived. Ballerina ballerina new my family from before the war. When i knocked at her door. One night. Ballerina immediately recognized me. She knew what it happened at balboa. She saw how scared and disheveled i was she took me in and comforted me hugged me fed me an offer. To let me sleep in the attic as i climbed the stairs ballerinas head crying. You poor boy i will help you must live. Ballerina change my name. And taught me how to pretend to be a catholic. And help me find a job at a nearby farm and thus it was. That i survived. And then samuel oliner. Finishes. Ballerina partridges act of kindness compassion and bravery not only saved my life. Its form my life. I am aggravated to the united states after the war. Became a sociologist. And spent my career working to understand. What motivates altruism. Like bell weiner. And the hundreds of thousands of other people during the war. Who put the welfare of others. Alongside of their own. Who put the welfare of others along the side. There are. Here is a picture. Of the evidence sociologists. Dr. samuel oliner. A pioneering thinker. Who is devoted as he said his long and distinguished career to the study of altruism and compassion. In human affairs. And what might you ask has doctor oliner discovered about good people like the woman who saved his life. After he and his research team from the altruistic personality. And prosocial behavior institute which he founded. At humboldt state university in california after they interviewed. Some 1,500. Of what have come to be known as the righteous gentiles. Those brave non-jewish europeans. Who risked everything. Often endangering their own lives to rescue jews from hitler's murderous regime. He concluded oliner did. But the one defining human quality these exceptional compassionate people all share. Was that simply of. Empathy. It was empathy pure and simple. He has concluded. That made. This these people so compassionate and brave again old liners own words. We found a clear correlation. Between empathy and altruistic behavior. These helpers simply could not stand by and let others suffer and die. Altruist unlike bystanders who did not help he goes on. Head internalize. An ethic. Of caring and social responsibility which they had learned. From their parents. And other adult models. Our research shows. They all shared. Pmdd. The capacity. For love. And compassion. This morning. I continued my year-long series. Here at the fellowship in vero on the 10th on ten commandments. That we need for the 21st century. With a sermon on what i shall call commandments 6. Thou shalt cultivate. An empathetic heart. As a religious leader who's been thinking about are impossibly complex and difficult human drama. For almost 40 years given that's what ministers have to do think about this mess we're all in. I am passionately persuaded that empathy. Is one of the most important spiritual possessions any person can have. I am persuaded. Empathy is something we must both cherish and teach in our religious communities and in our homes. And then our school. Again old liner. Moral behavior. Is the consequence of empathy. Caring for others a strong attachment to the moral community. An ethical obligation to all life. Reaching out to others. At a considerable personal risk as bobina pike switch did to me is a terrified twelve-year-old boy. It has many many others have done. Has been the force behind much of that which is good in the world. It is saved innumerable lives. An inspired new acts of generosity. And heroism. The research of samuel oliner and his research team along with other researchers in this field. Has persuaded me that infect empathy that. That quiet on ostentatious quality of the heart. Is a spiritual prerequisite for all compassionate and loving behavior. If you don't have apathy. You will not be loving. It is people infused with empathy simple heartfelt empathy for others. Which naturally act. Altruistic and protective ways. Setting. Safety and needs of others next to their own. Simply said. It is empathy we find in our hearts. Powers us. To be the good and caring person. Of which humans are capable. It is empathy. Which leads. To a better sis. But not everyone in our culture agrees. With the importance of empathy in human affairs. Do you all remember during the confirmation process for justice sonia sotomayor. That our president was harshly criticized. By many members of congress. For saying the one of the quality. One of the koala. He was looking for. In his nominees for the high court. What's an empathy. It was as if these congressman. Men mostly. Equator sympathy with sentimentality. Or the excess of a quote-unquote bleeding-heart heaven forbid. Do we have a supreme court justice. Who emphasizes with the suffering of others heaven forbid. That's not apple. Again to me empathy. Is one of the most important. Possession. Any person. Or for that matter any. But with all this said the question quickly becomes what is. Precisely. And of equal importance is really something we can cultivate in ourselves. And others keep to our children for. Let's begin by defining a. By looking at the etymology of the word. The greek word empathy comes. From the greek word empathy. Empathy i would literally mean. Feeling into. Or feeling with. As several authors i consulted put it. Dealing with. The situation of the other. This is a much stronger connection to another than sympathy. Which is feeling from a distance. About what another person is going through i sympathize. While sympathy is important. As a level of human caring. Empathy goes deeper icing. And causes us to actually do something tangible about the suffering of another. I like the way my colleague the reverend richard gilbert from rochester new york put all this. Empathy which is feeling the feelings of others he right. Is at the core of kindness. It is the irrational root of ethics it is essential ingredient to human compassion. The word compassion gilbert goes on comes from the latin. Meaning together and potty meaning to suffer. The word literally means to suffer together. The german word mislead. Is feeling the misfortune of the other. There are times when our only responds to another's pain gilbert rights. To share it. Sorrow shared is charo charo have as the old german proverb puts it. And then he concludes empathy then comes from a feeling of deep sympathy for another. It is accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the pain and remove its cause. Sympathy. Feeling petty. Turn to empathy feeling with. And finally issues in action to serve. The needs. Of the neighbor. And empathy. At its best i think it's not some complicated intellectual process but just. A plane. Simple emotional one. I'm reminded about the story about the nine-year-old girl who was sent by her mother for a loaf of bread at the store which is a short 5-minute walk. Down the street. Live. When the nine-year-old had not returned home with the bread after half an hour's a mother concern. And there she was about to go set out to see what it become a daughter. The girl bound it in with the loaf of bread. What on earth kept you so long. The daughter answered well on the way back from the store. I came upon a boy would fall off his bike and hurt his leg. I had to stop to help him cry. I had to help. Stop. To help him cry. Empathy. Quality of dealing with. Or feeling. M2. One another. Is experiencing. And because of that clothes identification with that person. Compassion and caring. Moe's out of us. But again. It must follow the feeling of. So empathy. Leads to goodness. An absence. Or lack of empathy. Can also lead to great human evil. I once had a wise old ministerial colleagues reverend peter fleck maybe some of you knew of him. The famous. Jewish banker in the rothschild house. Who also. Barely escaped nazi germany. As he was dying. Is an old man. One of my colleagues went to see him on his deathbed. And he said. In reviewing everything he thought he knew. I've become convinced the human evil. Is only possible if you look into the eyes of another human being and do not see god there. Same image that the rabbi suggested. Opening words. You still with us. Until we recognize. Are brothers. One painful example of the evil that can happen. When an embassy is absent occurred while i was in washington dc. It was reported in the washington post the next morning. One afternoon rush hour on busy i-95 going down south in virginia. An emotionally distraught woman had climbed over the railing on a high bridge over the rappahannock river. A state police negotiators tried to talk. Her into their arms. Impatient motorist. Who are going to be late. Getting home. Began yelling. Jump. Jump. Which. She finally. Evil have. When you look into the eyes of another the predicament of another and do not see. Ourselves. What is real as such acts of indifferent cruelty are i want to flip. The theological talkback. The positive. Well that's where i really want to take us. Positive way of saying all this. Is a human goodness and compassion. Can only happen. Do only happen. When we have empathy. And see. In others. See our reflection. In their eyes. Liked it back. What about wiener patriots when that knock came at the door from little samuel oliner that night in the summer of 1942. She did not see a subhuman creature. That nazism. Bad for trade. But simply. A precious. Boy. And the same could be said of the brave and selfless rwandan hotel manager. Paul rusesabagina. You all saw the movie perhaps. This is his real picture. Who's brave and compassionate action. We're portrayed in that film. At great risk to himself. And his family. He say. Hundred. Because he found himself. Emotionally unable. To separate himself. From them. He was unable. Create that separation. Required for. And the same could be said for the reverend wait still sharp. And martha sharp. A unitarian universalist minister and his wife from wellesley hills massachusetts. Who during that same war repeatedly risked their lives in europe to help many hundreds of jews. Escape nazi persecution. Only three americans. Rmv. Famous. Garden. Righteous gentiles. For helping save jews during wwii and you're looking at two of them. To unitarian universalist. Social workers basically. Who act accordingly. It in there a tribute. I said acted according to the most noble principles of humanity. By risking their lives. To save jews. In the holocaust this from holocaust martyrs and heroes. Remembrance. Now. As inspiring as it may be to work out these true stories. Bellina pi church. Rachel sharp. Hotel rwanda manager. What does all this. Have to do. We can only hope of course if we ever. Found ourselves. In such a situation facing genocide or violence against others. That we would bravely act. We hope we would. Such. But to me even more important than a practical spiritual focus for us two days to ask. Ourselves how we can. In our routine lives in these relatively safe. And humane united states. How can we cultivate greater empathy in our hearts. And then the hearts and lives of our young people. The good news is a lot of evidence suggests that empathy is cultivated. It can be grown it can be. Nurture. It is wonderful book emotional intelligence doctor janiel daniel goleman. Asserts that all human beings come into the world. With a strong empathetic impulse. In other words it's hardwired into us he says. The roots of empathy can be traced to infancy. Virtually from the day they are born infants are upset when they hear another infant crying. The infants feel empathetic distress even before they fully realized. That they exist. Apart from other people. A response he writes. That is the earliest precursor of empathy. And dr. harvey hornstein in his important little book. Cruelty and kindness. Asserts that parents. Teachers and other adult role models. Who live compassionately. Can and do produce more altruistic and compassionate children. I called him. The development of empathetic altruistic dispositions and children. Is very much contingent. Upon the quality of parental behavior. That the child observes. Parents who shot who shot our their children with rewarding hogs. Squeals kisses. After they witness acts of generosity by their children are more likely. 2. Rear. Empathetic altruistic children than those. Four more coolly dispassionate about such good behaviors. Again and again. In his interviews with the righteous gentiles who saved jews during world war ii oliner. Discovered that those brave. Individuals learned empathy from their parents. One rescuer said. My parents taught me to respect. All human being my parents. Taught me discipline. Tolerance in service to others. When they needed something. I'm honored to tell you that back when i first was preparing the sermon on empathy. I was able to have a conversation with samuel liner herself somewhat you know if you know me now i was born lacking the shinesty. So i so i read some of your stuff and i'm going to talk to this guy. So i go online and i found his. His phone number on the on the web at humboldt state university the altruistic center and i dialed the number. He didn't answer. But i left a message and then because his website also gave his email address i sent him. The draft. Of the sermon i said how am i doing with your. With your work. Couple days later. He called me. And with that thick polish accent of his. Cuz after all he was born in poland we had this wonderful. Conversation he is now 83 years old. And one of the things he said imma try to imitate his polish accent. Reverend alexander. I am very much optimus. About human behavior and goodness. We all know he said to me it's easy. To preach prejudice and hatred. Individuals and communities are wildly successful. That all the time. But i am passionately convinced by life is. Is dependent on it and i know it's true. But we can also teach altruism and empathy at home and in our school and in churches like yours you must preach the sermon. Where we have a captive audience. We can teach our children. We can teach our children to act. We know we can teach evil and hatred and indifference. We can also. So what's a good doctor is right and i pray and believe that he is. Empathy is something we can instill in our young. By exhibiting ourself. Children. Have as the old book says crap detectors that work a hundred percent of the time. If you preach. Empathy and compassion and you don't live it. They will get the message don't get the message. I'll get the message. They'll know it doesn't. Matter. The good news is it. Theologically also this. Karen armstrong's wonderful book the great transformation. She asserts that in the 9th. The second century bce also she calls at the axial age before the birth of jesus. The great world religious traditions all. Emerge. To teach a move away from tribalism. And teaching that your summer save all of the move she said. Two or more empathetic view of human beings that all persons belonging in our tribe. And this. Just heard the great religious transformation. That makes. All religion meaningful today the shift. Tribalism. To a sort of a universal. Empathy. I called her briefly. The axial age was pivotal to the spiritual development of humanity. The prophets mystic philosophers and poets of the actual age. What is spirituality. Of empathy. And of compassion they insisted that people must. Abandon their egoism and greed violence and unkindness and embrace. Respect for the sacred rights of all persons. Any tradition she right develop their own separate golden rule expression of this. The actual tradition sheehan. All positive people behave with kindness and generosity. To their fellows. They could save. The world. We unitarian-universalist flow directly out of this religious tradition. Our roots are primarily judeo christian and humanistic and rational. We are part. Our second part of our name is universal. Which means. That we feel any retrievable connection. And duty. We're all human being. No child left behind. No man left behind. No woman left behind. No one turned away at the door. With the nazis. Freezing down. There. Ours is first and foremost. A religion. Of empathy. And compassion. I want to end this morning by telling an old hasidic tale. Told by holocaust survivor. Elie wiesel. It seems there was a young boy in jerusalem. Samuel liners age wanted to go. The great. City of jerusalem rather a great city of rome. Which was down the bustling capital of the world and his mother. As all mothers of adolescents or want to do did not want him to go but you know she said well. You know where will you eat and where will you sleep then. And of course he didn't have. Any satisfactory answers but he wanted to go to rome. Finally his mother relented saying alright well perhaps. I can let you go i guess you'll make do. You're a clever boy you'll find food and workbook for sleep for sleep. You must please take this pillow. But i have embroidered for you. And where. You will lie your head each night no matter where you are take this pillow you must take this. Well the sun went off to rome. Adidas evening after enjoying the sights and sounds and the sensation in the smells of the biddies busy city. He would venture out to the quiet countryside beyond the walls of rome. Where with his pillow. And his other sparse belongings. He would find a place a peaceful place. Lay his head and. It went on this. Like this result says for many night but then suddenly one night. His pillow burst into flames if it caught fire. Why. Pillow caught fire because that night the temple. Jerusalem. Imbecile explains. Flames. Of empathy and connection. Which all jews must feel with one another. The closest pillow. Just spontaneously. Ezel says that all jews no matter how far they might wander from jerusalem. Mystically belong to one another in into soluble. It was. The pillow. Caught. So dear vero friends. I pray you will take a commandment. Thou shalt. An epithet. May your pillow then ever more. Watch fire. Over your lifetime may your heart growing its capacity to express and then body empathy for others. No matter how difficult or different they might seem to you may your pillow catch fire. May you ever more teach others around you that this is the way we must live with one another. May your pillow catch fire may your pillow. Catch fire. With empathy. Nevermore infuse. And the noble.

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2011Nov13Sermon128.mp3

So you have rejected christianity for yourself. And now. You're done with it. Really. How about helping others. Come to terms. With christian theology. In the ten years that i've been a member of the unitarian universalist religion. I've seen heard far too many of us. Bosch. Christianity. That's the last thing we should be doing. Ridiculing. And insulting the christian religion there are too many of that faith who are in the questioning mode. And as one person who was crossing over said. The phrase. To you you to be christian. Into christian to buu. Definitely applies. Rather than criticize christianity. We should simply be encouraging the asking of questions after all. Wii u use are still questioning and questing after the truth. Let me pose a question. How can some members of the unitarian universalist religion. Except. Into our pools. People of a faith who bow to a hindu statue of a flying monkey hanuman. Or the multi-armed goddess of time and death kaylee. And at the same time. Denigrate. Those who follow christianity. We. This congregation. Are officially recognized. As a welcoming. Congregation. And that's our logo for that. But that pertains to more than sexual practices. Is not you you a religious community. That openly welcomes. Anyone. Who exhibits immortal character. And or professors belief. In one religious thought or another. That's what we say. But that's not what we all do. When we hear one of our members. Or listen to ourselves. Bashing christianity are we being true to the ethics of our own religion. Are we truly being open and accepting of others how can we possibly condemn anyone. For saying that they believe. That jesus is divine and is the son of god. I've never heard of you you condemn hindus for their belief in krishna. Or those who bow to the mini arm to figure out vishnu one of hinduism's major gods. No. The priests of the hindu religion. Appreciate christianity in its several forms at end of this story. From a man who was studying hinduism in india from scotty mcclellan. When he was in india and writing a story called finding a you use spiritual truth. Empath. He said. By summer's end. I had decided to become a hindu. No no the priest child. To my astonishment. You've missed the point of everything i've taught you you've grown up a christian you know a lot about that path it's the religion of your family and your culture you do almost nothing of hinduism go back. Be the best christian you can. And the pain do priests told him. Find a way to be an open non-exclusive christian. Following in jesus's footsteps yourself but appreciating others journeys on their own path. The more i learned about others pads he explained the more it would help me progress along my own. And these words are remained my marching orders. 4life. No. Recognizing. That the ri indeed mini-pads to heaven. Nirvana. Or whatever you wish to call that final destination. Is one of the hallmarks of unitarian universalism and yet. In the time since i joined you you in 2001 i've heard several members of this. And other congregations of you you. Ridicule christian. Christianity. This. As you might gather by now. Bothers. Especially. Considering the fact. That you use roots are in christianity. The unitarians originally were christians who simply did not believe in the trinity theology. They espoused only one holy figure. The universalist. What originally christians who simply did not believe in original sin. And declare that all humanity was eligible for heaven. What were the years since the two merged in the sixties the uu faith has leaned and one could say even evolved. More and more toward believing that jesus was an amazing. Religious teacher. But not the son of god. And youyou has steered away. From christianity. What you got steering. Has been brought about by conflicts. Uncomfortable even unpleasant experiences by many of us. Who at one time belong to one or another of the christian denominations. This came about most often during times when we questioned. Some of the religious teaching as we were receiving at church. Many of us were told in no uncertain terms that the question was heretical and not condone. With such a question or turned are you you if they heard a member being totally disrespectful toward the christian faith. It seems to me. They would be much more inclined to turn in our direction if we simply spoke our principles. And said to them. Come. Walk with me. I have question. And i still do. It's okay. To question your faith. As a young man in my twenties. I left the baptist church. After realizing that i had a real problem. What the concept of original sin. And the problem with. Anyone not claiming jesus as his or her savior was going to hell. I was told have faith. Believe. Don't question. Well that. Coupled with observing. Many of its members living a life of hypocrisy. Being true to the kentenn commandments on sundays. And cheating their fellow band during the week. Finally compelled me to leave. And then there were people like muhammad ali who once said and i quote christianity is a good philosophy of you live it but it's controlled by people who preach it but don't practice it. They just organized it and use it any which way they want to. Unquote. Cassius clay muhammad ali and that's the kind of thought. That made me stay away from all forms. Organized religion. Until the summer of 2001. That was about 40 years later. And that's when i visited this congregation. As a guest speaker 2043. And i really appreciated the quality of the questions and the comments that came at me after my talk. So i gravitated here for purely intellectual reasons. Then. Gradually. I realized. That my personal and moral standards and belief in a way of life was really in spite of not believing in a supernatural god. Rather spiritual. Much to my surprise. That feeling of spirituality and morality. And being repulsed by hypocrisy. Led me to this sermon today. Let me ask you. Are some of you perchance still running away from an uncomfortable or unhappy christian past. Where do you move beyond that. Fight or flight syndrome. Invited to take a sharp look. At what you fled from. Ruu district executive ken hurteau posed the question. Are you like the child who stops believing in santa but retains a fonda feeling toward the figure or. Are you still angry at setup. For not being real. Do you angrily proclaim that this uu building is not a church. Because church is a christian word and we should not be using it. Yes. The dictionary first definition. Is a christian place of worship. But the second third and fourth definitions are simply that a church. Is a place of worship. A congregation. A religious service. Sunday service and you you is all of that. Be careful though. There are those among us. Who profess inclusion. But who are really practicing. Tokenism. Take this comment from a black jews experience in one uu congregation he talked about jesus and a quote others that have tried and failed to move beyond the tokenism with well-intentioned but poorly executed attempts at inclusion such as. Menorah candle. Lit in the wrong order. And a yom kippur potluck. A potluck dinner by you used to honor a jewish day of fasting. You got to be kidding. It's sad and it's amusing at the same time. And it helps to poke fun at ourselves. Not religion could afford to the shed mini habits. But laughter is not one of them. Let me try this on you. A bumper sticker which reads. Jesus. Protect me from your followers. Keeping in mind that the followers faith says go out and. Preach the gospel and convert people that's what they believe and that's what they do. Let me follow that up by commenting that you you and christianity sharon ethical and a moral center. Both. Strongly endorse social justice issue. Especially among the protestant denominations. We are ethically and morally extremely close. It's sometimes unfortunate. That we you use are also human. And we have a tendency at times to paint a whole group with a brush better directed at a subsystem. Of that group. In this case we find voices among us that decry christianity in general. When they really are aiming at the fundamental branches of that religion it is true. The fundamentalism. Certainly gives us at our. Many of them seem to have drifted away from the core teachings of jesus. Look. Social justice. Equity among humankind. Zukerman. A professor of sociology of pitzer college in claremont california along with his associate dan katie and assistant professor of history. Published an article. Based on a poll published by the pew forum on religion & public life and they said. And i quote here. White evangelical christians. Are the group least likely to support politicians or policies. That reflect the actual teaching. Of jesus. It is perhaps one of the strangest. Most dumbfounding ironies in contemporary american culture. And they went on to say. Evangelical christians who most fiercely proclaim. To have a personal relationship with christ are simultaneously the very people. Most likely to reject his teachings. And they concluded. Jesus. Unambiguously preached. Mercy. Unforgiveness. These are the major virtues of christianity. Which seem to be shunted aside frequently. By far too many. In the fundamental branches. Religion very well. Our focus then. This one those who proclaim to follow a religion but appear. To be doing otherwise. Get out that brush. Part away to your heart's content just use care. That the brush. Just not slop over. And dirty up those millions of christians who are in the doing their best. You'll follow their religious path. And the teachings of jesus about mercy. And forgiveness. And keep in mind. There are christians within our ranks. And you probably have no idea. Who. Look at the results of a survey. Done by. Our religious exploration program. Particularly the question. How do we identify ourselves today see the fourth line down. 116 of our members. And friends at that time. Answer the survey. And it revealed. There were nineteen of us at that time. Who self-identified as partially christian. That's close to 20%. And. Just in case you did not know this. There is a national organization of you you simply called the unitarian universalist christian fellowship. That's their logo. Basically. They adhere closely to the teachings of jesus. Without necessarily believing in the divinity of christ or the resurrection. Nestling up. That close to christianity. They run into flac. From some members. Of our religious organization. At the 2010 uu general assembly conference. Attendee susan lawrence who is the managing editor of the uua tapestry of faith curricular wrote and their online discussion group. We want our uu congregations to welcome us for who we are. She went on. The conference helped me to understand the accountability we each have. Nru you community. To welcome each person. To bring their whole self in. Because that's what this religion is all about. Yes. It. About that. As expressed in the first two of our 7 principles. The inheritance. Worth and dignity. Every person. Just. Equity. In compassion. In human relations. No you might be tempted to think that. I'm up here with the intent of heaping guilt. Upon your head but that's not so. I confess to being guilty of christian bashing to in the past. What. In listening to some others do that. I grew more and more. On the easy. With those thoughts. And i began questioning myself strongly. Was i living up. To my own principles. When i laughingly labeled out a measure of ridicule upon the christian faith. Simply because i personally disclaim that faith. And i found myself squirming in embarrassment. Because my answer was very. I realized. That i was looking upon the hindu variety of gods were example and saying to myself okay pete. I cannot believe in that but there's nothing wrong with those who do believe in it. But at the same time. I was looking upon christians. Without having that same understanding. It was hypocrisy in myself. And i did not like that fought at all. I ask of you. Not to feel guilty. If you've been harboring that kind of thought. Just. Stop it. Quinnen if such a thought arises unbidden examine it closely. Nsync on this. When you consider the followers of christianity. A quote. From darwin's grandfather. Erasmus darwin who said. Unitarianism. Is a feather bed to catch a falling christian. So the end result of this thought is. Don't. Chase christians away from us with negative conversation. Namaste.

uufvb_org

2015Mar29Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. Does the weather get any more perfect than this isn't it absolutely beautiful. Welcome to another beautiful day here in the treasure coast and welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. We are so pleased you've decided to begin your sunday with us. We are current location as the graphics add of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands. People seeking to become our best individual cells even as together as a current gation we make we work to make this world a better 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 shaded humanity. What do you have a ged or a phd. Whether you are first-time visitor with us this morning i've been coming for decades. What are your 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 coming all of your particularity and charm this morning. We hope you'll find our service about the wisdom of garrison keillor. Interesting this morning and meaningful and enriching. And that you will find something here this morning to take with you that will nourish your spirit and feed your soul and give you renewed energy and purpose. And love. For the weeks and days ahead. So about three weeks ago i was in the car at 10:15 or whatever time the writer's almanac comes on that garrison keillor does. And he read this poem and as soon as i got to the church i googled it. I love it. I offer it as your opening words this morning by poet rita dove entitled dawn revisited. Imagine you wake up with a second chance. The blue jayhawks his pretty wears. And the oak stands still spreading gloria shade. If you don't look back. The future never happens. How good to rise and sunlight. In the prodigal smell of biscuits. Eggs and sausage on the grill. The whole sky is yours to write on. Blown open to a blank page. Shake a leg. You'll never know who's down there frying those eggs. If you don't get up and see. Good morning thank you very much. Yes it is my first time. And when i get up here i think why in the world did i volunteer to do this but here we go humorist. Often right with great wisdom. I mean think about oscar wilde mark twain james thurber will rogers. Just a few examples and to that list i would add garrison keillor. Now many of you listen to prairie home companion. I thought so. Jack and i've been listening to it for over 35 years since before we moved to florida. Now can you say with me his closing words at the end of the monologue about lake wobegon he said. And that's the news from lake wobegon where all the children are strong all the men are good looking and all the children are above average. Now how many of you listen to garrison's other program the writer's almanac it's a daily 5-minute morning program. Where he provides vignettes about various writers and then he read the poem. And he always closes that program with what i think are very wise words. He says and if you know what you can say it. Be well. Do good work. And keep in touch. Now when i first heard those words many years ago. They spoke to me. They seem to me to be a recipe for a happy life. So let's take a look at each of those crazy. First of all be well. Nikila was an english major. And this is an imperative sentence. So really he's saying you. Be well. I grew up in the united methodist church. I remember the emphasis on treating my body is a temple of god. I remember the teenager signing a pledge that i would not smoke. Or drink. Because those practices were bad for my body my temple of god. And i never have smoked. And i still want to drink occasionally. Now i know i practice these behaviors because of my methodist background. Had i not been involved in that methodist youth fellowship so many years ago with a young minister who is my mentor. I might have been a smoker both my brothers were. And so is my dad. And i am now so thankful. That i was influenced by that minister in my youth group. Because everything we read about illness and disease. States that smoking and excess use of alcohol are contributing factors right. Heart disease two-stroke to cancer to diabetes. And the list goes on. Now i am not a fitness enthusiast like reverend alexander. And my husband jack will tell you that i don't like to sweat. But i do love the outdoors i love to walk. And i marvel at the capabilities of the human body. And i believe i'm as healthy as i am because i still think of the human body. With its amazing anatomy. And physiology. As a temple of god. Is a miracle. I also like to eat. But because of what i keep reading about nutrition i'm convinced. That more important to good health even than exercise. Is to eat well. I mean do we even know what we are ingesting these days with so many processed foods in our pantry. And here's an example. This is an ingredient and i hope i can pronounce it right. Azodicarbonamide. Azodicarbonamide there we go. It's approved by the fda as a dough conditioner and a whiting whitening agent and it's used in a lot of bread. And it's also used in yoga mats. So to be well we must eat well. And the only way we can know what we're actually ingesting. Compare our own food and otherwise we have to start cooking again. Not microwaving packaged food. Cooking from scratch. I hope here i'm talking to the choir but anyway. Talking to about a food and nutrition. It's another sermon so i'm going to stop right there. But. Like garrison keillor. I encourage each of you. Be well. Prepare your own food eat a healthy diet. Exercise. Avoid harmful practices. Respect your murray. Let's party. Consciously take care of yourself. That you want to start this morning. Well after you get your coffee or tea and fellowship hall and they're okay good food. Don't go to the cookie table. Now you crossed over 40 instead instead seek out someone with the red mug. Or maybe a new member one of our two new members who were here this morning that you haven't yet met. And strike up a conversation. And i will wager that you will find that interaction. Much more fulfilling. Our bodies are not. Automobile. We can't trade them in for a new model every few years. In fact. Our bodies have to last us for a lifetime. The second imperative sentence at the end of the writer's almanac radio spot is. Do good work. How many of you were probably taught that old adage any job worth doing is worth doing well. I used to believe that. But now i think that adage just sometimes maybe does more harm than good. Both the close friend and my sister-in-law have shared with me that they now wish they had spent a lot more time with their children when they were growing up. Then they spent. Keeping their home. Spic and span. Shirley. Of course there are jobs that must be done at least occasionally i mean there's a dusting and vacuuming is washing the windows cleaning out the refrigerator change the ac filter. But i think they could probably be done less often than martha stewart might do them and our homes would still be safe from bacteria. And of course that's easy for me to justify at my age because i'm thinking that some jobs are just not worth my time anymore. Now i've been retired for almost 3 years but i know many of you are still employed. And i'm sure you've heard the phrase protestant work ethic. Well now cording to wikipedia. The protestant work ethic. Is a concept in theology. Sociology economics and history which emphasizes hard work. Frugality. Indulgence. As a constant display of a person's salvation. In the christian faith. Nothing contrast to the focus on religious attendance confession. And ceremonial sacrament. In the catholic. Martin luther and john calvin both argued that work. Was a calling from god. They viewed 6s. As a sign of salvation. Which led to believe in success as a path. The salvation. Hard-working good deeds would bring rewards in this life and after. Now i read an interesting well-documented commentary. About the protestant work ethic. It was written by may even route. She's a fellow at the weatherhead center for international affairs in. From estonia. I quote. A person with protestant upbringing. Internalizes from a very early age that inactivity. Is that. Hard work is the source of self-esteem and therefore as an adult. Sitting around in idleness. Brings immediate feelings of restlessness. Then guilt. The ideal day for a protestant person is a day when he or she manages to squeeze many tasks. Into the limited hours available. And consequently can be proud of all that he or she accomplishes. Efficient use of time is a top priority. Oh my gosh. This fits me to a t. Yeah she goes on however people in protestant countries today no longer put work at the centre of their lives. And in many places. Notably in the united states. Seem to have lost the taste for frugality. Or thrift. Societal values such as thrift or focus on work. May lose part of their functionality as societies grow richer. Once. Western societies obtain a high level of economic security. They gradually give higher priority to the quality. Of life reverend economic growth. Today the functional equivalent of protestant ethic is probably more vigorous in east asia. And fading away in protestant. Perhaps the protestant ethic is a set of values that are most common in societies. Scarcity. And not specific. Provost. And then she continues with her theory. The protestant work ethic has not been lost it has simply morphed. Into a different type. A preference for busyness. We now tackle our free time. With similar feverish activity. That we used to show towards work. We feel our free time in productive. Activities like. Home improvement. Our gardening. Now the same commentator also examines the islamic work ethic. That says work is an obligatory activity and the virtue. Success and progress on the job depend on hard work. And commitment. The islamic work ethic emphasizes cooperation. A consultation. Social relations at work are encouraged to establish equilibrium in one's individual and social life. All the protestant work. Values. Stress individual in semen. The islamic work ethic puts more emphasis on. Community. And societal welfare. Now that's material for another sermon as well. But i think that information is a perfect segue into another facet of work and that is. Volunteer work. Which also emphasizes community. And societal welfare. We who were indoctrinated with the protestant work ethic. Can feel productive and do good work. By volunteering our time in the community. Oh and of course by the way that's beyond the time that we volunteer here at the. Now i know many of you volunteered various organizations on the treasure coast. We volunteers don't get paid monetarily but we certainly feel rewarded in other ways. Now maybe garrison no has something else in mind with his urging us to do good work. You know he makes his living by writing. So i suspect he might be saying to himself. Sit down at the computer and get some writing done. Hopefully good enough to publish. I interpret his words to mean. That we should consider all of our daylight ever. As work. And do each of them in a way that is gratifying. Whether we're still in the workplace or volunteering somewhere. Whether we're cooking a meal working crossword puzzle installing a paddle fan. Reading a book. Let's experience the satisfaction. Accomplishing. The gratification of using our amazing brain. Are remarkable eyes. And are incredibly dexterous hands. To do work. And if we are mindful of the work experience. That i think we will do. Good. And to introduce nancy's third segment this morning on touch. This poem the miracle of touch. Buy hondo rennell. Attached. Is to embrace. And embrace. Is a blossoming outward. And embrace is. Handing oneself. To someone. And embrace. Is it gif. The giving of a priceless bequest. To one another. I embrace you. To have as a brother. To have. As a sister. Except my embrace. And allow me to live. I await your embrace. Intern. Garrison keillor's third admonition. Is to keep in touch. I know i always enjoy an unexpected phone call or newsie email from a friend. And i even enjoy receiving letters are cards in the real mail is unusual is that is these days. That kind of keeping in touch sends the message that someone's thinking about me someone cares about me. I suppose that's the reason why facebook linkedin and other social media are so popular because we really want to know what other people are doing. We really do want to keep in touch. But what about physical touch. Igoogle. Human touch. Study. And i read about some research done at the university of california. In berkeley by dr kelton. He's the professor of psychology and he's the founding director of the greater good science center. Now any of you who were here in january and saw the film kindness is contagious. Doctor keltner was featured in the second half of that film. He says. After years spent. Immersed in the science of touch i can tell you. That-a-way. Has documented some. Credible. Emotional and physical health benefits that come from touch. This research is suggesting the touch. Is truly fundamental. The human communication. Bonding. And help. He continues the benefits start for the moment we're born. He reviewed some research. It found that preterm newborn babies. Who received jess. 3 sessions of touch. Therapy each day. App for 5 to 10 days they gained 47% more weight. Then premature infants who received the standard. Medical. And similarly there's some laboratory research that rats whose mothers licked and groom them a lot when they were infants they grew up. Calmer. And more resilient to stress. With a stronger immune. He says this research sheds light on why historically and overwhelmingly. Give me an overwhelming percentage of human babies in orphanages. Typically star. Touch. Failed to grow to their expected height or weight. And experience behavior problems. Regrettably though. Some western cultures are pretty much touched deprived in this is especially true in the united states. If you travel to other countries you noticed that people spend a lot more time and direct physical contact with one another than we do here. And this was documented in the study from the 60s. They studied the conversation of friends in different parts of the world is they sat in a cafe together. And the researcher observe these conversations for the same amount of time in each of the different country. Okay what did he find. In england. The two friends touched each other. 0 *. In the united states in burst of enthusiasm we touched each other. Twice. But in france. The number shot up to 110 times in an hour and in puerto rico 180 *. Now cuz they're plenty of good reasons why people are inclined to keep their hands to themselves. Especially in the society as litigious as out. And there's also the concern about spreading germs. The cold flu. But other research. Has reveal what we lose. When we hold back to. There a study showing that touch. Signals safety. And trust. It sued. Basic warm touch. Call cardiovascular stress. It activates the body's vagus nerve which is intimately involved with our compassionate. And a simple touch can actually trigger the release of. Hormones in your body. In one study. Participants were lying in an mri brain scanner they were anticipating a painful blast of white noise. And. The research showed heightened brain activity in regions associated with threatened stress. But the participant if their romantic partner was with them. Stroking their arm while they waited. They didn't show this reaction at all. The touch had turned off the threats which in. Now that's can even have economic effects. Promoting trust and generosity. Here's another research study. Participants could choose either to cooperate or compete. With a partner for a limited amount of money. An experimenter gently touch some of the participants as they were starting to play the game. Just a quick pat on the back. But it had an effect that made a big difference. Those who were touched. We're much more likely to cooperate. And cher. Rather than. A doctor hertenstein from depaul university states very interesting. Physiological facts from history. The touch. Affects both the person being touched. And the one. Doing the touching. His research has revealed that a person giving a hug. Gets just as much benefit. As a person. Being hugged. He concludes that there are times. Such as during intense grief or fear. But also in ecstatic moments. Of joy and love. When only the language of touch. Can fully express what we feel. Michelangelo said. To touch. Can be to give. Lie. And according to all of this research. He was absolutely right. So. I encourage each of you. To love your body. To respect and appreciate how miraculous. It is. Or is garrison would say. Well. And i encourage you as this garrison to do good work. To use your days on this earth. In ways that bring you joy and gratification. And that make this world a better place for your having lived in it. And i encourage you to keep in touch. Reach out to others verbally and physically. Knowing that you will get just as much benefit from it. At the other purse. Go in peace. Speak the truth. Give thanks each day. Respect the earth and her creatures. For they are alive like you. Care for your body. It is a wondrous gift. Live simply. Be of service be guided by your face. Not by your fear. Go lightly on your path walk. In a sacred manner. I meant.

uufvb_org

2012May13Sermon128.mp3

When scott asked me to do the service in may. I was very pleased. This sunday would fall on mother's day. And i immediately thought about writing a sermon on motherhood. So i asked scott if he had any material. Readings or stories or anything that i could use. And i was somewhat surprised. When you said to me that had never done a mother's day sermon. Given the fact that he has given more than 30 sermons. On the second sunday in may. I wondered why he had not picked this obvious rather obvious theme. It shouldn't take me long however to realize why he might have dodged that bullet. What at first glance i thought would be a logical choice. For the second sunday in may turns out to be one of the topics. Most of voided. By ministers. Go figure. It is not only complicated but it is fraught with danger. For the minister naive enough to attempt it. As reverend steve eddington the minister of my home church states. Quote. How can you go wrong talking about mothers. Well. If you praise mother's too much you invite flak from anyone who has had issue with their mothers. But if you try to address those issues. You lose those individuals whose mothers were just fine thank you very much. What about those. Those women who chose not to be mothers or all the folk who stepped up to the challenge of taking on the mothering role regardless of their gender model status or age. Unquote he calls it. A veritable minefield. And one that could best be avoided. But he decided to take the road less traveled. And i will do the same. In the spirit of full disclosure let me say at the outset that absent a mother from the age of four i have a rather unconventional view of motherhood. I had for non-traditional mothers or mother surrogate. They included my father my grandmother a swiss governess and the mother of my best friend who lives next door but more about that later. I also have to admit that i have a rather cynical opinion of mother's and father's day i was just tacky commercial enterprises intended to bolster retail sales in chocolate roses. And hallmark cards. A holiday hardly worth acknowledging much less celebrating. But as this is the topic. I have chosen. I want you to spell. The myth. That motherhood can be summed up. Neatly on a hallmark card such as this one. The only mother who could remotely feel this particular role is this one. And she only did it for 8 weeks and after 7 she was nipping at the pups to leave her alone. So much for the myth. So let's ground our understanding of this holiday in the history of the three remarkable women in the nineteenth and twentieth century who helped to create it. The first of these is julia ward howe. She has name recognition as she was a famous unitarian. Born in new york city in 1819 the daughter of a prosperous banker. Although her upbringing was strict calvinist. She is a precocious young woman began to think and more liberal terms. She married a boston physician. The unitarian samuel gridley howe. When she was 21 and she and her husband became members of the boston unitarian transcendentalist. Circle then included ralph waldo emerson. She was also strongly influenced by unitarian minister the reverend theodore parker. Who was an ardent abolitionist. She too wanted to publicly advocate for the end of slavery. What are conservative husband felt you should stay home and care for their six children. At the time of the civil war she and her husband became involved in the sanitary commission the forerunner of the red cross. They are credited with founding. For caring for the wounded at a union army. Encampment outside of washington dc. By this time she had become a published poet. And as she saw the soldiers preparing for battle. She wrote the battle hymn of the republic. One of the few poems that has survived to this day. Perhaps because of the terrible carnage of the war and the suffering that she witnessed. She became. A committed peace advocate. I'm later supporter of women's suffrage. From 1868. To 1877 and form 1893 to 1910 she served as the president of the new england women's suffrage association. These combined passions led to her effort to rally for the cause of peace. In 1870 at the advent of the franco-prussian war she wrote. The mother's day proclamation. Read so well by bonnie this morning. Which was an impassioned appeal to women to rise up against war. The proclamation was translated into several languages and in 1872 she went to london. To promote an international women's peace congress. She also worked to establish an official celebration of mother's day. As a socially prominent woman a published author speaker leader transcendentalist. Julia ward howe was recognized as brilliant. What holiday honoring women. Remained on the distant horizon. It would take the effort of two very different women to make it a reality. Those women were. Anna marie jarvis. And her daughter by the same name. Born in culpeper virginia in september 18th 32 anna was the daughter of a methodist minister. As a young adult she married. Methodist minister granville jarvis. And she and her husband spent their lives in west virginia serving various congregations around the state. Together they had eleven children. But lost 4 to childhood illnesses. It may have been these tragic losses. That prompted her effort. But she became very concerned about the health and sanitary conditions in the small communities where they lived. Despite the lack of formal training and health related issues she began to organize mother's day war clubs. In the nearby towns to raise money for medicine. To hire women to help in the harms of mothers who had tuberculosis. And to inspect milk and food. In 1860 local doctors supported the formation. Of other women's clubs and yet more times. But her interest in her work did not stop there. Because of west virginia's location both union and confederate. Soldiers traveled through the state. During the civil war and political unrest and conflict were a constant threat. Anna marie jarvis. Urge the mother's day work clubs to declare their neutrality. And the women began to treat. Feed and clothe soldiers from both side who passed through their area. As tensions increased. She organized mother's friendship days at the courthouse. To bring. Together soldiers and neighbors of all political beliefs. This event was a great success. Violence was avoided and a mother's friendship day lasted as an annual event for a number of years. At the end of her life. Anna move to philadelphia to live with her son claude and daughters anna and lillian. She died in 1905. In 1907 her daughter anna held a memorial for her mother and began to campaign to make mother's day a national holiday. It took seven more years but in 1914 president woodrow wilson. Signed a congressional resolution establishing mother's day as a national holiday to be celebrated on the second sunday in may. That should be the end of the story. But there is a twist which i think is significant. Play 1920s adage orvis. The daughter. Became frustrated and bitter and embittered by the commercialization of the holiday. And she and her sister spent their whole inheritance campaigning again. What the holiday had become. She is quoted as saying. Quote. A printed card means nothing. Except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone in the world. And candy. You take a box to your mother and then you sit down and eat most of it yourself. A pretty cinnamon. Unquote. One can certainly understand her anger at the commercialization. Of the holiday and the trivialization of a hard work and accomplishments not only of her mother. But i'm other women of her generation. At a time when women could not vote. Had no money of their own we're dependent on the men in their family and we're expected to be homemakers. They broke the mold. Yes they were wives and mothers. But they refused to be defined only by the societal standards of their day. Rather than embodying a passive submissive. Soft-spoken feminine ideal. Their personalities could be described as. Intelligent. Assertive. Determined. Creative. Passionate single-minded. Impatient and it's very angry. This particular array of characteristics would never make it on a mother's day card. They took action in the public square. Not for personal fame and fortune. But for the humanitarian causes that they believed in. They rightly recognize the power that women could have if a united behind a common clause. I may try to rally that support. In the name of peace. We were at least 60 years ahead of gloria steinem and the women's movement. So from it's very origin. The intent of mother's day wish to honor all mothers. Women from all walks of life with an almost infinite variety of talents personalities ambitions and accomplishment. And it was also to recognize women as equal partners to men. In all aspects of life. This movement was too far ahead of its time. It was too radical i'm too threatening. Ford societal norms of the early 20th century. So the holiday was reconceived i believe. Hazard sentimentalized female stereotype. So let's get back. To the original intent of the holiday. To honor women of all types. A number of our members who volunteered stories about their mothers. But because of time constraint. I can only include four of them. But let me say that each story that i received. Was worthy of inclusion. And each was a wonderful portrait of a unique and memorable woman. I would like to introduce. These stories to you now. My father was a salesperson by train. But my mother was a salesperson by instinct and i think the better its sales. Before she married my father she had run a gift shop with a woman who remained her friend and who am i vividly remember as being a spiritualist. Calling people back from the dead. To make. Prognostications. My mother a good catholic loved her even so. My mother seemed always to be working on some sales effort ranging from door-to-door sales of kitchen utensils. The avon home sales parties to working in my uncle's men wear shop. During the christmas rush. To selling a patented type of special clothes pin. Cold a clothes clip. From her home just selling her own homemade preserves. After all it was the great depression. For a while during the easter rush she became an entrepreneur and would rent an empty storefront. And sell easter lilies. This business classes for several years. But when one of the florist in town complained because she was not a licensed florist. That venture died because she could not afford the price of year-long licensing. But it had been fun. The wonderful thing about my mother i think was her relationship with her customers. Except for when she work in my uncle menswear shop her customers were mostly women. I'm most of them transcended the customers salesperson relationship and we're really friends. She have been raised one of five daughters and two sons so she had an inborn he's. A relating to people that i as an only child could only admire. During most of my childhood we lived far out in the country with no near neighbors and she had no car and in any case could not drive. So her movements had to be by bus. Still as is indicated by the list of sales ventures she made she got around an awful lot and her customers. She visited usually invited her into the house. For coffee and conversation. For person with such limited access to others. She really had an amazingly busy schedule. Her customers. We're customers only incidentally. Important thing about them was. They were her friends. A second-story first of all that story was submitted by nightmare. The second story. My mother. Catherine walker shirtless. Was born on november 15th. 1917 in bridgeport connecticut. I was told by my uncle her brother that she was a beautiful girl and that everyone in the family called her queenie. She did not have an easy life. During wwii my grandfather moved around quite a bit looking for work. When my mother was about 12 years old. My grandmother took her to east orange new jersey where she had acquired a job as a housekeeper for herself as well as the position for my mother as a helper for an older couple. My mom was able to go to school i was given food and clothing in exchange for her services. Despite the ups and downs of an unstable family and being moved to another state mother graduated from middleboro memorial high school in 1936. Cheer taking the business course and could type well and she knew shorthand. My parents were married in 1940 and i was born a year later. My father told me that when they were leaving the hospital the nurse offered to hold me. As my brother got into the car. But my mother very firmly said that she did not need any help. Everytime i heard that story i knew that my mother really loved me and wanted me. When i was 5 my mother took a job at a local shoe factory and i was cared for by my grandmother. Together we worked in the garden and ate delicious food that she prepared my favorite was fraud down. Smothered in lots of sugar and cinnamon. It was fun being at grandma's house as there were always lots of people visiting. So you're later i began first grade and i stayed with our next door neighbor. Their children became good friends of mine. And their mother became a confidante when i got older. By the time i was ten i could walk to school by myself but sometimes mom and i would skip down the street together. How great it was to have a mother who can actually skip with you. She was fun. During my high school years mom develop mental health problems which burdened her life. For many years. She got a job as a short-order cook in my uncle's restaurant and i was able to get a work permit to work there part-time in the summer. Despite her problems mother enjoyed my high school years. She always encouraged me to go to dances join. School clubs and be a baton twirler in the high school band. If i had a problem with her friend she encouraged me to tell her. Remark was always remember your mother is your best friend. There were times when she interfered in my life but i was happy that she did she was my best friend. At age 19 i went to college out of state and when i return. And i returned three years later. My parents introduced me to the barrows a middle-aged couple and i was given the job of helping to arrange cabinets in the kitchen and dining room. Overtime this is beryl and i became very close friend and she became like a second mother to me. I would hope the family put on annual parties and other events. In their home. That piece was submitted by ellen ranch. These mothers whose stories we have heard. How to use every bit of creativity strength. Determination and fortitude. To meet the challenges of their lives. The lines were difficult. And money was always an issue. They had very little themselves. But they fulfilled their roles as mothers and they inspired their children to better themselves and got an education and work hard. Each. Person has done just that. Not only attending college. But having had successful careers. As adults. These mothers like many others of their day we're her heroin. I'm from the most part their contributions went pretty much unrecognized except for a modest remembrance on mother's day. But there is another part of this story that expands even more our understanding of what motherhood can mean. Just as there is no one way. To raise a child there is not just one person who can fulfill that role. Nurturing loving and being involved in the life of a child is often filled by non-traditional mothers who have taken on these responsibilities. Here's another story. I was the fourth of five children growing up in the 1940s my mother was very busy with the other children and with her mother-in-law who lived with us. My father was preoccupied with his business especially during the war years. So that it was difficult for me to get much attention in this crowded household. Not long after i was born my parents decided to hire a cook. To put food on the table. For their growing family. They fired. A polish woman named josephine an unmarried woman probably in her early forties. Josie and she came to be called by us. I've never had any children. My mother always said that jose. Josie always. That jersey instantly took to the new child in the house me. And as i grew up she became my advocate and protector. My defender in family squabbles and arguments. She gave me the unconditional love that i never quite felt. Coming from my mother and father. Consequently i would hang around the kitchen a lot. Often helping with meal preparation. I learned a lot about cooking and was always there to lick the bowl after a batch of cookies was made. Josie was a very good cook but she had a few weaknesses. Her cakes usually fell flat. And any recipe that contains lots of ingredients for a struggle for her. It was in the kitchen though that i was able to return josie's love with my own kind of gift. The world was not to realize it for several years. I was lucky to be able to read in an early age and when i was 5 my parents moved me up a notch to first grade because of my ability to read. After school i would run into the kitchen. And show josie that i could read out loud. Trucy would often ask me to help her because she said her eyesight was failing. She always seemed to need help in reading because the light was poor or her new glasses just didn't seem to be working right. I was more than happy to show her how well i could read a magazine article that she was interested in or a recipe that was complicated. I was helping her and gaining a measure of self-esteem at the same time. Later on when i was about ten years old one day my older brother and i were having an argument. About something. He'd always been somewhat annoyed by the favoritism bestowed on me by josie. So he sought to get back at me by putting her down. She is so dumb. She can't even read he said. You should come to i cried no she can't she's illiterate. He replied didn't you know. I was dumbstruck. By the allegation that a grown-up person could not read. But my mother confirmed that yes. The rest of the family had always known that josie could not read. I never confronted josie with his new knowledge of mine of course. I did make. A special effort to help her read newspaper articles. I just see them through my eyes. I know now that this illiterate. Polish cook. Provided me with the unconditional love that everyone needs. To feel safe and confident about themselves. And for that i will be forever grateful. This man had a non-traditional mother a surrogate. Who made an enormous difference in his life. And through her love he gained confidence and self esteem. He also and i think this is the critical part. He also gained the ability to love other people. I miss her spliff. The many important relationships. In his life. That was written by. David driver. As i mentioned at the beginning of the sermon i had for non-traditional mothers. The first of these was my father. Who loved me a lot but he was all thumbs when it came to taking care of a four-year-old girl. He had a hard time picking out the right clothes for me to wear. And an even more difficult time trying to come and braid my long curly hair. After a few failed attempts. Patrick me down to his barber. I'm in the barber finished. My hair was just like pops. About an inch long. Problem solved. And i haven't had long hair since. He was always embarrassed to talk to me about things. That young girls should know as they are growing up. I knew can definitely forgot about the birds and the bees conversations. Those subjects were delegated to mrs. hicks our next door neighbor. And mother of my closest friends. He delegated other subjects to his mother my grandmother who lived in new york city when she wasn't visiting us. But he didn't always approve. Of the way his mother spoiled me buying me toys and clothes. Having had two sons my grandmother was delighted to finally have a little girl that she could do tan. When i got older. She let me all her credit cards and sent me out in the morning to go shopping in new york city. Fortunately i never wanted anyting. And it wasn't until years later after her death that my father told me that she would not have been able to pay the bills. If i had been extravagant. But he especially disapproved of her taking me taking me to trader vic's. A fancy polynesian restaurant in new york city when i was a teenager. My grandmother introduced me to dry martinis and some fancy polynesian drink that came with a small umbrella stuck into a piece of pineapple. We would leave the restaurant hours later with a fistful of umbrellas. In my own defense. I have to say that i have not had a martini. Or a polynesian drink since i was 14. In addition to those three surrogates i also had a swiss governors who cared for me. Day after day for 8 years and who i love very much. I was fortunate to have all these loving adults in my life. What can we conclude from these stories. Is that all people in our lives who have nurtured us deserve to be recognized and celebrated on mother's day. They include the enormously varied group of women who bore children. But they also include many non-traditional mothers. Such as a polish cook a next-door neighbor or farther a grandmother. Or many others who have played important roles in our lives. And it doesn't have to be a primary role. Here's a short story. A friend of ours in new hampshire whose career was in the theater. Was recently directing a play in new hampshire and an aspiring actress. Came to him complaining. But she was not given the starring role in the upcoming play. And he said. There are no small roles. There are only small actors. In our lives to some of the most important and influential people we have known i've only made cameo appearances. But they were vitally important. Perhaps it was a teacher. A sports quote. A school bus driver or a counselor. What matters most to the child is a lovingness of the person. Not necessarily. The length of the relationship. Each of us has had many people who have been profoundly important to our development. And each of these has contributed a strand of love that has been woven into a beautiful tapestry that is the person that we are today. The reverend forest church got it right when he said quote misses how. Chose the term mother's day to remind us that the whole world would be a better place. If only everyone might rise to the challenge of motherhood. Which is nurturing life. Fostering peace. I'm giving love. So let's honor. And remember all those people on mother's day who have nurtured us. Force fostered piece. And well-being in our lives. And who have given us the love that we have needed to thrive as adults. The blessing of truth be upon us. The power of love. Direct and sustain us. I made a piece of this community. Preserve are going out. And are coming in. From this time forth. And until. We meet again.

uufvb_org

2014Mar16Sermon32.mp3

Good morning everyone welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. Loving hearts. And helping hiccups. Our best selves. In any way you are. Service. We humans seem to daughter through our days as if they were our surest belongings. No david. 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 fools. The contemplative tradition is always right. 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 around the corner of time to see what. 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. Said 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 that 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 cognitive. Impaired. Michelle's boyfriend carlos tells her that she. He says. And besides it might be dangerous. Michelle replies. Calm down it's just a car. A chemical that helps me think better. It's not cocaine hypocritical. You take a cognitive enhancement drug to. Namely caffeine. And don't think you're fooling me when you say you say you've 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 delfina nicotine help you stay alert. Besides if you're worried about unfair advantages. Just being at this university gives us a huge unfair advantage. What do you think education is. Or what about the fact that both of your parents are really smart and have phds. That's certainly an advantage. If i ever have kids i want them to have the best opportunities. 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 protest. 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 different person. 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 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 us further into the assumptions and presuppositions here. That will lead us i think ultimately to this notion of the spiritual tension that seems to underlie. The idea of biomedical enhancements. 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. To 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 re-emerging knowledge in. Medicine physiology genetics neuroscience pharmacology. Etcetera. So the idea is traditional medicine does therapy. It take sick people and helps to make them well. Enhancements. Normal people. And use biomedical science. To make them better than well. To make them better than normal. Disconnect 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 and was widely discussed. The use of pharmaceuticals. This goes under the unflattering title of doping. And it's prohibited in most organized sports but i mention it here cuz it's a clear case of biomedical enhancement. During his seven tour de france 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. 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 an issue that we might find traveling. But in addition we might think. Purpose of athletics is to. Against one another. To athletes each of whom is doing what he or she naturally do best. Or his or her best natural performance to introduce drugs here is to enter. Introduce artifice. An inappropriate way. To normal sports competition. I think the unfairness involved this 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 in the conceptual distinction between. Enhancement and therapy. When you think about people that different physical conditions when you think about. Enhancement as taking someone beyond what's normal for him or her. Baking him a her 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. He does triathlons every other week. How to raise me to his level would to his level of normal. Would not be therapy it would be serious enhancement. Define the notion of normal normal and enhancement. If it turns out. 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 pregnant. 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 and coming years will have. Drugs. Prove the condition of alzheimer's patients. So there are pharmaceuticals. On the way. Now. Most of the interesting examples of days are not for purposes of therapy although they were developed. Used. College student my college students and. Professor buchanan's college students. For cognitive enhancement. To improve their alertness. 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. Cuz we like to be. And thinkwell acutely. So there's every reason to believe this kind of cognitive enhancement is coming growing. Wondering whether one finds that ethically troubling. That people should be engaged in taking drugs that will enhance their capacity. And if so why what's objectionable about that. Is it. Unfair that some student should have enhance cognitive abilities as a result of taking drugs. Let's party. 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 will 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 of the characteristics of the next generation. Now. Because if we had. Ways of intervening genetically in order to do away with the existence of certain. Incapacitating disabling painful diseases. Presumably we would think that's their opinion 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. 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 been in a pathological state. But we can make it better. For some this raises problems by the way the technologies involved i don't want to go into it but it. In detail what 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. Transplanted in order for development are normal pregnancy. What they normally do is take six or eight. 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 well. 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 organism. 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. Not yet very many but there are number of genetically based. Pathological conditions. Which weekend do genetic analysis and identify them as present or not present. In a fertilized before deciding whether or not to implant. Into the mother. In hopes of. A pregnancy. Again if we 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. Hi 85 + percentage. Attract. Breast cancer if i could have. A genetic analysis on. That fertilized angelina jolie and it had some choice about it. Then they might have been planted. 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 therapeutic the powers in the possibilities of genetic enhancement are just too tempting and too great. Nor will not be impossible it is right now. Suppose that it were possible to genetically enhance your offspring's memory. 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 say. That it's an advantage in our society. If you were able to genetically intervene in order to make them taller. This is not therapy there is nothing. It's an enhancement. Ostensibly. And is that something we think it's okay. Why. Is what interests. Just mentioning height. Will remind you of course that. After all we have certain. Ideals of aesthetic beauty. Certain hair color something certain size i color certain body shape etcetera. 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. That's not so okay. But why do we think that's. 20k. Do we think it's unfair. Is that pikachu. Do we think. It's not natural. Artificial. To the artificial is that what we. What is a lead some of us. This is not a good road to go down. One more it seems. Back now. In the direction of cognitive enhancement through pharmaceuticals. We are 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. Question of use them has turned into a really interesting. So taking just one example because it might be familiar to some of you. Mid late 80s and new psychoactive drugs. Called ssri was developed prozac. But his best-known example. It was developed for minor and then major depression. Prescribed for a dozen different. Problems. A wonderful author peter kramer who was a psychiatrist who got started who was one of the first to be prescribing prozac. And what you talked about. Struggling. With a patient who was not clinically diagnosable as. With any mental disorder. You know. Wasn't entirely happy with his or her life. What is assertive and outgoing as he or she might have. And lacked confidence and got nervous when standing up talking to crowds. Felt like. She wanted some psychiatric help to deal with these problems in her life. And cramer asks himself. This woman's not sick. If i prescribed one of these drugs for this individual. It'll be an enhancement attempt. Do i want to do that. Is that legit. Well even had a book if you haven't prescribed these drugs for these people not always women but for dominant. In his accounting. As he puts it to deny the bounties of modern science. And in certain cases not always in fact not even most of them 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 his truck. And again i remind you these people weren't. Considerably happier. Bye. And more assertive and more confident and more successful. The driver. He coined the term. I told all that story just introduced the term to you. He coined the term cosmetic psychopharmacology. 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 serious disability. This is cosmetic psychopharmacology. With the drugs. 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. Hesitant here. Why are we sisters. And. I want to use that question as italian to. You folks as unitarians. Unitarians as a meal irritative. Where that means. Inclined to want to make things better. You guys encounter injustice in the world. And the form of racism. And you think. We have to do what we can to make this better. You encounter what seemed like unjust inequalities and various kinds and decide you're naturally motivated. And you. Unitarian. Are respectful of the accomplishments of the natural sciences. In a way in which some. Religious denominations are not respectful of science. But i think of unitarians as especially. Attuned. To those accomplished. Proud of brightly. 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. Unitarian. Spiritual tradition from which you come. Is. The desire to make. He's better through our efforts. Through our commitment to our convictions 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 want to claim that there's a spiritual tension. Between. The inclination to want to use what we know and what we have learned. 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. I've 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. It's versus therapy. There to sort of spokespersons for the two sides in this debate. One is a guy named sandell at harvard the other guises. Is the sky buchanan. Dell asks himself. 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 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 motivational pattern. The underlies. Our efforts to intervene to make things better through surgery through pharmacology through genetics. And it's. It said attitude of mastery. It's a belief that control. We can understand it we can make it happen we can. Be the captains of our faith in the masters of our. Whatever. Pictures that attitude and send dale says that's an objectionable attitude. Because it short-circuits and undermines the possibility for another attitude that we out i 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. 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. I ought to. Write the. Recognize and respect that power is greater than my own. And i feel like 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. That's really interesting. Part of the unitarian tradition is. A recognition and respect for the gifted. Foster's in a certain modesty a certain humility a certain. 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 of. People's characteristics and qualities and virtues. Coming from somewhere else as as things for which they are not individually responsible. 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 are in control we are masters of it all. That according to send dale it's not very promotive. A sense of social justice. The gifted. Things we lose. I think i know what you what send out it's talking about there. 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. Can claim no cry. The unitarian tradition has that other strands. According to which. We're smart. We've got the powers of reasoning observation we've developed a natural sciences and technology we can take our own destiny into our own hands. And make it better. Those two together. Send out 10 sandals favorite examples i really like this. He says. Parenthood. A really good lesson in humility. Cuz. Have to accept whatever comes their way. In one sense responsible for it in another since they didn't plan it they didn't organize it. Architect their children as gift. Not things over which they have mastered. He has a long discussion of. The difference between. Accepting love. And transforming love. You want the best for our children. But we also have to accept them for what they are. And that's the tension. Alarm to do better. And. We love them just the way they are. 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. Import. 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 sentence for their take on 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. So far as possible. And at the same time. We're not in control here. We would do well to me. Pain that humility. That modesty. That comes from the realization. A gift. That was perfect. The words of the hymn. We got science we got reason we can understand the creation we can tame the wind. And it's so remarkable. 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 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. Terrain 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 rip large.

uufvb_org

2013Feb24Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. What a beautiful day to be in florida this morning after that refreshing and surprising rain last night. All the world is for fresh this morning i hope you are too. Welcome. To the 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. Whether you're feeling on top of the world or 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. That you will find something here at least a nugget. It will nourish your 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 thanks. For the miracle of human being. We gather within these four walls each week. To seriously reflect on 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 to live our responsibility to all persons. Most especially those who are in need. Or despair. We gather within these four walls each week to come our spirits. Enliven our minds. Open our hearts. Empower our hands. To make 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. Then we discover father. Siblings other family members. Before long we have playmates neighbors friends when we enter school there are teachers and classmates. We begin to play sports in their teammates. We go to work and we discover coworker is in bosses and maybe subordinates. We are in relation with lovers wives husbands partners. In college or elsewhere maybe we have roommates. We interact with authority figures like government officials and police officers with caregivers like doctors nurses social workers. Maybe we have children. And later grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. Here in this congregation. You interact with one another as fellow members. There's a good deal of emphasis in western society especially in its upscale liberal intellectual parts a good deal of emphasis on the individual. Oftentimes the rights and interests of the individual our place before those of the community. Each one of us is an individual and we want our rights and interests to be protected. 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. We are right to be concerned about the interests and rights of every individual. 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 and manage and 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. Awesome 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 how to build and maintain and improve them for example why marriages succeed or fail by john gottman from which i just read a brief passage mama to go. No 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 these self-help books. How to 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 and so on and so forth. These books will give you specific advice about relationship behavior intended to help improve the relationships that you were in. How do i do this specific thing. How do i respond when this happens in my relationship. What do i do understand this or that relationship circumstance. Let me give you an example you find these everywhere i found this one from a wire preacher in the newspaper will you can find them everywhere. Certainly on the internet this. Particular case is a case from the workplace. Question. There's an employee in my department who refuses to accept the blame when he makes a mistake. 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 is 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 kind of problem for 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 there are books and newspaper columns and radio and tv talk shows were plenty of such advice in suspense. You know all about them. Certainly there are a lot of learnable techniques 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 i 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 motives that you attribute to the other person. 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 again. 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. Oh 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 keep it stoked up if you weren't such a failure we can afford to go on vacation this year. That's a sure way to start a fight and keep it going. What about shane. To 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. Wouldn't it be better 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. We model 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 statistics 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. To conflict. The advice given in a newspaper column about the worker who could never accept blame for his mistakes with good enough advice it will probably be helpful to his boss. To try what was in that advice. But at a 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 it 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 two behaviors that we learn in our early years. The child psychologist john bowlby describe three patterns of what he calls. Attachment behavior. Catholic behavior. In a pattern of secure attachments the individual is confident that his parent or parents figure will be available and responsive and helpful to the encounter adverse or frightening situations. 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 helpfully and even expect 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's a child learns. And then as an adult. That person is likely to assume one of the rolls. From that relationship. Are 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 achiever. 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 also 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. I'm a middle child 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. Now. Jesus. Understood all of this very well. He didn't have the benefit of modern scholarship but he clearly understood interpersonal psychology and behavior. He understood it and taught 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. Route to todd about the contradictions and ambiguities which we encounter 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 told about the depth of everyday human relations. And that's why i chose the parable of the prodigal son and his older brother. As one of our readings have a name of it it's very important. It's not just the prodigal son it's. 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 integral part of the story this is a story about a family. Family has jealousy. And sibling rivalry and suspicion of favoritism. The brothers just play classic birth order behavior. The elder conform 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 which 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 and abandons her even intentionally withhold with holes love a god who inflicts burdens on us which are unjust and which we are not prepared to carry. Got to put with frightened. What about. Forest in suggest. What about the god who walks with us. The god who implying xandir 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. I'm a very earliest days of our lives. How much do you two pictures. Are like the very behaviors we might have encountered. From our parents. 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 appeals 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 fuller. And may your understanding of the 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. Maybe so for. No may the blessing of truth be upon us. 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.

uufvb_org

2011Jan30Sermon128.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 its 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 canada team week when i was getting to know all of you prior to the vote which. Brought me here permanently as your minister. You had 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. Admittedly 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 staff were guests 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. To look. 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 the son having quickly risen from those turbulent grey waters. Was bursting forth amidst clouds and 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 clouds. The grass is the ccent. Galls. Made me feel profoundly welcome as 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. 6 pelicans. Lighting right over me on the north wind. It's so close i could see the variegation of there. Of their feathers. Beautiful arch. Great big wings. Gangly. Pics of there. So close. Help. With me. In an instant my whole body know my whole soul filled with on appreciation for everything that was around me. And the quickest i'd hear 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. Those 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 off. In that wonderful wonderous simp. Sunrise moment here in. Without a word coming to my lips my heart exclaim dear god. Beautiful. What a beautiful world. I am so blessed. On this amazing or. Listen 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 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. Things. 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 with this great imperative. 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 a wholly 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. Is there partner. 6. 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 every one of 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 blast and sustained and renewed and trey. But why some of you might ask why do we have to label such encounters as holy why couldn't you just call them. I don't know 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 or reality some sort of spiritual entity that stands separate. Or higher or a part. From life on the soften dry me 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. Recreational. 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 cilantro 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. Is it that which is most sacred and saving is fully natural. And fully knowable not supernatural. Not removed 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. David simply out of ordinary moments. As 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. But it is utterly natural again a part of the very nature. Of the world. In all of that imp. Adhere to my mind at least. Is the real theological 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. 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 of the horrendous. And the horrible in the heartbreak. Yes our world is full of glorious sunsets. And laughing children and brave men and women living courageously and compassionately. And 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. Acumen viciousness. Of evil. And indifference. Of disasters. And random abundant sorrows. Simply break. Yes. We read in the morning paper. About the miraculous mine rescue that saves 47 chilean guys. 4 to miles. 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 whale eye. Is. Eternally strong. Astounding grace. And on answer. And this existential understanding of life's. Bittersweet mix. Brings me to what i think is the worst. Full idea. In the world which gets so many. In spiritual trouble. Many people. In this community for. Predicate their face. In the worthiness and purposefulness of life. The assumption that there is holiness in charge. The god or some other. Transcendence. 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 it one 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 street. 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. Which 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. Disa 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 i'm 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 happened. Terrible. Our creation just has too much tragedy and sorrow for this theological idea to make any sense. I believe with all my heart. That abundant holiness. Is everywhere. To be seen. And known. But it is tragically again offset by. And this brings me on the 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. It's 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 and 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. With her listen to the way. My colleague matt alspaugh. 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. What a transformative presents. That is like us 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. 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 us 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. Joy and beauty. Let me return to the story i told you at the beginning of the sermon about my moment on the. 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. The 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 responsibly human. It's an extremely useful concept. No let me be very clear about. Process theology is very missed. Construe. But what i find you. To describe god is a living breathing participatory organic verb. As a holy transformative powers sunk deep down in creation that is available to us and invites us. Lures that begs us call them out. As we journey in our everyday relationships toward everything that is good and justin beautiful this field. Just write the. As a 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. When 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 about. 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 suppose that's maybe something running to half of you. I suppose that i thinking of the process the illusions. The scott 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 a spiritually fulfilling. To believe as i do. But there is. A transformative. Holy power. Available in. Recreation. Embedded in all things. With which i can. Participate. And making my world more meaningful. More just. Humane and more butte. It gives me great. And hope. Feel there's a dynamic presence astor. Stirring creation like a wind. Not at all powerful. Not able to fix all. But amazingly. The thrive life profligate. Possibilities. Is constantly luring me. To a life. Greater troy and. Thanking me. To lend myself. Is that reliable. Sodor vero friends whether you describe yourself as a christian. Or did you. Or ses. Or an agnostic. Or any theists or humanist. Or you're just plain confused. I pray. That you open yourself to that dearest. Freshness. And deep down thing. 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 has to offer. And plus help expand the grace and the goodness. This is a. Commandment. Opening your heart. Lending. To all. That is safe. 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. Evermore generosity.

uufvb_org

2015Dec06Sermon128.mp3

Good morning welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach this is a place where we answer the violence of the world. Hope. Love and care. Abc about that this morning. Please know that you are welcome precisely as you come to us this morning and all the particulars again. Particularity in charm. Whether you're young or old gay or straight black or white or latino or some other wonderful shade of humanity. What do you have a ged or a phd with your visitor with us this morning or been coming for decades. Whether you're feeling absolutely on top of the world this morning or fearful or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. You're welcome really hope that you'll find this service meaningful. Enriching it you'll find something here this morning to take with you. To make the days on the weeks i had more meaningful insecure and lovely. Welcome to this second sunday of advent. In the christian calendar. Enter the first day of hanukkah in the jewish calendar. December is a sacred time for many religious people's all around the world. As they celebrate their respective festivals of life. At this darkest time of the year. May we enter into the service this morning with peace. Hope. And love on our hearts. And let us all aspire. To be a blessing to those around us. This day and everyday. Enjoy this poem. By adam. Designer juice ski. A polish. Poet novelist. Translator and essayist. He was awarded the 2004 neustadt international prize for literature. Will observe our moment meditation immediately following the poem and scott will ring the bell. To signal the end of our meditation. Called try to play praise the mutilated world. Try to praise the mutilated world. Remember june's long days. And wild strawberries drops of wine. The jew. The nettles. That methodically overgrow the abandoned homesteads of x-files. You must praise the mutilated world you watched. The stylish yachts and ships. One of them had a long trip ahead of it. Well salty oblivion awaited the others. You've seen the refugees heading nowhere. You've heard the executioner's sing joyfully. You should praise the mutilated world. Remember the moments when we were together. In a white room and the curtain fluttered. Return in thought. To the concert. Where music flared. You gathered acorns in the park in autumn. And leaves eddie over the earth scars. Praise the mutilated world. And the grey-feather a thrush lost. And a gentle light that strays and vanishes. And returns. This morning. Ellen and i are going to be sharing with you. An ancient whatever new spiritual idea. Phone alarm. The blinds at the very center and soul of modern judaism and i will be suggesting to you also lied. Epicenter and soul of our unitarian. Universalism. In hebrew the word cocoon means. To repair or perfection and the world word hola means world so the phrase. Cocoon olam literally means. To repair the world. The phrase hakuna llamas found in the mishnah. A body of classical rabbinical teachings compiled in the third century. What did not achieve its full expression in judaism until the 16th century. When a palestinian rabbi by the name of isaac luria revolutionized the study of jewish mystical thought. Through the kabbalah. With among other things a beautiful creation myth. Which tells the story about how good and evil came into the world. According to lorio and now i quote. A modern rabbi describing the teachings and you've already seen the basic outlines of the story and what claudia and paul share to the time for all ages. But according to loria. God created the world. Life warming vessels of light. To hold the divine light. What is god in the spiritual realm for delight into the vessel they catastrophically shattered. Dial tumbling down toward the earth which is the realm of matter. That's our world the miskos consists of countless shards. Of the original vessels in trap. Sparks of the divine life. And these charts oven trap light aware all the bad. And the evil of our world resides. Humanity's great and intermittent eternal task then. Cocoon alarm. Involved helping god. Helping god by freeing and reuniting the scattered life. Through acts of loving-kindness and social justice. Raising the sparks back to divinity. And restoring. The broken world. The spiritual work the code olam encompasses both outer and inner dimensions. Outward service to society by helping those in need. An inward service to the divine by liberating the sparks within each of us the divine spark in us. Our purpose as jews write another rabbi. Is therefore to help gather the lost light. In other words whenever a jew follows the commandment to serve what is good a right to call the mitzvah. Or work to make the world a better place by working. Either individually or collectively for social justice. For improving their own soul. They become partners with god. In repairing or healing the world. To define perfection. Here is the definition of tacoma alarm found on the website of reform judaism. Dakota lamas judaism envisioning an ideal world. Often translated to mean repair of the world. And even as social justice. Dakota lamas underpins our religious way of life. And perspective that works toward a time of peace. Not just ending war but a time of prosperity health and justice. For all. And then the website goes on. For reform jews. The importance of working individually and collectively toward a better and redeemed world. Is vital to our understanding of what. An active being an active jew memes. Another rabbi writes this. The most modern and broadly understood notion of tikkun olam. Is that a preparing the world. Through human action. Humanity's great responsibility than it is to change improve and fix. It's earthly surrounding through acts of loving-kindness. And justice and righteousness. It implied that each person and here's the inkey idea. Each person has a hand working for the betterment. Of his or her own existence. As well as the lives of all future generations. The coulomb force has people to take ownership. Ownership of their world in all their human frailty. Not god it is not god. Who it is it is them. In all their human frailty not god who will bring the world back. To its original. State. Appointment. This morning i have asked ellen to shots who is both an active member of our congregation end of temple beth sholom up on 43rd avenue. To share what ticuna loan personally means to her as a religious and spiritual person. And after she speaks to us. I will then share how i feel to cuddle long speaks directly to our spiritual journey. Is unitarian universalist an l and thank you for being with us. As scott has just shared. Depue nola. Or the business of repairing the world. Is at the heart. Of a powerful 16th. Centurytel. It is a cabalistic tale. By the great rabbi isaac luria. That today forms. The social justice platform. Upon which. Active and reform judaism dress. In judaism. Tikkun olam. Repairing the world. Is a call to action. There is no rest. We must. We are obligated. The help gather the sparks. Until all is made whole. No one should be left behind. We are to search. Everywhere and in the most unlikely places until all and everyone. And everything. Is that to rights. In the jewish faith we are to do justice. Seek mercy and walk. Humbly. One of ourselves. We are not exempted. From this search for the sparks. Scattered scattered by the broken vessels. At the moment of creation. We are obligated to search. Deep inside ourselves. To repair when it's broken. This is a spiritual work we must do. Every hour. Of every day and yet i would ask. How does. One broken vessel. Repair another broken vessel. How does one who is broken even recognize. His or her own brokenness. How does 1/2 c. What is unseen. How do we search. Inside the dark of our own shells. Another hasidic tale. Speaks to this dilemma by saying that. Even angels who searched afterlost things are themselves sometimes lost. And that there's only one way. One way to search in the dark. That's why the light of the soul. Perhaps as rabbi lawrence kushner suggest. The answer is in our connection to and and with others. Perhaps. The very nature of our spiritual interdependence i would argue. Mexican olam. Possible. Although i shared this quote. At some point. It bears repeating. It is. A beautiful quote that. I think about a lot. Everyone carries with them at least one. And probably many pieces. Does someone else's puzzle. Sometimes they know it. Sometimes they don't. And when you present your peace. Which is worthless to you. To another. Whether you know it or not. Or whether they know it or not. You are a messenger. From the most. Hi. As a jew my fake both challenges me. To share the pieces of my puzzle and to appreciate. Did someone is sharing his or hers. I use the term appreciate because it takes a lot of patience. Empathy. Understanding and wisdom. To perceive that something of value is always. Always being shared. Whether we know it or not. Whether they know it or not. Weather in intimate conversation. With a single individual or when one is engaged in larger activities for example. A community effort toward reaching a larger goal. Something is always shared to. When we participate in an inner dialogue. Wood works of art such as going to a museum or enjoying a thought-provoking film. Or reading a book. Some may call this living with emotional intensity but i believe it is the only way. The road less taken. As the famous poet robert frost has said. I made this commitment long ago as a sixteen-year-old. Confirm and at temple. I said i would brave the road less taken and i am still on that path. I find that often these sheer gifts or pieces of the puzzle. To which rabbi kushner has referred canby. As elusive as. Attempting to catch. Drops of rain fall. Thoughts and ideas. I like that. Every time. This. Gentle mist. Of shared connection surrounds me. I'm aware that i've somehow. Been a part of making and participating in act. I am repairing the world and i have been repaired intern. The world. My world. Is sweeter. Chandler. Kinder. I may have engaged in some action. And or something is come together. In a new way. I've made a new connection to someone or something. I think to myself. And god. And his human creations are recreating the world. Ourworld. And it is still. Good. In this way to coon alarm is not simply an isolated individual action but rather it invokes a reciprocal relationship. Between our spiritual and physical cell. In judaism. God is a spiritual partner in always big. Ann small. Like close family members we may argue and bargain we may spill our blood and our tears over how to act. But we always seem to find a way to gather the sparks. Together. God the force that we can never entirely grasp with our intellect. Light our path. So that. We can see. By the light of the soul. Everyone who seeks. And seized by that white. Is a force for good. Some hear the music. Some create the imagery of peace. Through paintings and some start the dialogue. With work or community action. With words for community action. These can be the missing pieces. To help our weary world and spur us to action. As well. The many faces of the arts often reveal to me the hidden pieces to my personal. Inner puzzle. They comprise the road less taken. But the road with. Endless possibilities for the gathering of sparks. Cocoon olam. Tune. The late rabbi allen liu had this to say and i couldn't say it any better than he has. Every moment of my life. I am utterly powerless. An infinitely powerful. Every moment of my life. Inscape by everything that has ever happened since the creation of the universe and every moment i am free. To act in a way that will alter the course of that great flow of being forever. And here at the core of our life. Paradoxical center. There is a mysterious. Inexplicable senseless. Joy. The poet gerald stern. Captures this joy quite precisely in the poem. Lucky life. Dear waves. What would you do for me this year. Will you drown out my screen. Will you let me rise through the fog. Will you fill me with that old salt feeling. Will you let me take my long steps in the cold sand. Will you let me lie on the white bedspread and study the black cloud. With blue hole in them. Will you let me see the rusty trees and the old model planes. One more year. Will you still let me draw my sacred figures. And move the kites and the birds around. With my dark mind. Lucky life is like this. Lucky there is an ocean to come to. Lucky you can judge yourself. In this water. Lucky you can be purified over and over again lucky there is the same cleanliness for everyone. Lucky life is like that. Lucky life. Oh lucky life. Oh lucky lucky life. Lucky. Life. My wish for each of us is that we may find the way to repair what is broken. Within ourselves. So that we can begin to repair world. That desperately needs. Our love. Our hope. Our action. And most of all needs our. Community. Unitarian universalism has always been a faith. But has seen the divine light in the world and sought to bring its pieces together. Unitarian the idea that. Creationism one hole we have always believed that human society. Can reflect the highest light and love of the universe which is why for the last 200 years we have always been a religion. Reform-minded trying to improve society. We also were tradition that always talk that's the outer dimension. Cool alarm. We have also been an inwardly directed tradition. Leaving salvation by character. Each of us has a divine light that flickers within. And our job is a human being is to increase that flicker to a big write holy flame. But everyone can see and that makes a difference in the way you touch life and relate to all being. We're very very simpatico. With. With what. Vision optical alarm. And this is why as a congregation. We do so much work in our community with the hope for family center in all of the all of the work we do in this community. To try to make it better. World thinking of things like martin marching in the martin luther king day parade in preparing meals and. Working to make refugees feel safe in america. There are just so many things. For us to do. These as i've observed earlier are very dangerous times for america. And the one thing we cannot afford is to lose our vision. That our society and our world still can be brought to a place of divine life. A place of sacred wholeness a place of justice and truth and peace. It seems a very long way and seems like the shards. Of god's light are sharp and our bitter now in our world with san bernardino and colorado springs and all the other. Evil shard. That are piercing our hearts. We must never give up on the vision. Who do love. We can live for the divine place within. And we can help to create. A divine kingdom. For all. You must never forget that that is our duty. And our privilege. It's on the first day of hanukkah. When we celebrate the unlikely miracle of the lamp staying lit for 8 days. Let us unitarian universalists recommit ourselves to the idea. Cocoon olam. The duty and the freedom we have. A spiritual and ethical being. To gather and share divine life. Is the scattered all about us and is very much alive. Within us. Here is a great good. Spiritual news. What's judaism. And unitarian universalism. Share with. Real human being. As fragile and finite and frail as we inevitably are. Can on the left spring rate light and holiness into the world and help repair. And make beautiful and good again. Ourworld. Let us this day and every day be about that fully test. Nothing. Let us then leave this sacred space. And this sacred hour recommitted to doing the work. A cocoon alarm. All. Prepare our broken world. Working both within our own soul and out in the wider world. Bring more peace. More justice more decency and love to everything and everyone we touch. Yes. Cocoon alarm repairing the world. It's at all work order. As we are human beings. And we can do it. Amman.

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2013Apr21Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. You lived in boston for 10 years of my life. Call the pendant watertown on friday during the latest. My heart has been open and 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 years ago. This morning. We were carnation standing on the side of love. Seeking to become our best individual selves evenness together. Wework. To make a better world. Please know that you're welcome just as you come to us this morning. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shaded. Whether you were feeling on top of the world this morning. 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. The nurse is your spirit and feed your soul and gives you renewed home then. Today we celebrate earth day. Unitarian universalist association has a history of environmental consciousness. R7 principle states that request for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part it was added to the other principles during the seventies. The 1970s. R6 source of inspiration learning includes. Spiritual teachings and traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature and it was during the 1980s. Are 2060 action issue was 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 assembly since 1962. This fellowship celebrate thursday intentionally year because we are a sanctuary and for those of you who are fairly new 2006 and accredited green sanctuary congregation. The process involved in extensive audit of our environmental practices in several facets of congregational life. In our education programs and in our community involvement. Our newly-formed green sanctuary task force developed a three-year plan with 14 objectives. Which we accomplished fellowship received green sanctuary certificate in june of 2009 and we continue to be mindful of green practices in our everyday life. If any of you are interested in getting involved in this passage of our fellowship please pick me up after your coffee hour today or give me a call at home sometime this evening. And now it's got my start alice will you join this meeting and reading the words printed both on the screen and in your water service acknowledged as you love your mom be kind heart why the world remember in our world. Good morning today for time ages national list for you and a few years ago to sanctuary on sunday morning so as i was preparing the list of things to do. This was one of the resources so here is my list for our children their parents and for all of you one turn off entertainment devices and number to celebrate car free day number 3 instead of gifts such as volunteering for a cause instead of paper napkins cloth quality. That means it has no poisonous substances is it biodegradable can it be broken down by living organisms like insect bacteria or fungi i know that you do a lot of these things but in case. Morning i wanted to tell you birthday sunday. Absolutely the most delicious summers of my entire life. Summerwood realize which comprised of killer gloria. And almost accidental simplicity. It was the summer of 1988. Church of the larger fellowship located in headquarters. Immediately. The running water caves unfiltered straight from the lakeside pub drinking water came from the artesian springs located. Semblance of privacy was attached to a nearby tree the stone-cold dual hot place the only. And we had mice and the toilet least favorite aspect. Spacek. Right on the clear cool lake with high green hills around it was about a dozen pairs of noisy moon. The setting was magical. Morning. summer we awoke for the sun pouring into our titusville bedroom for across the leg. Serenaded weed by songbirds kirsten the high treason begin each day by drinking strong black coffee. Dwight mug. Every morning dangling artis office coming back from his subjects would come up and. Porto's. Each night went to sleep in the sounds of the loons. 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 rain in tustin ruth came alive with the sounds of dancing water. Thunder and lightning with shake the whole structure. Swam. And rad went canoeing and jog. 4 miles on the dirt road. Dinner usually out still outside of the stone bbq pit listen to all things considered for of cards. And because we were on strictly reduced work. Simple hearty food and drank cheap beer. Smoke even cheaper little cigars one per day on the bus. This was the summer we live without the comforts. Sort of homeless summer with all of its imposing frozen simplicity. We were surrounded by a wealth of the satisfaction that i have never again experience. Summernats simple little rustic cabin we had so big limani. Much more abundance than anyone could ever ask for. So much simple national wealth. After so many wonderful summer weeks is finally came time to close up the camp take out the pump out of a lake. Move to boston. We sadly said goodbye to that magical time. Summer i've learned that lesson. Can definitely be more. Irregardless sunday earth day 2012 when i shared my belief. In the very near future humanity all of us. We need to begin to learn how to live on earth more simply. I quoted the nolan environmentalist bill mckibben from his book early. And he sells a t a a r c h. Population growth. Activities. Exploitation of natural resources and climate change. The stable for humanity is known for so many centuries. What does sustainable mean. Icarus is already lost. And now all is 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 compromising global habitat. Compromising quality of life i called now i'm a fearful but optimistic mckibben. .. The time has already come here ice. The time is already passed for urgency. If we are to save ourselves. And the planet we must create 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 reassured me this is so. Despite the widespread and some cases environmental damage occurred. There is sufficient time. Emerging environmental understandings and sustainable technologies. For humanity to change his ways. New lifestyles and consumption habits. Testicles livwell and protect the fragile ecosystems of earth. For future generations. What will be requiring the new as an crystal consequence. The new commandment on all our parts. And other parts of all governments. At all corporations agency. Set a responsible to help shape our shared human future on this planet. A year ago lol just say. Irrefutable. The mckibben is right. About the urgent ecological situation we find ourselves in at this time. Is over the coming years and decades is a new and insistent theology of relinquishment. Theology of relinquishment. New ethic of voluntary simplicity a lifestyle of purposely living with less. A theology. Overweight. An ethic of all time. Purposely. Living with less. The way we live on our mother earth to save us all. In the very near future. During our lifetime. Set a reminder to lifetime some of your grandparents and great-grandparents. Jefferson county. We must 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 collect his conviction. To live more modestly and gently and responsibly under and this means. Minion do with smaller homes. Smart i wanna die. Floor wardrobe. Greatly reduced energy consumption including much less wasteful use of air conditioning and heating. That's discretionary travel. For carpooling that transit bicycling. Troy 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. Reese's fast food or highly processed frozen meals. Candlelight. Turn off the electric lights computer and television when you do so. Pick long evening water shuffles rather than sitting at home watching tv or being glued to the internet burning up electricity. Hard for me but. Read your newspapers online rather than. Create a composting can i bought one yesterday on your property and cuts wave down at your bags of garbage next door neighbors and two kids. You can make in your lifestyle. As i observed in passing last year. This new ethic of voluntary simplicity which means purposes living with quizlet. To live with the alfred accoutrements of our lifestyle. Yeah. More. Ultimately for us as creatures of earth. That's our message to you today. I can and will open for it has happened to cause me that summer. The good news for all of us as we face the leaner more challenging times ahead. Comparable. Out of this religion. I was just doing with less. Living more modestly will come a luau unclutter crystal new. And the first thing that is required. The moderate and reasonable lifestyle changes that will be required. Although under stress including environmental crisis our world remains. Full of abundance. There is enough snow for every man woman and child walks this amazing.. The new technologies will help us to that. All that is required. Is lavar hearts club. As mine did over that simple man cover. The life of les. Canby estate. To the citizens of this area we are going to control pesticides and fertilizers with hopefully. Wednesday in the paper in my object about this about the willful conversion of these saint augustine grass in augustine grass lawn in 2 months. Standard. 5 precinct. So my wife was. But i've got a better back. Welearn. We decided. Transplanted. Set alarm. Architectural. Selective jungle or or a controlled natural environment. When your 60 is control under 70 is a machete. Last tuesday with the leading from the university of florida. Estate 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 aquifer. Every osprey florida is in danger because of big sugar because if they speak of a big citrus and because of hot water your lawn. So what, that i have now is a family of three to five-year plan. Irrigation system irrigation system we hope to soon.. Reminder was john calvin from other people were hoping to create large islands where we in a used pebbles and other things other than saint augustine grass which doesn't require appendicitis. So. Nobody. Travis. I'm not interested. Native floridian 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 at the unit turned into a native environment. Plants together. Some kind of shady tree. Start building around that so they eat the smaller plants are protected by the shade. 11 water because they're canopy okay. People need to mix the certain types of plants. I have 18 different kinds of plants in my yard i just got them all they're all mixed together. I think they all like being together. And keep that to start fixing all the bad area. Any other islands or you can do it so you can do it little of time like maybe an island every year and also there's the expensive. And people.. Salon plants. Have any kind of wall until you home. What you put in. Just just a yarn like that itself. Prison. Or to just be there. Bruce story on telegram. Dragonfly. Can you sprain your yard you little monoculture. Dragonfly. Winston some rain and then the mosquitoes. Swarming problem we'll see about 2 weeks later will be swarms of dragonflies and i'll be out there just. The nickname for dragonfly around here. Because 9 episode the insects in your yard. Are not harmful they're just passing through. Do you fertilize at all the salon that you've left the monocrop. I got quite a few plants. I only i only fertilize my products in cereal. So much degrees coming to meet glitter falls on sunday never the same. Very cute plants need pelletized fertilizer. And of course if you cut your lawn and leave the grass dropping don't put a gun but leave them in the in the canal on itself. Self-fertilization. 7 kg. Certain types of native florida plants spread rapidly and and if they people like you are hiring the right plants that will grow fast. Youtube. Little tiny flowers. Lucifer. And then. Hungry. Wild coffee. It would be a great plan to put it in there. Start music. Great after work anymore. Good morning my name is gail parmentier i served his congregation tear of the fairtrade corner. Environmental sustainability is a major component fair trade movement. And didn't say besides claudia's wonderful this for giving you another things you might think about doing. How about doing it here at our fellowship. Do as much as you can every little bit helps. Are you ready tune. Number one turn out the lights. Part of the light stroll around building 78. 3 window coverings on the eastside of southside and the westside keep the sun out. Since 2010 the fairtrade corner has used profit to put reflecting tape on. 19 of the windows in this building and as long as we're doing that $3 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 really have to meet in person or can you stand together you really need to drive your every single day or two or three times on one day. Recycle aggressive. After today they will be all over the building next to the wastebasket you can put all kinds of paper. Coffee making team with brick and clarice hill fan. Every six-week when it's our turn make 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 just. Trying to not read all this getting late and i was looking at my notes. 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 friend. How about changing your light bulb 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 but we're brushing our teeth. 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've also lived in an rv where the volume of the output is justice significance so. Washer sale turn the water back on and rinse it off it works and 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 last of all 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 about all those chargers we have these days. 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 things that you can do turn off the lights and fix the thermostat in this building thank you. We send you on your way this week. Actor and towing chief dan george. The beauty of the trees. Stop listening. The fragrance of the grass. The summer of the mouth of the sea to me. The faintness of the stars on the flower. Australian fire. The taste of salmon. Betrayal of the sun. And a light that never goes away. They speak to me. My heart soars. Outdoorsy. Enjoy this wonderful world.

uufvb_org

2011Jan16Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning my african sisters. Thank you hey. There's no place else to be from according to. Mit. And according to the doctors and i don't know if this is true or not. But we all have an x chromosome a belly button and it is there anyone here that doesn't have one. Is there any men that didn't say hello back to me you have to remember you got a belly button you have an x chromosome. You're half my sister. So let's try it again good morning my african sisters. Oh yeah little education makes a lot of difference. And this is what the world needs a little bit more of. A little more education. And a little more yin feminine feminine energy. We need a little bit more. Compassion and happiness. And an appreciation. Of the divine feminine but i didn't come to talk about that today. But it's a part of the message. Because. When i hear. That doctor martin luther king is only a dreamer. It really grabs the feminine side of me and makes me want to shake. The other side. The guys that say this. And i'll tell you why. Because according to the world english dictionary. A dreamer is a person who dreams. Who lives in a world of fantasy. One who is impractical and unrealistic and the person whose ideas. Or projects are considered audacious. And highly speculative. And my question today. Is. Is dr. king more than a dreamer. Is he more than. A person who lives in a world of fantasy. And one who is impractical and unrealistic. If the dictionary carries is definition. Then our children today read this. Definition. And they become teachers and they teach other children. The doctor martin luther king was just a dreamer. And according to the same dictionary. It is considered an archaic notion. That a dreamer is a prophet. And visionary. Archaic. Today we're celebrating dr. martin luther king jr for his many contributions. To inspire. And lift the consciousness. Of those who would only dream. Of social justice. To becoming active participants on its. Such as is the case here. At my church at this church. At this uu fellowship. Dr. king's intense. Dr. king's insistence on nonviolence. His persistence in fighting for equality fairness and justice. For all mankind. And womankind. And his powerful enduring speeches are hmong. His most noteworthy legacy. However in some circles the power of his speeches. Are so watered down. That far too many folks only remember his i have a dream speech. No outside do you use fellowship there is a movement suggesting. That the only guy idea he left for us to ponder. Is that he had a dream. And through the years this mindset could make one thing. That his formula for social justice. Had become outmoded. And insignificant. An unrealistic. And that. My friends would be a travesty. Because dr. king. And the timeless reality. Of his lessons for life could be forgotten. Instead of remembering dr. king. As a great. And noble example. For all. Floyd w hayes the third who is the senior lecturer at the department of political science. At the johns hopkins university makes this statement. One example. Of an american. Personality. That has been trivialize. Is dr. martin luther king. Who has been reduced to that of a dreamer. Most young people if they know anything at all about king have heard of his i have a dream speech. And i add to his comments and that's about all they know. Well this trivialization is not common among you use circles. Irreverent look at kings formula. For his dreaming is worth. Flooring. And today as a storyteller. I intend to rebuild some of the elements of dreaming. The king used. And getting to his mountaintop speech. There are clear. And definite technical steps used. To accomplish his goal. For example. He had a clear vision of his goal. He designed the mantra to keep his mind on target. He stuck to each objective until he reached his goal. And he didn't try to do everything at once it was. One goal at a time. Because he stuck to his promise of non-violence. He graduated from this incarnation with honors. Some of those honors being. We have a national holiday. In his name. His birthplace. In atlanta is the united states of america national historic site. Atlanta is also the home of the martin luther king center near the ebenezer baptist church. Where he and his father. Martin luther king martin luther king jr. memorial will be. Which will feature a lot large statue of him. And a wall of quotations from his writings and speeches. Will be unveiled this year. August 28th. On the national mall. In washington dc. And countless buildings and highways and streets. Bear his name. Am i not on. I said don't worry. Be happy. This man dr. martin luther king. Is the greatest. Social activist. Of our or anytime. He absolutely deserves to be honored. And i'm very proud that my church. And not just on martin. Zucchine sunday. More than that i'm honored to speak to you today in celebration of his birthday. And as you've seen i invited a few of my friends. To help me honor him today that was paul amrut. Play the part of dr. martin luther king going before my aunt. Leslie. Bilotta was my aunt neil standard is the voice of. Martin luther king and p kersey is my man friday who is help me put all of this together. I also want to thank our pastor reverend scott alexander in the worship committee. For inviting me to speak today and as i said it is my honor. And i wanted to share with you in case you didn't understand a little scenario. The idea that scenario was. That martin luther king lived many lifetimes before now. And a lifetime see live we have documentation. Up two of them although we can't document reincarnation. And our church doesn't teach reincarnation. But it was my story. And the dates don't necessarily job because nat turner and denmark vesey kind of overlap but. But the idea. Was that there was a slave who wanted to organize slaves to get their freedom. And he did cause a lot of deaths. And then there was another slave nat turner. Who wanted to do the same thing and he tried not to kill anyone. Something happened something went wrong. He did. My aunt sent him back to school. And then martin luther when he finished his training he was sent here as martin luther king who we know. Did not. Kill a soul because of his non-violence now. You will find printed in your bulletin a quote. From shakespeare. That fills my heart. With love and helps me know. It helps me know that the whole european world is not out to get me. Coming to this church every sunday. Helps me know that that's not true. But there are times that i could fall back into old patterns. Just because the wounds may not have been entirely healed. And perhaps i haven't learned all my lessons. But there is a great poet who says. And if he should die. Take his body. Cut it into little stars. And he will make the face of heaven so fine. But all the world. Will be in love. Are these were the words. From shakespeare. But dr. martin luther king. Begin his eulogy. Reverend james reid. Who was the unitarian minister. And who was the first to fall after going to selma to walk in montgomery. And i think if king use these words. To honor someone else. He would appreciate having them said about him so i salute dr. king by saying. When he died. We took his body. And cut it into little star. And he has made the face of heaven so fine. That all the words. All the earth. And love the. And that's my dream. But right now i asked you to join me and reviewing. Some of his dreaming. I have to think with me. About whether or not the results. Of his life. Were those of just a dreamer. Is he really a person. Who lives in a world of fantasy and who is impractical. An unrealistic. And i'd like you to notice. How he describes his dream. There's so clear. But you can easily envision the conclusion of his goals. Actually his goals were mantras. For example. Let's get on the bus. And sit wherever we want sit. Let's have civil rights for all people. Let's all have the right to vote. Let's have lunch together. At the drugstore. Let's ride the bus. Together. From state-to-state. Let's win the war against segregation in the south. Oh yes i'll go ahead jail for what i believe. Let's have a freedom march in detroit let's have a freedom march in washington dc. And all of these things he accomplished. Before he gave his i have a dream speech. He accomplished all of these goals before he received nobel peace prize. And all of these impractical fanciful. Non realistic dreams came true. Before he reached the age of 35. I can't understand. How a person can do all of this. In this country. Before they reach the age of 35. Cuz i know i'm smart. I know i'm energetic i know i could inspire people and i haven't done that one single one of these things and i'm 73. I have to go back to school. But i do wonder how he became so smart. Wise and brilliant. So charismatic confident strong and assertive. I do wonder how he became so protective and resourceful and straight talkin and decisive. And what inspired him. To use his strength to improve the lives of others. What is it that ignited his passion. To become such a magnanimous hero. And inspiring to others. The answer is another element. Of his dream come true. Not really a technique but. It's something that was a part of his life. And it's that. Idea that you don't have to do it all in one life. He didn't do all of this in one life. He had all of these people. That i've named earlier to teach me cluding. The universal. Unitarian scripture. Gandhi. Jesus. Course i was one of us. In my story. But he had an opportunity to study for eons. To prepare him to come into this aren't incarnation. And do the work that he did. By the age of 35. If you're a musician you know. That mozart. Couldn't possibly have written symphonies. At age. 3. In one incarnation. But he's. He did that. And at age 4 he mastered the piano and the violin. That's a fact. They just never tell us because they don't know because we can't document. The reincarnation of soul. Well we can easy create a report card for this incarnation for dr. king. Going to ask you to participate in this. Because if you agree. That he was successful. And leaving a committed life behind. I want you to help me. Create. Report card. And when i read these accomplishments. All you have to say is check. Or i agree or yes. Or something. You know you old folks here i mean old man age but. The one through that have been around as long as i have you know i love amen so you can say amen if you want. He earned a doctorate in systematic theology from boston university. With that sound like something he's worthy of. Being honored for okay. His work has the supreme court to rule that bus segregation is illegal. Hugh stablish the southern christian leadership conference to fight segregation into a chief civil rights. He recovered from a near-death experience and harlem with didn't stop his forward motion. For a single moment other than. To allow him to catch a well-deserved nap at the hospital. And some good wishes from the public. Oh that was kind of soft. You don't he didn't need a break. Sometimes folks do become ill because that's the only socially acceptable acceptable way to stop what they're doing. He didn't create it on himself but nevertheless that was the only time you stop and rest. He met with president dwight eisenhower to discuss problems affecting black americans he was always meeting with some president. Thank you. He was jailed and released. After intervention by president john f kennedy and attorney general robert kennedy. Thank you for. His work caused the us supreme court to outlaw segregation in interstate transportation. And get this. Case you hadn't realized it. That included all people being allowed to sit together and ride the bus. And the boats and the trains in the airplane. From one state to another. I didn't do it. His work cause a so-called treaty to be established. It was named the birmingham agreement. Stating that the stores and the restaurants and the schools in birmingham alabama. Would be desegregated. And hiring a black. Would be implemented. This proved to be the turning point. In the war to end segregation in the south. He led the largest civil rights demonstration in history. With over 250,000 people in attendance in history up to that time. And that's where he delivered his. Famous i have a dream speech. And two more things. King attended the signing ceremony of the civil rights act. Of 1964. Which was a direct result of his work. And you know. He earned the coveted nobel peace prize. Which was awarded to him at age. 35 the youngest person. Ever. To be awarded. That prize for. There was another african-american who was awarded. The peace prize you may remember ralph bunche back in. 1950 he was a schoolmate of my mother's so. I kind of knew him but he didn't know me. But martin luther king was the younger. Ever. And after doing all of that. He gave us some new dream some new goals. He said. Through the south. Let's change the living conditions of the poor. Let's change the living conditions. Of the poor in chicago. Let's end discrimination in housing employment and schools. In chicago and hay while we're at it let's create a poor people's campaign focusing on job. And freedom. For the poor of all races. And then. I agree with you sister. And then. And then. Doctor martin luther king junior had the audacity. To not ask. But demand. A 12 billion dollar economic bill of rights. Guaranteeing employment to the able-bodied. Income to those unable to work. And an end the housing discrimination. Way to get that forsyth. How did he know we were going to be in this situation. That's the visionaries job. He saw it coming. You tried to do something about it early on and of course he's not the only one. Everything he did was standing on the shoulders of some giant before him but he's the one. That brought these ideas. And these golden these dreams to. Completion. He would have. Continue to work on that with annoying his success rate. We would have had a 12 million billion dollar. Bill. To help us with. Poor people. But that's when the powerbrokers new. They had to end doctor martin luther king's dreams. Because people believed in them. They believed in him. And more dangerous than that. The people believed in themselves. They really thought they could accomplish these dreams. And they thought they could accomplish. History. In the little time he had left. To live in the body in this incarnation. He shared more of his dreams. And more of his goals and vision. Let's have a freedom walk. In detroit. Let's march to support the sanitation workers on strike in memphis tennessee. Let's end. The war. In vietnam. Vietnam. Now he was meddling. In the war. In the. War machine. End. Taking people off the street and sending them over to some other country. To kill whole bunch of other folks. So that the war machine could continue. To be profitable. He had to go. And that's when the dreaming. Came to a halt. It was 6 11601 april 4th 1968. In memphis tennessee. They thought. It would end his shenanigans. Their actions turned him into. An eternal. Martyr. But don't linger on. The thought of his death too long. He's simply stepped up to ma'at's chambers once again. Annabelle weighing the heart. He said. I have. Many choices. Apple iwatch. Express my love for you. This next time. I will turn. I will turn to the almighty and ask. If you allow me to live just a few years. And second-half. Of the 20th century. I will be happy. Now that's a strange statement to make. Cuz the world's in a terrible state of chaos. Our nation is sick. There's trouble in the land. Confusion all around. But i know that only when it is darkest. Can you see the stars. I see god working in this. of the 20th century in a way that men are responding to. Something is happening in this world. The masses of people are rising up. And wherever they are assembled. What does ar in johannesburg. Nairobi kenya. Accra ghana. New york city atlanta. Jackson mississippi memphis tennessee or vero beach. The cry is always the same. We want to be. We want our dignity. Meant for you is i've been talkin about warren peace. But now the time for talk is over. Survival demands that we act. We no longer have a choice between violence and nonviolence. It's non-violence or non-existence. I want to be a part of the changes we will make using non-violence is our most effective tool. I want to serve as a drum major in the social justice parade. When i die. I want you to see that i was a drum major for justice. Say that i was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all the other things will not matter. I won't have any money to leave behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life. Believe. I just want to have. The committed life. And that's all that i want to say. And so ladies and gentlemen. Sisters and brothers. When we celebrate dr martin luther king's birthday in our own lives. I'm asking that you consider. Understanding that. Those stars that we turned his body into. Or actually you. And that you two have a mission. Whatever that mission is that you chose that's your mission that's your contribution. To humankind. And when you celebrate. This birthday. Do it everyday. You don't have to wait. Till next year. And one way i'd suggest you do this. Is to have a dream. Keep tabs of the conclusion that you come to. And brag about it. Write it in your diary that you had a dream and you did this tell her friend i had a dream and i did this come to church and tell us about it. Toot your own horn even if you only play it for yourself. Because too many of its this is part of that feminine energy that has been suppressed. Too many of us don't take the time to applaud ourselves. We don't let ourselves go before our inner my aunt. And we are heart and see how we're doing and then when we graduate say yay i did it. We just keep going back to school we keep saying i haven't done it well enough if you did it a little bit. It's good enough for today. The more you brag to yourself and i'm using the word brag because it has such a negative connotation. But you can lift it up the more you tell yourself. How wonderful you are. The better you will become. The more your dreams come true and you acknowledge hey i did this much of it that dream will go and get his uncles and aunts and cousins and sisters and brothers and bring some more back to some more success back to you. The more health and prosperity. Because lacking. Joy. Is the root of all of our ills. Malabar eels come from. The lack of personal joy. So i'm bite you. To consider. Applauding yourself giving yourself a report card nobel peace prize or whatever the prizes that goes with your mission. And if you want to serve people and you don't know how to do it will help you. When we finish today you can go to the coffee. Table go to the coffee room. At the social justice table they'll be one or more people there. To tell you about the many program church has. That you can be involved in to help you. Serve people to help you get started. And whatever you do for others. In conclusion. Do it for yourself. And so it is thank you.

uufvb_org

2012Jun03Sermon128.mp3

Today's service of worship. It's just a little bit out of the ordinary. The style of the sermon to be presented this morning is somewhat of a history lecture. With spiritual feeling woven throughout the pieces. I say pieces. Because the sermon is based on the stained glass window. What you gaze at each sunday morning. It's called a stained-glass sermon. Big surprise. Adobe slide showing sections of the window at a time. And my commentary and philosophizing. On. Each of the symbols incorporated. In that window. The service will also be one of exhortation. Urging one at all to live the life as prescribed in our 7 principles. It's my contention. That. If we proceed any act verbal or physical. With the internal question to our self. Is this consistent. With one or more of the uu principles. Our life. And other people's lies with us. Will be greatly enhanced. More enjoyable. And more worthwhile to you and to those around you. Does it sound simple of course. But it's not. It takes concentration and takes a while to develop the habit. I lay no claim to being a paragon of virtue in this. Respect when it comes to doing this myself. However. I do lay claim to be a person who strives to do this throughout my daily life. Not our first him this morning. Has elements of what i just said will be singing about truth standing like a rock. Coming together as one. Life is good. Love. Is with us always. It will just allow it to come in. And sing the songs. Our lives. And religion. Are full of symbols. Here. On the slide. There it is. Ark few symbols. The chalice of our uu fellowship. The fellowship of welcoming congregations and in the center. Is the stained glass window. As it originally looked. The day we first step foot in this building in 2005. How many times. Do we look at something. Or someone. While walking past. Hey you don't really see it. Look up there. Header stained glass window. How many times have you looked at that. And wondered about all those symbols that are embedded in there. Healthy. Do you you. Unitarian universalist. Backup a second. All through 2005. This building was the site of. Hard work. By many. Making it basically what you see before you today. Let me ask a question. How many of you. Here. Started with this fellowship. Before january of 2006 bc some hands. Less than half the congregation. Now. Most of you. Probably know a lot of history. But the rest of you may or may not know. Show me the history of the stained glass. And the chalice itself. Would you do me a favor and. Turn the spotlight on you did already. You jumped the gun. You noticed it. The chalice. Looks a whole lot different without that spotlight. Okay switch it back on out. I'll talk a little bit more about that in a short while. First of all. Maybe remind those who do not know. That this building was originally a church of god house of worship. How many of you may have found that out by reading the press journal article that's got referred to earlier. As they told me. Little bit of the history of. Church of god. That we came into this building from. No that flat platform. Underneath the stained glass. Incaseyoudidntknow contains a baptismal font. Where folks were baptized by total immersion. It seems only right and proper. That. We are here in what was once a bastion of christianity. Because our very roots. Or in that religion. And we have expanded from there to embrace any and all religious persons who wish to worship. Without being found to a static. Today a little trip. Through fields of stained glass. The glass was here when we moved into the building left over from the church of god. It was a lot. Conversation about that piece of artwork. Someone at 2. Go away. Others watered it. Covered up. What if you saw an opportunity. To combine the faith of unitarian-universalism with the roots of our being. But i get ahead of myself. Let's take a closer look at this piece of artwork. Are going to start at the bottom. And work our way to the top. The first thing you see at the bottom or what looks like perhaps rocks in that half circle. And on either side. With a stalk of corn. Shooting up. Through the center. Not to me. And please take note that all this about these symbols in the stained-glass are all my own interpretation. Disappear symbolic of nature at its base the ground. Yielding the harvest of food. And food is basic to nearly all religion. From jesus feeding the multitude with fish. To hear at the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach fourth friday. Or we feed one another. But of course we do more than feed one another sustenance for the body together here we revel in the fact that we gather and always seek that loving community. And similarity of religious liberalism that marks us as you use. We glorify. Constant seeking for what we perceive. As religious truth. The reaching for spirituality. And sowing the seeds. Of our brand. A religion. I take another look carefully at the stained-glass on the screen the note that bursting out of each side of the ear of corn. Reaching for the surface of the earth. Is a cross. The ultimate symbol of christianity. This is so absolutely appropriate. What are you you house of worship. The grounding the base of all living things comes from the earth and nature. Just like the grounding the base of our uu religion comes from christianity. So there you have it in the stained glass window. Orbitz. Coming up from the very beginnings of our faith. So what else do we see in the bottom section. Of the stained-glass. Well to me it looks like a pair of hands on each side. Cupped around a positive and a negative symbol. Of course. Life is full of both sides of the equation. And seldom. Are we writing the perfectly balanced. Between positive and negative. Let's take for example the change that is about to happen in our religious music program here at you ufab. Anne hosler our director of music. Is about to head north to her homeland. Now that's both positive and negative. Positive and what she's done for us in the fellowship and negative in that she will no longer be with us. But. We will have a new director. To help l. Out of the wilderness. And point the way for us to become perhaps. Even more and better musically and spiritual. That's distinctly positive. The negative side. Paint. Change always difficult. Like coping with the construction of a new roof. The fixing of our walls. The installation of an elevator. Paying. But like the cupped hands in the stained-glass if we embrace both the positive and the negative. Live with it and see where it can take us will be a better congregation. For having done that extra. So the cupped hands are above ground. Out in the air. Reading free with us. Embracing us embracing life. Be like those hands. Embrace what's coming next. Pray if you do. You'll like it. A lot. There's a rainbow in the sky in the next section of our stained glass window now i strongly suspect that the meaning of that rainbow in the previous incarnation of of a church in these halls is far different. Then what we are welcoming congregation give to that simple. I guess we all know the previous meaning of the rainbow. Set this guy as a promise from god to noah and the children of the earth. After the great flood quote genesis chapter 9 verses 13 through 15. I do set my bow in the cloud. And it shall be for a token of a covenant. Be of the earth. And it shall come to pass. When i bring a cloud over the earth. At the bowl shall be seen in the cloud and i will remember my covenant. Which is between me and you. And every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall no more become a flood. To destroy. So that's what the rainbow means in the basis of our religious heritage. As far as the rainbow flag being adopted as a main symbol of the gay rights movement in this country. A little history maybe in order. As i understand it and this comes largely from wikipedia a man named gilbert baker designed the rainbow flag for the 1978 san francisco gay freedom celebration. The flag does not depict or show an actual rainbow. Rather as originally designed the colors of the rainbow are displayed as horizontal stripes. With red at the top. Purple at the bottom. It represents the diversity of gays and lesbians around the world. The purple stripe sometimes replaced with a black stripe. The show masculinity. The other colors each have a special meaning also. Red stands for life. Orange stands for healing. Yellow stands for the sun. Green for nature. Blue for harmony. And purple stands for. The original rainbow flag had two additional strike. A pink stripe. Anaqua. These two colors are in the bisexual double triangle and the bright pink is also similar to what's called a pink triangle. The pink triangle is another symbol adopted by gays worldwide. As a direct result of hitler's germany forcing gays to wear a pink triangle on their clothing. The same way jews were marked with a special symbol. The original eight color rainbow flag flies over the castro in san francisco. And from the lesbian gay bisexual and transgender community center in new york city. No. Here we are. A welcoming congregation. With a rainbow. In our stained glass window. And i might mention on our order of service to. What a splendid. In fortuitous thing define. When we moved into these facilities. No trouble this may not be familiar with what welcoming congregation stands for in uu. That's an official designation from the unitarian universalist association of congregations. After. A congregation goes through a series. A meetings and discussions and comes to the conclusion. But yes. We do wish to be known as a fellowship that welcomes lgbtq. Lesbians gays by sex. I'm transgender. A group of human beings that have long been discriminated against. By society. And by the laws of various society. Our fellowship began the welcoming course of action then 2006 soon after moving into these quarters and several months later. Following much conversation. We applied for the designation welcoming congregation from the uua. And that plaque. Now stands proudly or hang is probably in her hole just inside the main entrance. Across from the nametag closet. If you hadn't noticed. Take a look. What about means is just as we you use drive to recognize the value and worthiness of all religions. We recognize and celebrate the fact. Other ways of living life and having interpersonal relationships are just as valuable and meaningful as the mainstream and should be not just honored. But welcomed and celebrated. These days. More and more individuals and organizations. Which have come to terms with race relations. Are not coming to terms with sexual relations as well. But like all large changes it is torturously slow and frustrating. For those facing the daily stress. Of discrimination. For many. It's still too daunting even dangerous. They come out of the closet. Here. All of us. Have found a home. To be ourselves. Of many religions. Sexual. And even political. Gay pride day. Was founded in 1988. A year after the half million strong march in washington dc in support of gay rights. In 1996 our national yu-gi-oh association adopted a resolution supporting the legal recognition of marriage between members of the same sex that argument still goes on across the nation today. I simply ask. Be aware of these things. Remember. We have the rainbow on our stained glass window. We are in fact a welcoming congregation. Do what's right. In concert with our first principle. Affirming the inherent worth. Indignity. Every. No. Let us move on to the next section of our stained glass. And what do we find here. The dove of peace. Flying through blue skies. Burying the traditional olive branch. This is an international symbol and we can take it to heart to stand for r6 the principal and unitarian universalist. Covenant with one another. We covenant to affirm and promote. The goal of world community. With peace. Liberty. Justice. For all. Take a real close look at that prints. The first part. We covenant and affirm. The goal of world. Community. I have noticed lately. And you probably have noticed as well you can hardly not. World community. Is staring us all in the face. Everyday now. We are into like it or not a true global economy. Almost everything we buy these days. Has some places in another country. From concept to manufacture to assembling to promoting. World. Community. If we don't stand up. Any embrace. What is best. About a world community. And what wonderful things at 10 bring. It's liable to run us over. And leave us gasping in the dust of the future. Wondering. What happened to our nation. In this. Brave new world. It 10 min the double piece flying through the blue skies of every land bringing peace once and for all. But that will not happen. Without a lot of work. A lot of words. Words from people like you. And me. Words placed in the right venues. Guided to the proper ears. Of those who would seek peace. Without selling our soul in the process. It seems to me. Our world is that a momentous point in history now. This globalization could run rampant and bring us an aldous huxley world of safety and peace. But no soul. It could bring us a rule of absolute capitalism. Or with careful guiding from folks. Fear that type of world. It could bring a world of harmony and striving for more and better control of our world its resources and ourselves. Nothing else. The groundwork for whatever is in our future and our grandchildren's future. Is being laid right now. And we need to pay attention. And voice are disquiet. Where that is needed. And our applause. Where that is desired. Industrial age brought about huge changes throughout the world but now we're into the electronic and cyberspace. My friends. Change is upon us. And the dove is flying through turbulent times. We must hope that dove. To hold onto that olive branch. And not lose sight of the rest of the gold in our sixth principle piece. Liberty. Justice for all. It seems to me that of the three-piece. Is the most attainable. But liberty and justice. Maybe the most endangered in the world in which we now live. Why would i say that. The most likely piece of the short one is going to be one by force of arms. Or force of economy. Such as the economic juggernaut. Being built in china these days. Either way. That kind of peace is not necessarily conducive to liberty. Today we in america have a mess of liberty. Invoice. And that's what i fear could be endangered first. Wasatch liberty is being enhanced by the cybernetics of today. At the same time we have people wanting us to be politically correct. In fought invoice. And of course we also have religious for that exit many stripes. Robbing at the mouth. Wishing you enforce their own brand of peace. If the liberty goes. Justice. Will not be far behind. So care tenderly for are dove of peace. Flying through our stained glass world. And try to discourage those carrying slingshots who would break that. Are you jealous. Up there. Is layered over a cross of christianity. Literally. Another challenge the stained-glass window contains the christian cross in a circle of white. Suu his laird itself over christianity and reached out to other religion. And the non-religious as well so we layered the chalice. Over the cross. Honor stained glass window. As a symbol. What does the chalice represent. In 1939 a czech artist named hands.. Was asked to design a symbol for the unitarian service committee which have been formed to assist people like him flee from the nazis. The motifs elected was the flaming chalice. It'll simple stylized modern form it's still used by the service,. Unitarian universalist association in the meantime adopted a version that sets the chalice within an interlocking double circle. No. Our particular chalice. What's a work of art crafted by paul pickell studios located on route 60 here in vero. And funded by a group known as the women's alliance. From yu-gi-oh. Originally hung on the wall behind the pulpit and our former home on 43rd avenue. As matter of fact. Stained glass window itself. Was also crafted by mr. pickell many years prior to him doing the chalice. The chalice. Carefully removed. And transported over here. Where the discussion took place. Where. Shall it be placed. On the wall behind the pulpit and some fashion was the logical thought. But there was this. Beautiful. Stained glass window. With a huge christian cross. Right in the middle of it. The creative minds and hands of ken wells. Anel parmentier. Whentowork. The chalice was mounted on gold painted wood then carefully hung suspended in front. Do the stained-glass. In front. The cross. We lighted up every sunday morning. What does spotlight. So let's take a look at our cellist point-by-point. The first thing to notice is that the circle around the chalice is not closed. We are not a religion to close others out. On the contrary we're open to others. The next thing the notices that the circle does not represent the traditional two interlocking circles going completely around. What are the things i really appreciate. About unitarian universalism is a fact that the religion itself is open to change. And in fact is constantly reinventing it. The interlocking circle stands for the merger of unitarianism and universalism back in 1961. Unitarianism standing for the belief there's only one god. Not a holy trinity. Has proclaimed in many christian churches. Universalism standing for a belief that salvation is universal. Not just for those who follow a certain creed. Those beliefs have not gone away over. Yours but youyou has enlarged. To encompass much more than those two belief systems. We have moved on to the point where the existence of god. Is frequently openly question. And certainly the manifestations of god are believed to be many. And divinity for most of us. In the uu world. Is within each of us. Not just within a certain holy figure. Agnostic. Atheist. Boots. Hindu muslim. Christian and more. Roll now invited in. So the interlocking circle of unitarianism and universalism as a symbol of it basic departure from mainstream christianity. Thunder hole quite the level of impact. As was once the case. So what else do we see about our chalice. The upper curve. Is the blue of the sky above. The lower curve the green of the earth. You can look at this as an upward reach for spirituality. And the clinging to nature. And the warmer that our feet at the same time. The chalice itself is earth tone brown. The flame-red for the fires within us. Seeking knowledge. Giving light. And hope. To those stretching away from our bondage. Restrictive lies physically and spiritually. And finally. At the top of it all. It comes together with red for the fire of freedom of religion. The blue sky. The rocks of the earth below us. The stars in the sky above us. Where humankind will always reach. And hunger. For the unknown. To be brought within our circle of. May it always be so. Amen.

uufvb_org

2014Oct19Sermon128.mp3

Well 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. Stay with us this morning. We are congregation is the graphics set. I've open minds loving hearts and helping hands people seeking to become our best individual selves. 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 down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We welcome you just as you come this morning. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. That you will find something here this morning to take with you to make the days ahead better for you. The sunday were exploring the legacy of a powell davies. What. 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. Help us to rejoice. And be glad in it. Let us come to each new day with freshness of 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 common aspirations. And of sharing. In combined achievements. For the power and outreach of the mind lighting the dark places of fear and ignorance. For imagination and insight. And the impulse. To discover. And create. For courage strengthened by defeat. Springers on to greater efforts. For the result to take our part. In the world increasing the common store of good. For all these and all the powers that dial has given us. Hopeless now to be newly thankful. And give us to know of god that even is the earth without us is our home. So also beauty truth and goodness. Are the home. Of our spirits. Help us to dwell at peace with them. Lead us away from all that would debase. And deplete us of life's zest. Cleanse thou our hearts of god. And lift us up. 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. Davis was 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. He used 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 he eloquently once put it life. Just a chance. 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. I'm going. To church. Let me tell you why. 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 too soon become too low a level. I must have my consciousness sharpened. Sharpen done till in goulds me to the most. Responsible and thorough thinking of which i am capable. I must feel again. The love i owe my fellow men and women. I must not only hear about it. 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 things undertaken at the level of idealism. Workday enthusiasm. Are not enough. They wear out too soon. I want to experience human nature at its best. And be reminded of its highest possibilities. And this happens to me. In church. It may seem as though the same things could be found in solitude. But it does not easily happened so. We meet each other as friends and neighbors anywhere and everywhere. What stroller. Do so in the consciousness of our souls deepest yearnings. Wooden church. We do. In a way that protects us from all that is intrusive. I'm leaves us knowing that we all have the same. Yearning. The same spiritual loneliness. The same need of 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. Through and experience. That renewed itself over and over again that in the heart of life there is a surance. The i can hold an ultimate belief. That all is well. And this happens. In church. Life must have its sacred moments and its holy places. The song always see it's nurture. For religious experience which is life at its most intense. Life at its best. Is something we cannot do without. I do not particularly ascribed the view of history. Which suggests that the course of human events is primarily determined. By 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. Who brightly shoot across the human sky achieving. You know fame and exceptionalism. Of course great individuals do great things. And often turn events by the sheer magnitude and power of their lives but they do not i think in the end. Drive the core reality. Of human history. But that said i want to tell the story this morning of a truly great individual. A man of 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. Wherever he went whatever he did whenever he spoke he moved things. Keychains. People. And institutions. And governments. And you made good things happen. In june of 1955 rev davies who would long long been an 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 and as you know predominantly black. Washington college. Which in those days seldomly acknowledged or honored non-black leaders. President mordecai's johnson citation to reverend davies however. Read the sli. A paul davies. Some 27 years ago you came to america from another country. I 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 convictions. And courage and risk to do so. As we have been the citation when i'm moved by you 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 deepened. The radius of our ethical life has been expanded to touch the ends of the earth. And there has been rising within us. A new wellspring of exhilarating. Moral. Energy. Unquote. Now. You might dismiss these glowing. Words of praise as excessive hyperbole brought on. Fire grand. Academic. Occasion. But that would be to not understand. The true greatness and breath. Of this humble looking he was a small guy. Physically. A paul 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 while working at his desk. 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 singled him out. As remarkably wise and courageous and prophetic. And those who knew him like marianne wentzell who will join me in 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 upon his death. 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. To his untimely death at the age of 55 in 1957. Here is what the post said about him. 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 poor for the passing of this courageous. Fiery and yet gentle spirit. Convenience and convention the post 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. And 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 note of 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 thusly. He has a very fast mine. And speaks very fast. He is fluent in a very pleasing orator. He has an air of utmost 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. Davies attracted many persons to listen to him. Because he had the courage to speak out and to speak out honestly. When many others. Horse island. Although gentle and generous in his personal relationships. He had a mind of steel. And never fell into the sleep of sentimentalism. Davies genius marshall goes on was that he could eloquently capture in the spoken word. The essence of universal concern. But actually i've also applied his principal. Indirect action. Andy was inspiring. He required that people look into themselves and space. 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. Who had 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. And said in 1946. Just two years after davies came to washington quote. In washington dc where many talk but few listen. Fair sharp profiled a pal 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 the fall in the in the every room in the church was full of people thousands came every sunday to hear him. Recent time magazine set. 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. No i could spend the whole morning quoting. People who nearly 60 years after his death. Speak in broad glowing. And broad glowing strokes. But i think. 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 enough. 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 an 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 19028 paul davies was drained. For the methodist 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 100. Free. When she died. And the week before she died she was sharp as ever an amazing woman in her own right. They serve 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 in 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. Which is served for 11 years until he came to all souls when marian met him. His summit years had many note. But perhaps the greatest of these. Was the leadership position he almost immediately assumed. And helping our denomination the american unitarian association. Move in 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. That it became after world war ii. Challenging the whole movement. To rise to greater spiritual opportunities that are a waiter that he wrote. The denomination must make up its mind. As to what unitarianism is. If we are just another protestant denomination he wrote. Then we have no distinction and no justification. For large-scale event. 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 be that 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 religion that would exclude no one. It remains today. That remains through 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. By the time he arrives at all souls in 44 davies an already 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 and arlington and fairfax. And then they gave birth to more congregation. He was the father of unitarianism. In. 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 gation going. It was hit with his arrival in washington the nation's capital. That 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 church there just about to spend about 12 million dollars. Fixing it up actually. Just a few blocks from the white house his strong confident and principled voice came to 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 throngs who came to hear the spellbinding. 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 often. 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 pews on a sunday. The church is once against booming under the leadership of the reverend rob hardy's a charismatic. And prophetic minister very much in the tradition of a paul davis. And i wanted to show you rob there is on the left that young gay man wonderful he's got a husband and a child now. That is then gun mayor adrian fenty. The day that they signed the marriage equality act not at city hall but it all souls church because underrot rev hardy's leadership. That current gation played 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 often remarkable results for example in 1945. Deeply troubled by the widespread starvation afflicting european. War refugees. Davey's preached a sermon about this crime against human decency. Which he believed 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 text of this 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 famine agency relief relief agency set up after the war. And thought. Through and then through compassionate citizen action finally go to the truman. Administration. Endo allocating adequate resources. To win the starvation of so many millions. Who would survive. The war. Another example. As 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. Never one to mix his words. At the moment it looked like the military might be given the power to do what they. Wished with nuclear weapons davies cried out. Batman 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. They've been carrying 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 a declared from his pulpit. There can be no segregation in the unitarian church. Without it ceasing to be really unitarian. The congregation voted to work fully for the abolition abolitionists of all prejudice and discrimination in the nation's capital. In 1953 sensing the things were not moving quote as rapidly as i had hoped. One sunday with nearly 1,200 people in the pews. Davey's pledged himself. And invited members of the current gation to join him. In refusing to patronize any restaurant in washington that would not serve black. Which was about 95%. Of the restaurants. He said from his pulpit. I shall myself. From this time on not knowingly eat a meal in 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 trenton. More than 40,000 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. 13. All of the. As national publicity about davies campaign. To desegregate the restaurant spread. Soon of these organizations popped up all across america. Deforest the desegregation of restaurants. Before the federal government did. Amazing. One more example. Since 1937 that the dc police association boys club. Had rented 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. Not to be defeated by this prejudice. Davies told the police association. Astalavista baby. And persuaded the unitarian service committee in boston. To fund and staff an integrated boys club. At the columbia heights boys club. Which quickly became. If 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 has long stood in washington as a shining example. Of human equality fair play and justice. One final example of this man's principled life. His courageous confrontation with joseph. Mccarthy. Senator. Joseph mccoy. Long committed to americans america's democratic ideals it surprised no one when dr. davies began speaking out forcefully. In from his pulpit when many workout. Find 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 communists. And then he went on to say. What we need is not merely anti-communism. But good americanism. With truth and justice as its bedrock principles. And 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 who ruled by fear and it would destroy us through fear must be vanquished by men of faith. He was tough. Mccarthy cell of course. In no small. Part due to the political and moral pressure. Ballin by 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 mary anne wentzel who knew a paul davis to join me over here for just a minute. To talk just a little bit more personally about him. Marion you knew a paul davies from your years as a young person washing his dc tell us about those years and and how you got to know him. Well i was sixteen when i fell davies came to all souls and washington. My father was the member of the search committee. Who travel to summit new jersey to hear him preach. With great enthusiasm. For this flight man. With a slight accent. But a fine mind. Strong convictions. And endless energy. Well that was 1944. I will also swith an interesting church. I grew up there. And i don't think you mentioned that when it was a very segregated city. How there were very few places where mixed races could sit down and have a public dinner. But also else was one of them. And i remember waiting on tables. When eleanor roosevelt was a guest speaker at just such a gathering. So i have some good memories of also. And then. Of course. I was 17 when the war ended. And 1945. You have seen the cake. And heard. The words of a powell davies and i was sitting there. When he was furious. That such a horrendous. Weapon would be so subtle frivolously. Celebrated. So he. Ascott has said. That he spent. A grade of time and effort. Seeing that this did not just stay in the arms of the military is one more. Weapon in their arsenal. But make sure that it had. Civilian control. I was sitting there for another interesting. Sermon. He had various examples of how we're responding. Two-piece. And. We did some funny things. Anyway. There have been lots of women in the military. In the wax women's army corps navy submarine safe. Gotrax new planes working. Factories and the fashion of the time was rather narrow silhouette. You may remember this receipt movie. Anyway. The end of the war came. And. In all this it wouldn't feeling. Fashion decreed the return of the big skirt. So. Hams went down lots of fabric. We had these big swishy skirts. Don't we didn't have to say fabric anymore this is what you were schnauzer that's true and davies used as an example of how we turn back. Two very private lives. Play all around the world. He was very aware and we should be aware. Of those people he's living in the devastation. It was left by wwii. And from. That's kind of an example he raise the consciousness. For the great outpouring from this country. He and many others. Ascending food. Clothing and help. For those to rebuild their lives. So one final question about. What what inspires you then today is a unitarian universalist from this life and in what. What did he what did he give you. Are we going to keep them too long. Okay. What inspired mean is the unitarian. Well dr. davies in his short years. Had unbounded like. He was very engaged in his time and place. He did not shrink. Controversy. He spoke. Truth to power. He led a very public life. Courageously opposing strong horses which he believed to be wrong. Espousing ideas that he believed to be right. And in the introduction to one of his books written at 1942 he says. The world is not a spectacle to stand apart wonder at. 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. All peoples. Over all ages. And cultures. He honored scholarship recent learning. As well. As words of wisdom from long ago and many lands. He spoke to us. As one. Ones who have within us powers untappd. Who in our small lives. Can have positive effect on our world. He urged us. 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 his widow what was the course of very active member of my church. Until i preached about him and 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 to two congregations full of. 300 people leave 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 it'll in agreeing a grape and a great life. You so busy saving the world he wasn't didn't have all that much time to be a good father and a. He had great faith in this country he. He. I don't know why he inirio came. Left the uk and came to the us. Most of our ancestors did the same thing they made that journey. Full of energy. And optimism. And. Sinking of the our vaunted values of freedom and. Opportunity and democracy. And willing to work hard. And that sounds like april davis. I think the point of this life. Is somebody that we have within us and i know if he'll believe this we all have great resources to follow the true. And the good 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 mean. And i found this very short a paul davies prayer. Which serves us this day as a benediction. Odell who is giving us powers. We seldom use. And possibilities. 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

2011Sep25Sermon32.mp3

Will you pray with me. Oh holy truth and love. Inspire this moment. In our speaking. And in our hearing. Elaine's thank you for your hospitality. Good choir thank you for your gracious music. Good congregation how wonderful to see you again. A lot of pain since i was with you last. Your rocking and your rolling. Those of you who are at leadership it heard me describe the unitarian universalist fellowship of euro beach has the most accomplished. And most accomplishing congregation in the entire florida district. And i say that with pride and humility. Because it's so. It's not to put down the other congregations but it is to honor that you are a congregation that believes in yourself. In our faith and in our witness. For tomorrow. I was delighted to learn recently that you've actually. Put together a five-year plan. Do you know how rare that is in congregation of life. And next month do i understand you'll actually begin discussing what that means for you. And where do you go next. You've got some wonderful ambition so. Goodonya. Congratulations. Don't rest on your laurels good people. Keep it going. I'd like to ask two questions of you this day. What unitarian-universalism good for. And what's good about unitarian universalism. Classic first question is they ask something about what it means to be human. Play the anthropologist call us homo sapiens sapiens. Because somewhere in the last 500,000 years. Not only did we become the reasoning animal. We became the animal aware of its own reasoning. If you listen to the poetic language of. Modern-day astrophysics they say nearest week until. Human beings are the universe become conscious of itself. Of itself omigod. I can't even think about what that means this. You look out there. That we can imagine and dream and unfathomable distances times. And somehow make sense of that. Yeah we have to be reasoning creatures. Anthropologist also. Describe this is. Homo ludens. The creature that loves to play no we're not unique in that. Almost all mammals play. That's probably a distinguishing feature between reptiles. And mammals. You've never seen a playful gator hat. Unless you talking about the football team and that's another story. More recently it seems we become temp defined as homo. Economist. Your worth as a human being. Is not inherent. Hazard principles with affirm. But rather what is your economic utility. Your value in society's only to the extent that you can buy and sell and trade things. And if you don't have anything to buy or sell or trade well then your worth is. Suspect. One-in-six american these days are told because they are poor. The society's not going to care about them anymore because they are somehow less worthy than the. For 500 families that control more than half. Of the u.s.. Economy. One-in-five children. Lives in poverty and we do not hear any conversation in their little discourse about what is our obligation to our children know it's only that the free market will solve all our problems but i'm not going to go down. Android just versus and economically justice today but i want to say ask yourself as beautiful. Are we defined by economics. Another definition of being human is osis. That there is something in our nature. Wonder the mystery of the universe. And try to make sense of it. And this is what we do. To ask what good is unitarian universalism however desperate up repos a certain utility when you got up this morning there was a part of you that had to choose between staying home and wash the rantings of the politicians on facebook nation. Or reading the paper. Or writing a book or reading a book going for bicycle ride. Walking the beach playing golf. Instead you chose to come here. And in your mind you said there's something in it for me to be here as opposed to be there. And we often look at our church life that way. Particular round stewardship time will iowa go to church 10 times a year let's see if i price that out on a. Per capita and per diem basis so i guess it's worth about. Oh maybe. $35. That's not an investment in the future is it that's. Token. Again it my purpose is not to talk about stewardship but just asked a question. Is there a healthy sense in which we ask what's in it for me when we come to church. Let's answer this way. All religions regardless. Do three things. The answer the question why am i here. What's my life purpose. How should i get along with all those other people. What's my moral. And finally who am i. What does it mean to be a human being. In the mixture of all the species i see around me. What does it mean to be a. A unitarian universalist human being contrasted to christian and hebrew and muslim human beings there something about. Somewhere else. So let me ask you. How do you. Answer the question. Why am i here. One of these things at unitarian universalism. And not to say here's the 22 points memorize these recite them regularly and you have your answer. But rather. This a part of being in a crucible of a congregation is to talk to each other at death. I go around this wonderful florida district and i will do a little exercise in the last people to share. One of the times they were in congregational life that changed her life forever. And invariably tears. At laughter. Come out of those conversations. And then i'll ask how many of you have ever had such a conversation in your church. It's sad how rarely. We have that depth conversation. So if you're not having already a structured programme which people get together and say this is what really matters to me. In a safe environment of maybe. Half a dozen to a dozen people. On a regular basis. I challenge you to do so. We need help but we need a small group to have that kind of conversation. Many religious faith traditions give you the 10 commandments by pillars. The three gods miracle answers to how you should live. We don't give you a. Checklist of universalist. But we do ask you to think about what does it mean to be a good person. And not just to come here and told your good person if you do these three things. That's all you have to do. But unitarian-universalism is good for is it says your religious life doesn't start and stop here. It's going to show up this afternoon when you're at the grocery store and you're frustrated with the line. It's going to show up tomorrow when somebody cut you off at traffic. Is going to show up tomorrow or the next day when you and your partner having one of those moments when you just as soon not see each other. And you don't walk away. And you stayed again. It's there when you hold. A baby in your arms and you remember that life is a gift. This is how you live your religious life so that's what unitarian-universalism is good for is to keep your face alive in your living. Do you have you have congregational. Polo shirts you have a congressional t-shirt that you wear around town. Hell. Let me ask. I saw scott. Had an article in the paper. This morning in which he identified himself as unitarian universalist and minister of this congregation. Have any of you written a letter to the paper here sit as a unitarian universalist i.... Raise your hand if you. A couple bravo. Heart of being in faith community is to bear witness to what we teach your so one of the things that you can turn universalism is good for is to teach you how to bear witness to your face. It seems to me that often we unitarian universalist listen to the parable in in. Matthew i believe it is where jesus talks about the. The person who goes out into the court and in the public square in suzhou lord lord lord praises himself. And praise. In jesus's which is the more faithful the ostentatious on display or the one in the closet we must think it's must be the one in the closet cuz we never tell people what we believe. We don't go to the city council meeting today. City fathers mothers i'm here tonight because my face asked me to be here and to bear witness to what you're about to do is noble. And we're here to support. That changing allow for healthcare for all your employees. Or will address issues of homelessness. We're here. Because our. Face. So that's a utilitarian answer so you don't have to be alone. And doing this work. What's good about unitarian universalism. I was so pleased today to. To remember that you had this little ritual with the stones i like this. Opportunity to signify there's joy and sorrow and prayer and. Hope a month do every week. I'd like to share 6. Stones of faith with you. The first five come from the writings of theologian james luther adams. 20th century theologian one of the great thinkers you can't become a unitarian universalist minister without reading all his. His stuff. And he was particularly concerned the dafree gathering of. People. Was how democracy works as a whole theology by voluntary associations as the bulwark against despotism. Hand. He built onto tocqueville observation americans are forming associations all the time there's clubs. Even in our congregations we have the. But yeah. Passwords to paint. The social hall. That voluntary group will dissolve in three months time but will have a new social hall. We have all kinds of things we have the united citizens. For the removal of the 28th street stop light. And we have more noble stuff. Americans concern for liberty and justice. And so forth. And i'll bet you belong to such free associations in addition to this one. So adams came up with five what he called smooth stones of. Free church. The first. Is that revelation. Is continuous. Unlike the other faith traditions what we say is god's not done yet. Hello. There's more. And. The holy whatever it is isn't just sort of a. A a scriptwriter and it and just turning the pages of the script but rather. The holy doesn't know what's on the next page either and. So we're all learning together. Heart of what's good about unitarian universalism as we don't expect you to have it all together. The first time the last time the next time you come here. Claudia so elegantly noted we are a face. Questions. So we can learn more. Learn richer about ourselves about one another what it means to be in community and indeed how to live in this. Difficult. The x world. For a smooth stone revelation is continuous. Add that to. I love that reference pond. The second smooth stone. But that's about possibility. The second smooth stone. Is about love. That each of us. He is worthy. This is a core teaching of universalism naturally. That no one here is ever to be given up on. Our relationships together however characterized especially in that they are freely chosen. The free church no one. Everclear all we do is consensual in nature. Indeed. At our best moments we all feel we are participant participating in the work of the church together. And at our worst moments is when we start bullying. Each other. Because we get anxious about getting our way. I confess. Frail human being i've been down that path. And so i'm grateful for the second smooth stone that reminds me. What's good about unitarian universalism is our relationships are. Free. Freely chosen. Consensual. And that's what it means to love one another. The third smooth stone. That atoms suggest we be mindful of. Is that it's not good enough to save our souls. It's important that we work on saving our souls cuz. We go out blighted thinking that we've got it all together and there's no more work to do we cause harm so we do need to do that still work everyday. And every time we come together and worship. But it's because we want to create justice in the world. And sometimes standing and speaking truth to power requires courage so that's another way to think of this third stone is that we are community that's premise on the courage to stand for what's right. True. Compassionate. Intern universes have a bit of a reputation for being social activist. And that's good. But it has to be grounded in love. To be truly. Social. And it has to be committed to the notion that all human beings. Are worthy of respect. Affirmation. Arcare and to demand that the society never give up on anyone's never throw anyone away. Well. I tell you it's easier for social. Groups to throw people away they don't like. Or don't understand. Right now here in florida were about to replicate. Arizona with an immigration law that says we're throwing some people out of here. They're different. It will take courage of unitarian universalist stand up against that. To stand up against the gay bashing that's going on in this community right now in pulpits across this city. It will take courage. To say we've got to do something about how we are. Dealing with his so-called tax question. When did it become possible for you to get rich without a society. Annatto something back. How do we have a civil conversation about the common good. Unitarian universalist versus voices should be. Courageous and speaking to that large. The 4th smooth stone. His stated as we deny. The only negative in this one. We deny the immaculate conception. Of the good. Good things come about. Hard work of human hands. Many religious communities say. The beloved kingdom will be found in heaven after this life. Or in your next incarnation your karma will take you to the next unfolding status. Of your goodness or you will somehow. I forget what the islamic. Promises but there's still something in the grapevine by rather than the here and now. If there's anything we want to borrow from the christian tradition it is jesus who said. The kingdom of god is at hand when we love the marginalized. And each other that was his only love one another he didn't say love those that agree with you we didn't say love those who are poor or rich. Blue green red yellow people he said love everybody. That's universalism folks. That's what's good about us. But we recognize that. There will be no messiah. To come save us. Unless it's in our hearts. And it shows up in our hands. So we deny the immaculate conception a good in the firm our responsibility. To be at work in the world. Creating. The beloved community. And the kingdom of the divine. The 5th smooth stone is called joy. And is written is. That the resort there are resources both divine and human. To help us achieve those very goals of love and justice. And therefore unitarian-universalism is a faith. Of joy. Not despair. At times i am have my face challenge. And i want to go 10 my little garden where maybe for a moment i can have some sense. Where i'm not despairing about the cruel miserable world. That i often see around me. And then i'm reminded that their resources both human and divine help me bring about the world i dream of and you are part of those resources and i give thanks. And i celebrate and i find joy. That we are together. This day. And in the days. There is reason for an ultimate. Optimism. In our face. That's one of the things that. Unitarian universalists good about unitarian universalism. Now those are jim adams 56. Some years ago i was invited to. David a candidate for the. Unitarian universalist congregation alexandria virginia. And as is our ritual i had to preach at one of the other congregations and i was preaching on forgiveness that day. And unbeknownst to me. They had placed a glass of water on the lectern. And i've never been one who drank water during my sermons. And so i get to the lectern. And i'm doing good i can't contact with the people again. Speak in my head and i take all those papers and song books around electrician. I pick him up. And i shove them underneath on the shelf. Water everywhere. I said to the congregation my sermon today is about forgiveness. I've just spilled water all over the place will you please forgive me and send some towels. I still got the car. I am very frail human being i do not live up to my ideals constantly i need to be in church to be reminded of my ideal i need you to hold me to account and importantly so i need you to love me in my frailty. And forgive me when i mess. And forgive yourselves when you mess up. We still suffer i fear that puritan urge to perfectionism and we do not give much grace to each other when things don't go well. We are embarking at the southern region of the unitarian universalism. On a grand new ambition to grow our faith. And we don't know how to do it. Quite candidly we're going to have to try some things that we've never tried before. And i said to our district board and two other leaders. We need to trade as a core value of our faith. Loving forgiveness for people who try things. And then a colleague gave me the phrase which i now pass on to you and hope you will use as you bumble along into your five-year plan. Aspira fail. 90% of new start-up businesses fail within the first year. Why do we and our church life expect everything to work the first time. But we do. We are off to often judgmental rather than loving and forgiving. And so i offer you a six stone. That good about unitarian universalist. We do not give up on one another. This is a community of compassion. Forgiveness. And staying at the table with one another. When we disappoint. And celebrating at the table when we succeed. So the six smooth stone of the free church. Is forgiveness. We live in uncertain times and so that last stone said yes to me your work. We need in these uncertain times of going from an old order to a not yet known new order. People who are confident. In their insecurities. I've said in my ministry being amateur unitarian universalist is becoming increasingly comfortable with ambiguity. Of not knowing. I'll try and get to figure it out. Knowing that he can be figured out. But not today. We need people who can be secure. And their insecurities and not grab the latest flotsam that floats by and call that. The final answer. Everytime i hear another politician get up i have a four-point plan. I want to gag. Shoe. 4-point play. But rather say let us commit to love one another. To be rational as much as we can to have the biggest heart that we've ever had before in our lives to have the courage of our convictions and to be known in this world as love church bringing love to all whom we meet at every opportunity. Meipso b4u. And for me. Blessed be.

uufvb_org

2015May17Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach my name is beth pearson and i'm a member of the congregation. We're so glad you've chosen to be here this morning. We are congregation of open minds loving hearts and helping hands. Seeking to become our best selves while working together 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. We are delighted to see you. 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. As most of you know our minister scott alexander is currently on a cross-country bike ride to beat hunger to raise funds and awareness about the growing problems of hunger and poverty here on the treasure coast. Each week he texting with us via video and this morning he has to brief updates to share with us. Buhari following me on the ride to be hunger i'm in warren ohio today we had a little bit of rain and not too bad a the countryside was was pleasant and we we enjoyed the day but it was a long one and it worked out just fine for everybody nobody we have some really bad roads very very very part of the country morning county in youngstown is a lot of property and everything is going well i'm now in the last week of the trip those of you who want to follow the written blog of our trip go to bama bama cyclist calm and click on fast america 2015 mike has beautiful pictures up everyday fundraising. Icd-10-pcs are my friends names are all wonderful and a wonderful sunday i leave you a good job knock em dead here preaching this morning and have a great time is raining right now in new york have a good day. Our opening words this morning or by nelson mandela. In judging our progress as individuals. Turn to concentrate on external factors. Influence. Popularity. Poor standard of education. Internal factors may be even more crucial. Development. As a human being. Honesty. Complicity. Humility. Purity. Generosity. And readiness to serve others. Qualities within reach of every soul. Are the foundation of one's spiritual life. Never forget. Is a sinner that just keeps on trying. Nelson mandela. A reading this morning is by carter. Hayward. It has no title. Love like truth and beauty concrete. Is not fundamentally a sweet feeling. Not as part of a matter of sentiment. Attachment or being drawn toward. What is active. Effective. A matter of making reciprocal official relations. With one's friends and enemies. Love creates. Righteousness or justice. Here on earth. For this reason. Requires commitment. We are not automatic lovers of self the world or god. Love does not happen. We're not love machines puppets on. A string of a dd called love. Choice. Not simply or necessarily a rational. But rather a willingness to be present to others without. Dial. Love is a conversion. Humanity. A willingness to participate with others. In the healing of a broken world. Broken lodge. I have organized the sermon around three stories of ministry. In a unitarian universalist congregation. Story 1. This experience happened to me when i was still a student and theological school. This the church that we belong to in new hampshire usually closed for the summer. But that year they decided to stay open. Summer services. I was one of the volunteers. As many members were away. The service was held in a small chapel. 30 people showed up that sunday my friend. Preach under cheer me on. Quite relaxed and looking forward to the experience. Until the fickle hand of fate. Intervened. The first evidence that something was wrong and the travel. Did not work. For the service. Did not show up. Well okay then. So much for the music. I told the congregation what had happened and that we were alone music. Play the upright piano in the corner. I did not hear her mumble under her breath. Something about not having played. For 50 years. She split herself. I began to play. It immediately became obvious. That all was not well. The piano. Was. And every third no-hitter. Was incorrect. All of us were wincing in pain piano. But with the determined look on her face played on router and create. The melody she wanted. It didn't happen. Fortunately i had picked out all of us. Drown out the piano. As we sing louder. Ruth was done. We were exhausted and perspiration was pouring down rose cheeks. The service could have been a disaster. If it hadn't been just so funny. We all laughed. And i went on with the service to more him. The second story. Story wall factual. Did not happen to me. What was told to me by reverend new hampshire. And my mentor for many more years after that. He said that the church had a member recently and had come to see him. In the evening to offer support. However he felt very uncomfortable about what the man was saying. Saddam decided he needed to go over. To the man's house. To check on him. When he arrived he parked in the street and was just about to get out of his car when he saw the man leaving the house. I'm walking away. John got out of his car and began to follow. Show the man realized that don was behind him around. Nor did you speak to john. He just kept walking. Walk like this. Through the town of nashua new hampshire. All night long. Never speaking. Who is where of the others present. As the first glow of dawn appeared over the horizon. The man returned to his house. And shut the front door. Don got back in his car. And drove home. Several days later the man called. You told john that he had known all along but had nothing to say to him. He had nothing to say to him because when he left his house. He had no idea. Where he was going. Any soup. Care. Felt hopeless. I realize that long night. If someone else cared about him. Cares enough. During that terribly long night. For now. Someone else cared that much. What's enough. To keep him going. The third story. This one happened to me recently and when i have finished telling it. You wonder why i even included it as it seems as though this story is totally different. Royal. I happened to notice that one of our members seemed agitated and upset. When i asked him about this. I invited him to share his thoughts and feelings with me. He came into my office. Close the door. Began of complaints. I'm criticisms. About everything. Nothing seemed to be right. And no one escapes his judgment. I found my ears pinned back. We all know that anger and criticism directed our way is not a pleasant experience. Is very hard just to sit there without trying to defend oneself. I had asked him to share his thoughts with me and so in a way. I have brought it on myself. Who is my job to listen. To whatever is said. Conscientiously without interrupting. I might discern. A deeper meaning to his words. Centrist the sound and fury of his delivery. So i miss you card. A farmer like a summer storm his tirate blew over. And he had said that he wanted to say. I was able to correct a few misunderstandings that he had. Century. He quickly said goodbye. I left my office. Okay. So you're asked. What do these stories have in common. They seem. So unrelated and totally different. In their particular i would agree with you. But if their deaf. All come from the same sort. They're all love stories. Love stories relationships. With one another. And our love for. Unitarian universalism. But now i must tell you what i mean by love. Years ago c.s. lewis publish an interesting study entitled the four loves referring to four different definitions of love in the greek language. The first. The greek word. Meaning love. As a gift bestowed. Without asking. I've always try to explain in a christian context. As the love of god bestowed on human beings. Eros. Physical desire and passion. The third type of love is filho. Friendship. And the fourth most overlooked. Is storage. Storge. The greek word for affection. Article in his article bonds of affection author scott vader say talks about stores. Or affection. It is not often talked about. But it is important we overlooked. Affection he states cruise by virtue of being in the same time and place. With other people. It grows out of regular routines of shared life. Short conversation. Exchanges. Pleasantries. I'm propert thanks and praise. It is raining. To place. Unfounded mungo's together. Or church community. In its most basic form within a large extended family. Moods farm feelings we have for other people who live in our neighborhood. Or other places that we regularly. Frequent. Celia on the other hand or friendship. Requires a much higher level of agreement. Common interest between individuals. It is usually shared with a much smaller number of people. Affection by contrast. Is much broader. Another way for democratic as it offers one the opportunity. To be in relationship with many people. Different from ourselves. Valued and loved. As the author says. It is this type of affection that is flexible but can hold people together in relationships. In spite of differences. Disagreement. It is mission of stored for affection. The qualifiers these stories as love stories. And within each story there were gifts. Also given in love. When we think of exchanging gifts we envisioned a lovely present. Beautifully wrapped. Happily anticipated i'm graciously received. But just as there are different types of different types of gifts and the common all sorts of packaging. In the first story of ruth at the piano. She did not give the gift of musical proficiency and skill. Beautiful performance just the opposite. That made her gifts. Precious to me. I have known ruth for many years and professional. Support me. And she was and she spontaneously offered. She was not trying. To prove her competency. The fact that you might or might not even cross her mind. He didn't even have a chance to practice or play true the him once. She just sat down. And played. This was not about her. It was about helping and supporting me. Hers was the gift of love spontaneously given us recognized. I will never forget. And the love that motivated it. Our second story is much more obviously. A gift of love and support offered by a minister member of his congregation. Spend all night man around town. Turn office lee recognized that the man was in deep grief. A possible danger. He responded and went to him. Change the circumstances with the member was struggling with. But it could be present. A witness. To the man's suffering. What is not known about dom because none of you have done this. For anyone of his 350 members. What's the kind of compassionate man. And also how he lived his life as a minister. Clearly a gift of love bear witness. To stand with and to be with another person even though. One can do nothing to change the circumstances that the other person is burdened by. Is gift of oneself. Is the greatest gift. Aurora. And we only have to look around this congregation. To see members practicing it. Every single day. The third story is also about a gift given in love. A purse. It doesn't seem like a gift. More resembles a tongue-lashing. Supposed to be wonderful generous and thoughtful. But that definition. Sometimes. A gift is unrecognizable. At first glance and this was one of them. Yes this man was angry. Difference. But his love and concern for the fellowship. A unitarian universalism. Despite his very strong feelings of frustration. He trusted us enough to believe listen to him and respect his opinions. He was able to give a heartfelt. Honest account of his concerns. He gave us the gift. Oppressed. And honestly. I am stated earlier that stored for affection. I wish you'd not have that expectation for goal. As unitarian universalist. We know we are independent thinkers. I were proud of it. We also know that we work hard to respect points of you very different from our own. Other the freedom and the space to think and grow change or mine in our ongoing search. For truth. Our relationships can continue. To prosper and to exist in this community. As is often the case. Discussion between multiple points of view. Can benefit everyone and ultimately lead to more informed decision making. As all points. Will have been considered. Sphere of any price. That requires conformity i'm sorry what agreement. Joyfully inquiry and freedom of thought. What are the greatest. Of our faith. Thought that i chose these stories because of some way they were very important. Or unusual or somehow unique. The fact they weren't any of those things. Mini storage. Each of us could have told. Snooze three because they illustrate. The different ways in which we share the gift of love. Generous. Passionate. Trustworthy. An honest. Each of us. Is differin. And each of us has unique talent. Our strength. Lies in the depth. And brett. Of what we bring to our church community. In many ways. We are almost quilt. In the story that claudia read to us. In the story each piece of the quilt is different. And has its own importance. When the pieces are sewn together. They created something far more beautiful. They make a masterpiece. We too. Distinct pieces. Intuitive and our own way. Join together and religious community. We to create something far more important. A loving and supportive environment. Strengthen. Interwoven threads. Of our relationships. May we continue to share our gifts of love. For one another and may our church community continues to prosper. Strengthened by the love of this community. Fayetteville. Assured by a common vision. Grateful for the opportunity of service. Buy the gifts of friendship. An affection. May we go sustained unnourished. By this time together. To our individual an interview world. In which we live. With fresh rizal. Jamaica. Difference.

uufvb_org

2014Jun01Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. On this wonderful first gentle sunday in june. There's a bike ride in my future. How are you going to use your afternoon. For family. Friends. Fitness are fun. Spend your day well. And welcome. To the unitarian universalist fellowship fellowship of vero beach we are so pleased. You've chosen to begin this sunday with us. We are retiring gation as a sign set of open minds loving hearts and helping hand. Individual people seeking to become our best selves even is together we work to make our world a better place. And 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 shade of humanity. Whether you have a ged or a phd. Whether you're a visitor with us this morning or have been a member for decades. Whether you're feeling on top of the world. Are down in the dumps or somewhere in between we welcome you. And hope. To be of support to you. We hope you'll find her service this morning meaningful enriching at you'll find something here this morning. That nourishes your spirit and feed you saw and gives you renewed energy and purpose. For the living of life in the days ahead. Well leave the facts are in and his ministers we've got to love it. I quote for a recent article from the new york times no less i'm sorry the washington post. No less an authority quote. Numerous recent studies have shown that people who attend a house of worship regularly. Tend to be healthier and happier and live longer. Those who don't. Penny then all those sickly miserable souls for unwisely languishing in bed this morning with coffee on the paper. Or enjoying brunch with her friends are taking an early morning walk on the beach. Those poor souls just don't know what's good for them. It is sad scott. He keeps doing this to. What you. You smart healthy people do know what's right. You are right in the right place this morning and on the right track. For you have come to this house of worship this morning to give thanks for the gift of life. To reflect on the quality and depth of your life. To remind yourself of the good that we must all do in the world and to enjoy the company of others as you celebrate this new day. So welcome to our worship service and for god's sake be happy. Cuz you're. In the right. Place. Having meditation this morning by my colleague friend. Richard gilbert of our. Rochester church he's retired now. Listen to these words will have a minute of silence at the end and i will ring the bell to conclude our time of meditation. Be silent. Be still. Be serene. In this house of the spirit. Put aside all noise all noises that annoy. All sounds that irritate the cacophony. Confounds. For here you are at home. Leave behind all the frustrations that belittle. The causes that threat the troubles that torment. Here you can be. Oppressed. Put away all the plans to be made. Things to be done victories. To be one. Here. You are at peace. Breathe deeply. Clear the mind. Of all cluttered thought. Courage the spirit of all unkindness. Rinse the soul. Clean and pure. Here. You are home. Easy. And beatrice feel your body recover its resilience. Your mind its bearings. Your spirit. Its strength. Once again we have come home to the source. We feel the collective power of our companions. The warmth of their welcome the support of their caring. We who have been wanderers groping for something we know not what are again at home here is the. Place. For us. We are home in the sanctuary. And with these people. We were home on this globe. And with all who dwell upon. We are at home. In this cosmos. Our home. For all times past. And all time. To come. We are. At home. Will eat your heart out elton john. He has a house up in windsor doesn't he. Elton john i think he has a home here. All right will will it will get them will get him to do a duet with you on that sometime soon. By the way i forgot to announce the 30-minute choir will begin on june 15th that's two weeks from today. This is an opportunity for some of you don't maybe sing regularly in the choir to join at 9. 915. 9. And it's a pickup choir that'll begin and hopefully be every sunday from june 15th on that's two weeks from today. Hope people will feel free to come out. Trailer pipes. Great. This morning on this gentle first day of june i bring you the fifth installment. In my year-long series on the seven habits of happy people. With a sermon on spiritual engagement. Now spiritual engagement i'm happy to report has been identified by the social scientists who study. Human well-being. As something we must regularly cultivate if we're ever to achieve and sustain. Have reliable happiness and contentment in our lives. Basically what the experts are telling us. Is it if you don't have a spiritual life at all offer a definition of that in a moment. If you don't have a spiritual life. It'll be difficult for you to find true satisfaction and contentment over your lifetime. That would probably won't surprise you to hear that as a religious leader myself as a professional. Clergy person who has devoted his whole adult life. To encouraging others to be on a spiritual path. I am so pleased. But the happiness experts recognize the importance of spiritual engagement. In our lives and what's more they are right spot on with this observation. As many of you know from the first of four sermons. I've been focusing each 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 psychologists pioneer dr martin signalmen. This team is suggesting that there are seven fundamental dimensions of our lives. That if properly nourished and nurtured and cultivated will lead to a greater sense of happiness. And well-being throughout our lives and here are these seven. Habits. Relationships. Caring and service. Positive mindset. Optimism and gratitude that being. And something called slow now those for sermons are on the website both in video format and text so if you missed any of them you can go on our website and click under recent sermon. And see what we had to say about those four and today we moved to the 5th. Which is spiritual engagement. But the former one to talk about that. I want to talk in general about the discoveries of these psychologists studying human well-being. When positive psychologists talk about happiness. They do not mean what i shall call the happy-face theory of happiness. What an obnoxious drawing that is. The happy face theory of happiness focuses on when. We are in a buoyant or cheerful mood those times when we are full of laughter and joy williams and merriment which we all like. Happiness in this happy face view. Requires a steady stream of moments of gleeful and giddy delight. Things that light up mr. smiley face back here. But the experts were writing about happiness and well-being today. Suggest that if these are the flashy places you're looking for contentment. You are as the song says looking for love in all the wrong places. Happiness the kind of sustainable well-being. And life satisfaction that has the power. To make our lives kind of glow in contentment. Is not. Like the hot rush of momentary pleasure you feel from winning the lottery. Or skydiving out of a plane at 10,000 ft. Or watching even your home team win the national championship. The kind of happiness and well-being that has the power to really make our lives works and this is the key phrase. Of sustainable warmth and joy. Is more like a low hum. A-reliable and study satisfaction. The quietly arises again and again. Out of these ordinary aspects of our day-to-day living these things such as. We shall hear. And let's pause for a moment to make a very important point about happiness that i've made each time i've talked in the series. All the experts say you do not have to necessarily have a cheerful or bubbly or outgoing or optimistic even. Personality. Define lasting satisfaction and well-being in your life. People with very many different personalities and styles including quiet. Reflective and reserved people can be happy. You definitely do not have to go through your life with a perpetual smile. Plastered on your face. Define true contentment in your living. True well-being is like a quiet amber of satisfaction. Steadily burning at the center of your soul it's not a bonfire on the beach. It's more like a steady cole. Of warm. And satisfaction and amber. Again. What the positive psychologists are saying this makes perfect sense to me. Is that sustainable happiness and well-being is a quiet and honest and tacious quality. That steals gently into our lives as a long-term result. Ivar wisely and purposely tending what really matters it's not a flash-in-the-pan kind of a thing. It develops over decades. Alright. So this then brings me to today's interesting topic the tangible benefits of being spiritually engaged in your life. Let me begin with this topic at the most basic level. As we already mentioned in the opening words that i. Cleverly. Rolled into a conversation. There's a whole raft of recent studies which conclude that religious people. And by this they mean. People who regularly participate quote. In a gathered congregation. Are happier healthier and live longer than those who don't. Let me quickly mention the health benefits of being a religious person. Before i talk about how being spiritual engaged. Also contributes to your happiness. In a recent op-ed piece in the new york times author tme lorman right. One of the most striking scientific discoveries about religion. In recent years. Is it going to church is good for your health. Religious attendance he right. Boost the immune system. Decreases blood pressure lessens the likelihood of depression and suicidal thoughts. And may add years to your life unquote. One study the track thousands of americans. Founded regularly attending religious services. Can increase the lifespan by an average of 7 years for white people. And 14 years for black people. Traffic in america. Perhaps that striking racial difference can be attributed to how socially and emotionally important the church is. In the african-american community no one explained that but. Blacks do twice as well as whites in this regard. But in any case 7 to 14 years. Although other studies more modestly suggest. The longevity benefit of attending church is more like only two to three years. But all the studies agree that religious people live healthier and longer than non-religious folks. Another study of over 100,000 people done by johns hopkins university. Found that attending religious services on a weekly basis reduces the risk of death the following year by almost 50%. Why so why does participating in a congregation make one healthier. And add years to your life. Well. Almost everyone studying agrees. It's not the belief in god. It's the human contact. The social support. And quote the personal connection connections and friendships. That one finds in the congregation which undoubtedly plays the key role. Religious congregations are places where you can find caring supportive and in our case in this conservative community like thinking companions. And friends will help you cope better with lice inevitable challenges. Sorrows of pitfalls. Another apparent reason. Is it being a part of a congregation encourages healthy behaviors. And discourages unhealthy ones i quote from the spirit. Healtheconnections website quote. A growing number of studies suggest that people who are more involved in religion. Tend to have better health. Because they're more likely to engage in positive. Health behaviors like maintaining a reasonable diet exercising and maintaining a web of personal relationships. And are less likely to engage in harmful health behaviors like overeating. Leading a sedentary lifestyle. And engaging and alcohol and drug abuse. How does this work the website goes on to ask. Simply put religious teachings regarding healthy behaviors. May be transmitted and reinforced. Through informal social interactions with like-minded. Companion friends. Unquote. So the facts are in. Being an active and engage part of a religious congregation statistically at least. Makes you more likely to be a healthier person. Who will live longer that's that's good news. But even more intriguing than his health finding. Are the recent findings of being part of a congregation actually makes you happier. And more contented person. But let me point out please the obvious truth. That all these observations about the positive benefits of being active in a religious congregation. Are in the end statistical. Every congregation i've been a part of over the last four decades of course. Has had a few noticeably unhappy souls i'm not naming anyone in this congregation this morning. But i'm sure that a few of you sitting on the pews this morning are at this juncture of your lives. For a variety of perfectly understandable reasons. Feeling well existentially grumpy or even downright discouraged by life. How in such a complex world. Could it be otherwise. The point here is that everything we know about spiritual engagement and happiness. Does not somehow guarantee that all of us who come to church. Will be happy all of the time of course. And this is precisely why every sunday at the beginning of our worship service we say and me. That we welcome everyone. Precisely as they come. Regardless of condition regardless of mood regardless of. Whether you've been pummeled by life this week or having an easy time skating through it. We welcome everybody here. However they spiritually and emotionally, that's a very important information. But with all that said all the studies indicate that religious people are again in general. Significantly happier. Turn on religious people. Look at this absolutely fascinating chart that i found. On one of the night at all explain this okay. This shows the statistical correlation between the frequency of attending religious services that's over the bottom you see the. Horizontal line never to at least once a week if correlates that. With the positive and negative emotion. The positive emotions being. Represented by the green line the negative emotions being. Shown. By the blue line. So the more you go to church the less miserable feelings you have in the more happy feelings you have. Why is this. What can explain this positive effect church has on one's emotional state. Bulbasaur full scientific think they know. I quote from a recent article in psychology today by north dakota psychologist clay route ledge quote. Religion may promote happiness for a number of reasons. As studies show that religion gives people a sense of purpose. And order. And serves as a resource for coping with negative life experiences. An existential fears. However he goes on. A number of studies really seem to suggest that the magic ingredient the magic ingredient in religion that provides happiness is. Social. Connected. And it goes on. Though people especially an individualistic nations like the united states talk about religion. As an internal or personal belief system. The truth is that religion is rarely successfully done in solitude. Instead religion is typically a social activity. And research indicates that social ties are one of the most important contributors to happiness. And then he hands. Religious people report higher levels of social support. At higher levels of social support. Leads to higher level of psychological well-being. And then he goes on to point out something i affirmed in the earlier sermon when i talked about how relationships make you happier quote. Having a rich social network and feeling socially valued. Are key ingredients to finding happiness. Religious people are happier on average than non-religious people but the key variable. Does not appear to be religion itself. Or even the belief that god or something else loves you. It is rather the social connections of the religious life. Duck make. People happy. So as important as religious beliefs are. It is the caring interpersonal social aspects look at these lovely church ladies who are friends it's the show the social aspect of religion. That makes for grady happen is i quote from another study. Attending religious services regularly and having close friends in the current location. Are the key to having a happier more satisfying life. Even attending services irregularly increases a sense of well-being so long as there is a circle of friendships within the community. And a strong shared religious identity. The ability to call on people for social support is very high. Even if the people are not necessarily people you would call your best friends. And then this author goes on so well being among religious people probably has more to do. With having religious friends than the mere habit of going to church warming the pew. Church attendees who say they have no close friends in church. People who say they participate. In private religious practices. Such a service is held at home or out in nature people who never come to church or those of dustin nature. Are no happier than those who never attend. Congregational services. So this is very good news for all of us who believe as i passionately do in the value and the power and the joy. People coming together in one special place at 1 special time. To do the work of religion and the work of the spirit. Study after study shows. The thing apart of a local face-to-face congregation. Has the power to bring you much greater happiness and contentment. In your living now this. Would be very bad news to one of our liberal heroes. Thomas jefferson. The famous for father of our nation. Who repeatedly identified himself as quote-unquote a unitarian. But never regularly attended as far as the astorians know any of our early american congregation. Jefferson once famously declared without explanation. That he was obliged to be a unitarian all by myself. As elsewhere said he was obliged to be a sect all by myself. Does rejecting the all-important social and communal aspect of religion. No i suppose there are a few solitary and discipline guru types i think that's a laptop this guy has when you go online you're kind of at the mercy of the pictures you can but i just love that guy on top of the rock. I suppose there are a few guru types. Who managed to create a rich and rewarding spiritual life. In some sort of pure and splendid isolation i hope he has a wi-fi connection up there. But based on the finding of all these studies about the positive social benefits of current national life. I believe most of us need the stimulation. The feedback. The fellowship and support and caring we find a good old neighborhood church or synagogue or mosque. Like this one. If our lives are to truly be rich. Nonetheless in these early years the twenty-first centuries that there are many who consider themselves. On the cutting edge of religion. Who are now suggesting that because of the advances of modern communication technology. And a noticeable lack of interventionist in and commitment to. The established institutions of our culture in the part of younger americans. Many people are saying. But the brick-and-mortar going to sunday congregations that have for centuries largely defined the american religious experience. Are quickly becoming outdated and irrelevant dinosaurs. Of the past. And i don't know if you know it but they're about 300,000 congregations in america and many of them are struggling. They're not and we're not getting a lot of young people in our doors but a lot of congregations are struggling because it's. Youngest generation. Doesn't seem to be interested in the idea of a gathered congregation. Even in our own unitarian universalist movement there is a rising crescendo. A voices urging ministers and laity to consider moving past. The prevailing paradigm about quat quote what church should look like. And they're talking about things like a virtual church. Winter via community built and maintained through online internet forums like facebook and twitter god help me. Or even something called second life that online virtual world where people interact with one another through avatars. They adopt as their own. Different strokes for different folks. Or some other people are advocating some sort of loosely to structured church without walls. That would be somehow be a spiritual community that would rarely if ever meet together. For worship and fellowship they would do the work of religion remotely are by themselves or in small groups. No. Well i for one welcome this consideration of shifting. Religious community toward new and more remote technology. Expressions formats and platform. I nonetheless think that all this recent and very clear research about the emotional value of. Good old-fashioned face-to-face convocation a life. Cannot be ignored. Coming. To people-oriented places like this one on sunday and during the rest of the week. Is not only good for the soul which i hope we nourish here every sunday. It's also good for the body as a scientist have said. 4health. And good for the heart. Because participation in church community clearly increases. Your personal happiness and contentment. So i hope i have thoroughly persuaded you. That the spiritual engagement you find here with other members of this community is something that will bring you greater contentment. Beyond the obvious social and interpersonal benefits of current national life. There is i think another even deeper aspect of spiritual engagement. But i am also persuaded leads to greater personal fulfillment. And contentment. And that is the fact. But the religious life. Call sus beyond the narrow confines. Of self-interest. And personal gratification. To pay attention religion calls us. To care for the world and persons around us religion by its nature. Calls us out of the shell of the anomic self. English word religion. You might not know has its route. In the latin word laghari. Which means to bind up. Religion then. Is all about are purposely cultivating our connections binding things up. Our connections with and caring for all that which lies. Beyond the narrow confines of the cell. British rider wh auden once famously said. To pray to pay attention. 2 something. Or someone. Other than yourself. Duprey. Is to pay attention. Twosome. Thing. Or someone. Other than yourself. I believe that one cannot ultimately be happy or fulfilled in this life. Unless you were active about the spiritual business of connecting and clothes and caring ways. To life and persons around you. Indeed the authors of the happiness study on which i've based the sermon series put it this way. I love the sentence spirituality can be defined as the intrinsic. Human capacity. For self-transcendence. The intrinsic human capacity for self-transcendence. In which the cell. Is embedded in something greater than the self. Including the sacred. Edwards motivates the search for connectedness. Meaning. Purpose. And contribution. Let me see all this another way. From the opposite direction by way of a simple question. Have you ever in your life. No natalie self-absorbed or selfish person. Who is really happy. Have you ever known a really selfish person. To be happy. They may have toys. Like cars and boats. But are they really happy. For me the answer is no. When we have definitely thinking act only for our own self and family. We isolate ourselves and way that makes true satisfaction and contentment in life. Impossible. We can never truly be happy or fulfilled sealed in the airtight sarcophagus of the self. I like that that phrase i made it up. Airtight. Sarcophagus of the self you can't be happy in there. It is only. By being truly expansively in lovingly engage with the world and persons around you. That you have any hope of finding the lasting joy and satisfaction that makes this life. That's steady glow of satisfaction. Alright. Our hour is almost up and it's time for me to wrap this up and way back and seminary my homiletics professor said that any good sermon. You tell him what you're going to tell him. You tell him what to tell him. And then tell him what you told him. And we're at that third all important stage in the sermon i'm going to tell you what i told you this morning. Religion. Kind that has the power to make us happy and bring real purpose and meaning into our lives is best done. Regularly and the caring. Cauldron of community. Enclose and caring conversation. Communion and collaboration with others. 1 spiritual life cannot usually be done alone in some sort of jeffersonian. Splendid isolation quote-unquote. We need the support the enrichment the feedback of others if we are ever to find the kind of spiritual engagement. That will bless and deepen our lives. Religion is all about moving from the narrow embrace of the self. With our which are little greedy egos encourage this. Narrow embrace of the cell. Religion is about widening out. Embracing the world. And everyone around you. The bottom line here dear friends. Is it only when we seek. Caring connection in communion with that which lies beyond our own skin. The sheets of our own skin. Do we can ever hope. To make our lives. Works. A goodness. And contentment. And happiness. Only if you look beyond the self. And i say and mean. On this first sunday in june. I'm at. My friend john curotto who is here two weeks ago says this. We will keep a place for you. Wherever you may go. Will sustain this home with faith and love you've come to know. Go in peace spring hope two hearts that yearn. We will. Keep a place for you. Until you return. Smiles. Size of days gone by. Our blessings we hold dear voice is now a memory call. Softly to us here. Go in peace spring hope two hearts that urine. We will keep. A place. Tell your return.

uufvb_org

2011Sep11Sermon32.mp3

As all of you. I will never forget where i was and what i was doing. When the news broke mid-morning. Tuesday september 11th. 2001. Set the twin towers of the world trade center in new york city. And the pentagon. In washington dc if instruct by hijack passenger. I was with the newsletter assembly crew of the river road unitarian universalist congregation. Which item served. Just seven miles up the potomac river. From the pentagon. Watching terrible events unfold in a television we had wheeled into the room as soon as the news broke. Together with the rest of the church staff. We watched in horror as all of you did as the twin towers came. 3:01. And then watch the live local coverage of the pentagon burning. With a gaping. Jaggers. Whole. And its side. After watching the worst of the unfolding horror in urgently trying to call loved ones who were in downtown washington. Largely unsuccessful because telephone. Totally overwhelmed. By panic citizen. We prayed together in that room. The newsletter crew eventually all went home and i decided after follett finally reaching collins by phone and ascertaining. That he was safe and on his way home for all of downtown d.c. had been. Evacuated as. Entire federal workforce. I decided to get on my bike. And go down to the pentagon. To see for myself. What was. I will never forget cycling my way down the old siano c&o canal towpath it runs right along the potomac river. With thousands literally thousands of distraught and disheveled looking commuters men and women. In their business suits. And high heels the women and briefcases. Slowly walking the ten miles up from downtown d.c. to bethesda. Because. With rumors of attacks. The state department and the subway system the subway system shutdown. All of downtown is gridlocked with buses and cars. The only way to get home. What's the wawa. In any case. I finally arrived at the pentagon which. Completely court sauce. And i watched and sad just belief as hundreds of first responders and military personnel. Watson still raging fires. Where the hijacked plane isn't flown into massive building. Several hundred miles an hour. Because they did not want untrained citizens anywhere near the building there was nothing i could do to help. So after watching for i don't know half an hour an hour. I biked back to church. And began planning with the other ministers and staff. Our response to the terrible events of that day in the worship in memorial services. We would hold that week. Well i finally got home. That evening to collins and my home in dc which was just six blocks. Is still to this day just six blocks. North of the white house. The numerous armed military jet fighters and helicopters. Which have been brought in to protect the city immediately following the attack. Further attack these planes. Resuming. Menacingly just a few hundred feet over the rooftops. As they would 24/7 for many weeks. Needless to say it was very hard. Sleep that night. In washington. This morning on the 10th anniversary of those terrible attacks which led to so much death. Disruption in america and soon thereafter. Additional death and disruption in many other parts. The world. I want to reflect with all of you on 9/11 it's aftermath. Specifically how the events of that day. Have irretrievably shaped and affected and changed us. I think as a people. And how 911 continues to have power over us. And the rest of the world. Even years out. Very direct and clear about. I know that is a minister in a leadership position in this congregation i'm about to wait into some very emotional. Insensitive. And complicated water. By sharing my personal analysis and understanding of these powerful events. And the repercussions i am certain. To offer at least some perspectives. Conclusion. Which are not shared by some of you. I am further. Certain to say some things this morning which. When's of you will take exception possibly. Passionate. One of my jobs as your minister is from time to time in the life of our nation. To offer such. Reflections in perspective. To help us. As together we seek to shape. The moral and spiritual and emotional future of our nation. But i do so knowing full well that my perspectives are just and only that. Perspective. The perspective of one person. So to ensure that we have the current gation all have the opportunity to speak our minds and engage one another. It open and respectful dialogue about 9/11 and its aftermath. As i said. During coffee i'll ring up allen those who want to come back and talk about these issues further. May do so. I want to establish right now. Status. Dialogue will not be enough but will not be an opportunity. For individuals to argue angrily or otherwise with one another rather. An opportunity to thoughtfully share our perspectives and beliefs about 9/11. And it's aftermath m to be respectful. Of the diversity of views there are inevitably found in a free-thinking congregation. Such as ours. I hope many of you will stay for the style log. 4in a unitarian universalist congregation. The thoughts and the feelings of every individual matter and they will be respected. So if your schedule permits you to stay please do. But there's always more than one way to see and understand. Both our individual lives and the life of the nation and we want to cultivate that conversation. Today. On this important anniversary and learn. From one another as we listen. To one another. One more crucial caveat if i might. What i talked this morning about how 911 is affected us as a nation. I mean how is affected all of the america. Republican. Democrat independent. Liberals and conservatives and everybody in between all of us together as a people. Regardless where we fall along the political. Spectrum or our philosophic. Spectrum. While some may on this occasion anniversary occasion. Want to make partisan accusations about the mistakes that other individuals. At leaders made after 9/11. That is not my purpose this morning. This morning on this 10th anniversary i want to look at the way in which in the overview. Are at our collective national reaction. Which i think should be more accurately called our collective. National over-reaction. Which includes countless decisions made by the president. And the white house. And both political parties in congress. By the federal courts. And appointees who were made by republicans and democrats. The supreme court. By our military leaders by financial banking and business leaders and by all of us. The ordinary citizens who make up this republic. Aloo ultimately decide what kind of a nation. We are to be. Want to talk about all of us. And i think most obvious. The first thing we must be as a nation. If there is not been in this ensuing decade another. Successful attack. On our homeland and in. We know that various radical islamic terrorist networks around the world which is it is important to note. All together represent only. A few. Thousand. With rather limited financial and political resource. Especially now 10 years old. They've tried to attack us by various means. Over the last decade since 9/11. And although there have been some distinctly close calls like the christmas day. Airline shoe bombing incident over detroit last year. We have is a nation. Managed to remain safe from further attacks against. The civilian population. But the fact that our national security apparatus has by hook or crook. Been able to prevent any further attack is not enough i think for us to focus on. On this anniversary occasion. Brian persuaded to serve clearly than other ways in which we as a nation. And the people have been seriously. Voluntarily chain. And diminish. And manipulated and weaken. 5911. The curiosity here is. Stuff that the terrorists of 911. While largely failing in their stated goal and i'll get to those in a minute. Nonetheless that are serious harm. In ways. It appears they did not. And probably could not have imagined at the time of their attack. Significant are we at least. To date as a people. Have not been able to prevent. Now we know. And the fbi and cia have repeatedly verified this in testimony before congress. The primary goals of al-qaeda. In the 9/11 attacks we're one. Deforest the removal of us military forces. From the persian gulf area. 2. Us economic and political and military support several muslim arab regimes. Most notably saudi arabia. Egypt and jordan and others which al-qaeda had labeled as corrupt. And the third goal stated goal was to force and an. Do u.s. support of israel. And it's harsh occupation. A palestinian area. None of these al-qaeda goals have been achieved over the last decade in fact is anything. The 9/11 attacks only deepen and expand the u.s. involvement in the middle east in ways these terrorists. Abhor. So quickly moving on from the terrorists unachieved and unrealised and unrealizable goal. Just how did 911 do us serious harm as a people in the nation. I would suggest you this morning the 911 work this malevolent. System power. Andover us. Primarily through. Franklin delano roosevelt once famously said you all know the quote in 1933 when america was in the grips. Of the great depression he said the only thing to fear. We have to fear. Is fear itself. Another observation. Which is a reminder that unchecked and unrealistic fear has a way of gravely harming a nation. Certainly is your main on this 10th anniversary of 9/11. I believe. It had the american people following 9/11. Taken roosevelt's warning. Do not let fear dominate and director. And cloud our collective judgment. We would not have overreacted. In the terribly costly ways which we did. Following 9/11. Our safety and security fears again. As of total people. Across. Tire spectrum. Call us. I think. Wildly overreact. On a number of fronts and american life. Over-reaction. Successes that i believe hutus and diminish us to this day. Our order reaction. Are in five areas one. They cost us trillion. A much-needed publix hours. They caused great economic upheaval and hardship. We continue to suffer today. 3. They threatened. Curtail many of our basic freedoms. Civil liberties and national ideas. For our fears caused the ugly rise in religious and racial intolerance. And lastly. Our fear. Create a deep painful angry divided. In the body politic. Of america. I wanted to quickly take. 55in. First. There is no credible fear driven financial cost. Of our security and military spending. Record over this last day. One analysis from the online publication the curious capitalist. Bluntly states that are some of them laden although now dead. Nonetheless appears to have single-handedly cost united states. Trillions of dollars through fear. It is hard to argue otherwise. Another analyst has concluded and now i called him. If osama bin laden school in 9/11 was to go. The united states into a massive overreaction. Said it is clear the al-qaeda leader got his way. The terrorist attacks on washington and new york. Have extracted. Terrible price. In terms of blood. And treasure. A terrible price. With no end in. Do most analysts that americans agree that the war in afghanistan. Direct. An immediate result of the 9/11 attacks was embarked upon. To route out al-qaeda. Chatters are training and financial base. Preservar nash. Security. And most of us believe it was a just war i do. Unnecessary action. And unnecessary expenditure of public funds. But the subsequent unrelated war raid against a rat. A nation which we now know. Clearly had no discernible connection. To any of the terrorist network. Threatening. Nor any weapon. Mastiff. To worry about. That war. And the consequential massive expansion of spending on the security apparatus. The united states. Has cost the nation trillions of tax dollars that could have gone. Two other beneficial social and societal purposes. Healthcare. Education. And the repair of the role of the nation's crumbling in. If you go online as i do. Timber search just how much our government has actually spent. Both in the war in iraq. Incredible expansion of national homeland security. You will find that even the experts. Can't quite figure it out about the total cost because so many billions of dollars. Are unaccounted for in the military. And intelligence budget. Of the united states. Not to mention the unconscionable spending of corrupt military. And intelligence contractors. Greeley in richland cell. At this time of fear. But the figure by all reputable estimate. Totals more than pooh. Trillium. American dollars. Since 9/11. Encounter. 2 trillion. It's a lot. Add on top of these cost of billions. This excessive spending continues to add to our national debt. And the cost of the america. People become. And then of course there are the terrible human cost. The iraq war. In addition to costing us more than a trillion dollars the war in iraq has led to almost four and a half thousand american death. Which was more than 32 american soldiers wounded. Many of them grievously disabled by life. By the war's countless. Improvise. Floating devices. Because i live in washing. I saw so many of these. Not to mention racki.. Large. Civilian. Which total in the hundreds. Had our national reaction to 9/11 been more. Not nearly as much blood. And then there are the financial cost of an occurred with the exponential expansion of homeland security. Again. All to protect us. Nephew. Thousand. With diminishing. Capacity. In a stunning two-tailed two-year investigation published by the washington post. Reporters dana freeze. And william arkin right. The top stupid world. The government has created in response to the terrorist attacks. September 11th. Has become so large. So unwieldy. And so secretive. But no one knows how much money it cost. How many people in employees. How many programs exist within it. Or exactly how many agencies. Do the same work. After a decade of unprecedented security spending and growth. The result is that the system they put in place to keep america safe. Is sealmaster. So costly. So redundant and its effectiveness. Impossible to determine. One of the largest. Membership rolls things we had in my river road congregation. Renew security people. Moving into washington. And i have lots of cia spook. In my last kongregate. One of them. Was a homeland security executive. Who when i talked about. Actually call me into the homeland security office to tell me i was being. Unrealistic. One of the investigation's findings. Tina priest. In washington dc. Surrounding suburbs. 33 building complex. 4 top secret intelligence work are under construction. Or i've been built since 9/11 together these complex was occupied. The equivalent. I've almost. 3 pentagon. Second or third largest building in the. Or 22 us capitol building. About 17 million square feet. Of office. I think the bottom line for. Because we as a people. And yes our president. And our congress. And our military intelligence. Let our fears of terrorism run so rampant following the attacks. We have spent billions. Upon billions of dollars. Trying to ensure. Security. As the american economy has weakened over the last decade and some analysts blamed directly our post. 911. Spending as a trigger. For our great recession. We have nearly bankrupted our nation. Putting our economy and our social health as a nation. At great risk. I do not think or some of them laden even in his wildest dreams. Could have imagined. That the attacks he perpetrated on 9/11. Could so grievously wounded. As an economy. And the nation. But that is indeed. What the facts indicate. But enough on the mounting economic and financial cost. Are overreacting. 2911. Another area of american life which i believe is greatly has been endangered by are fearful over-reaction. Is the systematic and willful abrogation. Of many of america's be. Freedom's. And civil rights. More than any single event following 9/11 i believe it was the passage of the so-called patriot. Overwhelmingly passed again. buy one part. But by both chambers of. With the approval or at least acquiescence of both democratic and republican leaders. It allowed to stand by our supreme court. An eagerly signed by a president just seven weeks after the. Points out how fearful americans have willfully allowed the government. Just set aside basic rights and freedoms granted by our founders. Go online if you want to learn about the alarming details about about the patriot act. Did the tales of this law or stunning. You have to go online to find it out. But it was recently renewed and continues to give the federal government. Incredible spying powers. Clearly and unnecessarily in my view at least. Diminishes basic time-honored american civil rights and freedoms again all in reaction. 21 days terrible violence. Because of our fear of further attack. I believe. Through the patriot act and other federal legislation and. Including the unconscionable torture. Of many people around the world. We as a people have allowed unprecedented. A dangerous expansion of our federal government's right. To collect information. And intelligence on us even when there is absolutely no reasonable suspicion. Or probable cause. Probable cause. Used to being the time-honored civil rights standards which regulated. Federal intrusion. Surveillance. Against citizen. This increased federal spying includes random searches of our phone calls. And records. Computer and data files financial information even warrantless physical break-in. Into our private. Without any cause. Without any sister. All because. We were fearful. About what a small group. Around the world by. And because of our post 9/11 fears the federal government. Even has the power in some cases you know this. To detain and jail citizens indefinitely with. Any proof. Look. I know reasonable americans disagree about the standards of federal surveillance and imprisonment. And disagree on how to balance our commitment. To individual civil rights. With the safety. And security of the nation. This is a constant conundrum in american life. But i believe that the patriot act and other federal excesses. That have been allowed to be put in place since 9/11. Posing much raider nation. To the nation. And its principles than any attack. Potential attack. By ragtag terrorists. I believe our fear. Following 9/11. Blinded us to the preciousness of many of our basic rights and. And now ten years out we must be urgently about the business. A reversing. Is unwise. Which leads me to the next fear-based excess the america. People which endangers our national character and ideal. That being widespread and growing denigration. Trust. Discrimination that dimension violence directed at islam. Islamic centers. Ma. And muslim people. Here in the united states. Surely you are all familiar with the steady shameful pattern. Prejudice. Bility ignorance. And violence. South america. Have exhibited for islam. And the slavic. Tuitions and fifa. Simply sims. Just yesterday i listen to report. On all things considered on saturday morning about murfreesboro tennessee where. Small portion of citizens. Are shamefully blocking the building. About community center for the muslim. No american. Can accept or condone the hateful. Twisted murderer. Religion. A radical. Islamic. Jihadist. But their consumer lupino toleration. Aurora park. Of american mosque. Schools being burned. Face. Orban from community. Muslim cab drivers and storekeepers beat. Murdered. Quran being burned or bad muslim judges doctors and students being denied equal opposite. All of which happened on a regular basis. In this country. Post. 9. Some americans seem to feel their personal fear of a few thousand radical muslims overseas. Give them the right to denigrate an attack mainstream. Peace-loving american muslims one of the people in murphysboro yesterday on the radio said it wasn't. Radical lutheran that attack the tower so there's an argument. We unitarian-universalist living here in america. It is still anxious time 10 years out we have a particular response. To speak up and act up against all fear-based. Intolerance. Send defense. Not only the religious freedom of all but the inherent worth and dignity. Alaska. American life i believe which. Gravely endangered. Excessive fear-based american reaction to. Is the deep and angry divided. Has further. In the american body politic. Look at any look. Any historian of american political life will tell you. But the fault lines between progressive and conservative liberal and conservative americans is nothing new. And if they've been intensifying over recent decades. But i believe the particular anxiety. And uncertainty which the 9/11 attacks cause. Have radically deepen the divisions among us i believe things got much worse in the last 10. The events of 9/11 set into motion political and social conflict. That have caused us to become a terribly angry and divided nation. A nation that in many ways. Is at war. Not. Hide. But with. Self. Over the last decade since 9/11 americans on the right and the left. Have increasingly been at one another's throats. Over the wars in iraq and afghanistan the passage of the patriot act. Explosion of military and intelligence spending. Huge increases in our national debt. Triggered. And the faltering economy. To trigger. As i recently observed in my bi-weekly local newspaper column in your paper mark. The quality. Civility intelligence and fairness of our political and social discourse have reached a painful nader. I doubt it when osama bin laden. Planning the attacks in his cave. He ever imagined even in his wildest dream. The 9/11 would bitterly cause us. Turn on one another. Ripping apart the body politic and setting americans apart from one another on polar extremes of right and left. But from talk radio. To cable television. Two angry town hall meetings to coffee shops across america. That is what. Oh my goodness although. It is not exactly what i intended to do when i started out preparing this sermon i realize now that i have spent the better part of. Cataloging all the serious way. In which i believe 911 has cost us dearly as a nation. Has damaged. Although i sincerely believe that my observations on 9/11. And it's aftermath are on target. That is not where i want to leave. Today was just. Statement of all the ways and. We are diminished. It's not where i want to leave you because i believe it's not ever. Too late. For us the american people. To undo. And repair damage to our nation. Our nation especially the damage done by 9 11 10 years ago. As i began this sermon i quoted the great american president franklin delano roosevelt reminded us. The only thing we have to fear is fear. That warning. Painfully relevance. For enclosing i would remind you of what another rate. America. President. Abraham lincoln said. Equally dark. Time. In american. During his first inaugural address. January of 1861 just. As the succession. The southern states. Was completed. And the civil war was about to be. Lincoln call all-americans to rise up together and live by the better angels. Abomination. The better angels. Of our nature. 250 years later this is exact. What must now gaitas. The people 10 years out from 9/11. The treacherous heartless attacks of 9/11. Have worked their pernicious power over our land. Our government. And our hearts. And much damage some of it your retrieve. Has been done. But my fellow americans i must say it is not too late it is never. For all of us. To rise to our best and noblest in. And defend. And serve. Store our highest principle. And values as a nation love injustice. And care. Cern. Together we can yet till the nation where all are safe. And free. And respect. We can get work together. In genuine respect and goodwill for the freedom and well-being of all. Let us never to never let our fear and distrust and anger call us to lucite. Better. Angels. Of our nature. Here and abroad. Let us roll up our collective sleeves and work by god. And building america. Prosper. Beautiful. For all. You call her.

uufvb_org

2012Jul01Sermon32.mp3

Do this morning is july 1st service of the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. Universalism had a bumper sticker it would say my karma ran over your dogma. Because we stress that which unites people not that which divide. We are delighted to see each and everyone of you and that is regardless of how you come to us this morning. Absolutely happy and cheerful and seeing little butterfly. Yourself over the threshold. We welcome people of all call physical circumstances. Both sexes. All races. Sexual orientations gays. No that's a drug. Everyone is welcome as long as whatever you do doesn't scare the horses. Nor be delivered in any way shape or form any other human being. Jack o'connor. Always cook an extra canteen with him. The bombing runs. What's a bombardier. Flying out of guam in the spring and summer of 1945. As part of general curtis lemay program. Into piles of ashes. That was easy enough to do since those ancient cities were basically constructed of paper. General lemay level precision. Such as had been used in europe during the war would not work against japan. Instead at night. With massive low-level strike. So night after night like jack o'connor. In the world's largest and most sophisticated bombers of the time 29 superfortress. Drop their incendiaries the home islands of japan. Creating huge. Firestone. It was not jack o'connor's lifetime ambition. To drop bombs. I'm people he didn't know. In fact he had shown enough skill to play in the minor league system of the new york yankees. But before he could go any further in the national pastime the world went to war. And so did jack o'connor. 20th 1945 314th bomb wing. Bomb the port city of. Killing some 2,000 japanese. Jack o'connor. Died with. As did the rest of his crew. And the crew of another b-29 first one in the inferno of the bomb run. The us army air corps would not know or sometime what happened to the crews of those two planes. And neither will their families. There was one man who didn't know what happened to these man. He was a japanese farmer named. And it was on his farm. That the wreckage of the two superfortress. Came to rest. Besides being a farmer. Komatsu was a member of the city council. And he was well-known for brewing up some form of. When mystery child discovered the wreckage of the american bombers on his farm. He did something. Parks. But from most of the human race as well. American. Were interred in a common grave. Alongside the dead japanese citizens. And he erected on the top of mount should so haha. A monument. To the 2007's of who lost their lives. And to the 23 american servicemen. Who's bombs. And destroyed two-thirds of their city. Note to self actions were unpopular with his fellow citizens. What day is the mother of all understatements. Imagine if you will. If an american works to erect a monument at ground zero in new york city. To the 3,000 americans who died in the terrorist attack. I'm september 11th 2001. And included. I'm at monument. The names of the. Who brought about their death. Think about that. Now the comparison of second world war american servicemen. To the 9/11 terrorists. Is not an exact one in fact it's not even a mere one. But the comparison of the reaction of the survivors. Is precisely similar. For what he had done mystery was arrested. And branded a traitor to his country. He was sent to a prison camp near tokyo. And after the dropping of two atomic bombs brought the pacific war to an end. Mystery channel return. To find that he had lost his position on the city council. And the people. We're no longer interested in buying his soy sauce. He couldn't find helpers for his farm. So he turned away from farming and he followed his longtime information to become a buddhist. This was the philosopher mystery toto. I remember a buddhist. When you are born. You cry. And the world rejoices. When you die. Rejoice. And the world. Cry. Here in quiet. On top of this mountain. I know this. The body. Is only a container. For what we believe the soul is everlasting. Returning again and again. Until the body nirvana. If these soldiers were not very properly. And when they returned to earth again they would still. Seeking vengeance. Producing more war. More killing. It was the least i could do the very least i could do to stop the next generation and the next. From going through with this generation. Heaven.. End of quote. Ansel. To the monument. Carrying with him. An american. Canty. He had phone this black independent. In the burning wreckage. Of the two planes. With the print of a man's hand. Burned into it. It could be the hand friend of jack o'connor. Will never know. Mystery joe would fill the canteen with good american bourbon. And porat. Over the monument. To the 23 america. But eventually mystery joe died ceremony continued. He was 12 years old when the said he was bombed in 1945. After being graduated from medical school he returned to practice in. Dr. segano understood the motivation. Mister ito and his ceremony. He remember his own grandfather. Who had served with the japanese army in world war i. And how his grandfather. Head treated japanese wounded. And enemy wounded. Without discrimination. Because that was his. Call. As a physician. I'm the best of mystery toe doctor sagato took over the yearly ceremony. The blackened canteen. American. And that is a ceremony. That continues. To this day. In recent years american relatives of the dead servicemen have been located. And some. Have made the journey to olga. Connecting with their loved ones. Who died half a century ago. And. The people they died fighting. Has been incorporated into another ceremony. In the first week of march. Iwo jima veterans association of japan and the united states. Meet to commemorate the battle that took place so many years ago. That took so many lives. On that godforsaken rock. Once again the black and tan team is phil. What american bourbon. And poured out. In remembrance of those who sacrifice their future. This past year my friend jerry yellin carried the canteen on iwo jima. Jerry. Headphones from iwo jima as a p-51 fighter pilots. He left behind 11 comrade. During the war he had fought. I'm grown to despise. Veterans go to their graves. Will such hatred still in their hearts. Jerry. Didn't get to do that. Almost. He had to begin healing. Because. In 1988. His son married a japanese woman. Whose father had served in the japanese imperial army air service. Jerry said. And he. We met for the first time free days before the wedding. And he said. Any man that could fly a p-51 against the japanese. And live. Must be a brave man. And i want the blood of it man just flow through the veins. Of my grandchildren. Jerry continues. My son got married. Who started having children. I saw. Were killed in the war. Kind people they were bright people and now. They're my family. That marriage wartime enemies. Mateys. A process that jerry documented in his book called of war and weddings. Just heard of jack o'connor. And aurora sagano. It's a story. To anyone and everyone who will listen. In a world were increasingly extreme estella's we cannot talk to them because they are. And such talk. Would be the talk of ap0. In this world. The voices. Eternal. And sagano. And yelling. Must be heard. But they talk about healing the wounds of the past. In order to provide a future in which our grandchildren. Will not find themselves killing one another. Can this philosophy be applied to enemies of the present. One man who thinks it can. Is paul rusesabagina. Now the black-and-tan team is filled and refilled with bourbon. Paul rusesabagina puts his faith in beer. In his autobiography and ordinary man he says it is very hard. To hate someone with whom you have shared a beer. Even people who might come together over a beer. Now that's easy to say. Paul rusesabagina not only talk the talk she walked the walk. Paul was a hotel manager in rwanda. And in his own words quote in april 1994. Mass murder broke out in my country i was able to hide. 1000. 268. In the hotel. Where i work. Barebones account. Call rusesabagina. 1. Kept the people under his protection safe. Men and women of both. He sat down for a beer with his enemies. Captain talking. Captain listening. It's called hotel rwanda. And it is in the videos. So often we are told we must not negotiate with our enemies. Negotiate with our enemies. Arrogance. Pronouncement. Listen to the words of paul rusesabagina. Quote. People are never completely good. Order to fight evil you sometimes have to keep evil people. In your orbit. Even the worst of them. Have their soft side. And if you can find and play with that part of them. You can accomplish. A great deal of good. In an era of extremism. You can never afford to be an extremist. Yourself. Has words embrace a truth. That escapes most of the world and many of the world's leaders. You cannot kill all of your enemies. Even if it were morally acceptable. It would still be. Physically. Impossible. Very few people know the names. Of paul rusesabagina. Aurora sudano. Did you know the names. Call dr. martin luther king jr.. And they are all too ready to pay lip service. To their ideas. And seldom willing to practice. And that's too bad. Because those ideas can show us a way out. Of the hell we so often make of our world. Undertook the last of his famous. He had seen. Indian independence. From great britain. And the taste of freedom. Head turn to action. And his mouth. As the newly independent india was partitioned into hindu-dominated india. And the muslim-dominated pakistan. With each. At the others. Throat. It was to stop. This. Orgy of bloodletting. To his bed in calcutta. Or he was approached. Well. Buy a hindu named nihari. A wild swarthy man. Who took a piece of indian bread. I'm stomach. Of gandhi. They're on his bed of fasting. Throws the bread and he says to gandhi. I'm going to hell. On my soul. A child. I smashed his head against the wall. My son my boy the muslim killed my son. And the true bracelets. In the soil of mohandas gandhi. Is reflected in the gentle but firm words. Of his almost whispered. Reply. As he said. No away. Out. Find. A child. A child whose mother. And father. Have been killed. And raise him. Only beach. It's a muslim. And if you. Praise him. Now i don't know. If the man called mahari. Follow the advice of gandhi not very many people ever did. His ideas are considered night. Practical. Why the majority of the world embraces the concept dolls. And i. For an eye. No i submit to you. If you want an idea that is truly. Truly impractical. That is it. Because the philosophy of an eye for an eye only one thing and that is a world of. The blind. The voices. Gandhi. And sagano. Call out to us. there is an alternative. An alternative. Even greater courage. The map of the battle. But one that will yield. Barmore positive results. These voices. To suggest. Our veterans. Is not to make. Anymore. It is not an easy path. But these voices call us. But it is the only one. That leads us. And now our closing words these are the same closing words i used. 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 was a reporter newspaper man and a broadcaster. Again these were written in 1967 at the height. Of the vietnam conflict. As. Fight. Sweat. Fries. And die. In 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. Guts. To describe the means by which a picture. Windsor ball. A gridman bucks a line. A golfer sinks putt. Or. A fella. Makes. This is where the worship ends are the service. Begin.

uufvb_org

2010Jul04sermon32.mp3

uufvb_org

2011Apr10Sermon32.mp3

As must be obvious to anyone who has ever been in our building that would include all of you sitting in this space right now. Here at the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. We are blessed with a wonderful beautiful. Useful. Building. By almost any standard dear friends this is an above-average church building. Or fellowship building. Congregational. And believe me i know because i've seen plenty of ugly and inferior religious facilities in my day. Many of them i'm sad to say our unitarian-universalist structures. Around the country. But hearing 0. Simply put we have i think a spacious gym. I will honestly confess to you that last year as i was searching for a new congregation to serve. One key factor in my decision to put this congregation at the top of my list my wishlist. Was the asset of this wonderful physical structure. The first moment i walked in here and bob murkowski probably remembers that i was with hammond. I knew this was a facility in which i would love to work. And study. And preach. Now a building of course never makes the congregation for children. Here's the church. Here's the steeple. Open up and hear all the people. It is always and ever the people who make a true. But it is of course. Put the right building by which i mean a beautiful spiritually conducive building. Can greatly enhance and enrich. What a congregation can do. Both for its members and the wider community and that is the case here. So the first thing i want to say this morning. Is there i hope we is a car gation never ever take the spine facility of ours for granted. Not only must we be forever grateful to the leaders of this congregation who had the wisdom to purchase. And renovate this building in 2005 and one that in the moment. We must also as a congregation commit ourselves over the long haul. To the maintenance and upkeep of the spine and expansive. Facility will not be. So. Let's talk about the spirituality. Particular. Building. This congregation or home of. I am persuaded the building. Although inert and unfeeling objects of woodstone stealing. They have a great deal of power to affect and influence what killingly. Happens within them. The architecture of any building by which i mean the design. Shape and configuration. The materials used the lighting and colors the textures. And even the older of a building. Can profound affect what humanly happens. Great buildings. Bj home. Schools courthouses. Stadiums. Or religious structures. Enable encourage enhance and enrich the human activity. They were built and sadly the converse. Is also true. Mediocre. Or miserable build. Diminish. The track. And distract. From the things they should be doing. When they are inside of them. But here at uscb i will assert with grateful pride we are blessed with a building. That is well suited to our religious purposes as unitarian universal. Said differently. Our spiritual home here in vero beach. Is extraordinary well-suited to our spiritual purposes. And this is of course a bit of a stout.. For as most of you know this building was not designed or built by unitarian universalist. This building was built in 1982 to house the first church of god. Vero beach. A conservative. Evangelical congregations. Which because they outgrew this facility. Is now housed as many of you know. In an even more expansive megachurch facility. Out on 58th avenue. A congregation the builders of this place bless their hearts. With decidedly different spiritual practices and theological perspectives than hours. So this fine building a bars again which has been bequeathed to us by folks. With a very different spirituality than ours. None-the-less bike good luck rather exquisitely serves our purposes and i want to count those. The first way in which this facility serves us well inspired obvious. Inaccessible. Location. This handsome building nestle by the way. Beautiful brows with wonderful. Mature trees and shrubs. Except as i think you all know. Had a busy provident corner right near the heart of vero beach. And those can be fine but found by almost anybody in our community looking for it. Even the directionally challenged. Will stumble on this place. Those who built this building those good church.of.god folks. Didn't choose this location randomly they chose it. This highly accessible visible location because the primary purpose of their congregation according to their website to which i went is to bring as many people to christ. As they can. Set up those persons might experience salvation. Purpose and joy in their relationship with their savior jesus. We are not as you all know exactly a conservative evangelical church. But this building on this site works well for us for different reasons. This location works for us because it's perfectly suited to two of our central purpose. We use here in farrell want to provide first a safe. Practical beautiful religious home. For anyone in our area who speaks. Free face such as ours in other words. Have a beautiful pretzel place for us to do church. Just as we do that. Get our free church tradition. While at the same time. We want to provide a place from which we can simultaneously reach out to our wider community. Injustice and service. Compassion. Visa v the emerson center intellectual stimulation in care. Another shirley other busy corners here in vero that would do just as well for our purpose. But none better than this particular intersection. Now i must tell you. That's such a great accessible location is sadly not all that common. For unitarian universalist congregation. While many of our old historic white clabbered new england church buildings to a busy public squares in the center of town like sudbury massachusetts. Newburyport places like that. Many you may not know if most of the union buildings built since world war when the big boom happen. We went from. Several hundred congregations to 1000. Many of our newer buildings. Arctic. It hard. Awfully quiet suburban roads. Nondescript side streets or even worse. Virtually hidden from public. In the woods. We love the woods and more of that in a moment. Unitarian universalist shows such out-of-the-way quiet location. For some pretty sounding good reason. Amongst. These lots on the back roads are cheaper. Or the desire to be close to nature and trees and more on that strong unitarian-universalist trade in the moment. But the end result is that many of our building are hard to find. If you belong here you know how to find us. Ll parmentier. Are any of them hard to find. Yeah that's that's a yes. But that's not the case with our fellow. It's easy to. And we've got. Parking. You know my last church. 700 members we had 80. For parking. Nestle. Nestle. In the woods. Great. That makes sense. The first way this facility serves us well is just fine. Location. It's excessive. The next way our building served us so well. Is by the design. The front door. Lawyer in the lobby and i'm not getting into that the sky. Both of which i hope you will notice. Our entrance way is extremely welcome. Our front doors here are wide and they do clear glass. Which says stranger and friends alike welcome to come on in work we're open for business and we're glad you're here. Just as soon as you come in the front door. Your greed is not just by the wonderful sunday greeters who do such a good job of welcoming. But you're greeted by a light and expansive. Lobby. With cheerful carpeting. Comfortable furniture and plenty of sunlight pouring into those atrium windows that are. Speckled with wonderful. I like to think of our entrance way here. The lobby is the heart chamber. Of our building. The friendly space where we practice as the reverend bill schultz put it two weeks ago. We practice the precious art hospitality. Two friends and strangers. One of the most important things any religious community can do is make everyone who comes through their doors visitors and long-timers alike. Feel instantly safe. And wanted and welcome. And our entrance by its very design and our lobby achieved this. With a simplicity. Openness. The third way in which our building serves our spiritual purposes. Affection. Is the simple. Austintatious design. Of the room you are sitting in now. This spacious sanctuary. Which to my way of thinking. If that's the heart chamber. Ivar. This is the heart. Soul. The very word sanctuary almost says it all doesn't it. A sanctuary any dictionary will tell you is a consecrated place. The most sacred spark part of any religious building devoted. To the keeping of sacred things. A place of. The unbusy. Architecture of this room and look around you. It's fairly modest. Straightforward. The shapes and the sight lines are simple. The angles and contours are gentle. The colors. Texture. Soothing. Warm and the seating. What did i do. This room in my last church we had upright. Shaker chair. Depending on what we're doing is a conjugation. This room invites us to enter into reflective calm. Or intense listening or robust singing or expressive grieving or. Active laughter. This rum allows. Encourages us. Be fully human across the wide range of moods and situations that make up the life of any car. It's perfect for us. You use. We express ourselves and give meaning a. Another. Is the sanctuary is an open. Gentle. Receptacle. For everything we care about. Sharonville. I believe it was a nearly perfect receptacle for the church of god. Which chose these shapes of this design on the color as they worship jesus christ. As their lord and savior. Images nearly a perfect receptacle. As we live out and express. Are very different thing. Now that's there are several curiosity. Which derived from the fact that it was built as a conservative. Christians face. Not as a you you. And i want you to know that in preparation for the sermon i called butch a capelin. The contractor are painting contractor. Who was and is an active member of the church of god. He confirmed everything i'm about to say to you about the unique features of this room when i called him and we chatted for a. The first of which may have gone almost totally unnoticed by you. Is. This. Is it just a little riser to get you to the podium your friends. Oh no. It's a prayer rail. Yeah how many of you knew that. It's a prayer real. What's the members of the church of god. Would come to kneel. Sam gauged in prayer which tells me that this prayer rail which goes on both sides. Was used by the current gation threeways. Sunday members of the congregation felt ready to accept. As a personal lord and savior they would come. Second. They would use this rail when i'm sunday communion was offered to the congregation by the elders. Pictures. All of the elder scroll. Third prayer railwood. Who's during the week. When members of the congregation. Come quietly in by themselves. To pray. In the space. Reconnect. Now because these decidedly christian spiritual practices are not exactly part of our faith tradition. We never use this rail in this way and i thought it was. A nondescript architectural feature to set the chancel apart. On the floor of the room. It is clear. And useful christian architectural. We must acknowledge. And respect. Appreciate. The second curiosity to wasser's you use at least. Is that large beautiful stained glass window that you look at everyday it's backlit my fluorescent lighting if you don't know that. And that with your head. By the by the wall. Now this window again created by our good church of god neighbors has many pleasing colors. Jennifer iety of symbols. Symbols to christian at universal. And these intricacies can best be the subject of another sermon i guess you've done a sermon on this window before just going to highlight a couple of the future. You'll notice on the right and left bottom are the signs of alpha and omega. Which is a christian nation the symbol for the eternal nature of jesus christ. And of god. Florastor is what i call her. At the very bottom and i went and tried to google christian metaphors and symbols and corn plant didn't come up but. It did come up. As a native american symbol. Corn is used to symbolize life. And life in all its abundance. Perfect for us. Next please notice the peace stuff on the left side of the window but halfway up. Bearing the olive branch of course. Again a universal human symbol. Of hope and peace. The transcend a christian. But the one symbol we must absolutely recognize as being the central symbol. Of the window. Which we have respectively the purposely obscured is the great big red cross. That was there and we are star symbol of course the palace. Blocked the other part of the cross but i. Beautiful job. Without. Destroying the window we. Drew attention. You are the silver circle symbol of our faith. Start a cross. Is the chalice. And yet able to maintain. Enjoy the beauty of. Other symbols. And i think it was a. Sheer stroke. Genius that we've been able to. Replace the diamond symbols are window of the disrespect or arrogance. But simply because we need to focus. Symbol of our on. But we should never forget that behind our chalice. There lies across. Not only are we come from christian roots. Unitarian universalist. Are good. Church of god labor. Behind archery. There is a cross. Across the theme soma. The good men and women who built this building. And there's one more architectural feature of this building that some of you don't know about. Who knows what's in here oh yeah. Well look at that it's a baptismal walk-ins. The place there. And it's got a separate water heater the staff and i use it after every tuesday staff meeting. Alright that's not true we thought about it though it's got a nice little hot water heater in. It's not a hot tub. It's not a hot tub. It's a baptismal pool or baptistry. A fiberglass walk-in full inversion. Church of god tradition. Hot water heater hand rails and all baptistry. Anthem. The pool is probably not going to be used by us anytime soon. And certainly not by the staff. Tuesday staff meeting. We've inherited. The next feature of this rum is terribly important to the architect. Is these two large projections. Things which were not using this sunday. And the related solitary small bag of highland. Provide just a little light into this room on sunday morning. Now these architectural feature. Projection screen. Small bank of windows. Are connected. Very intentional. The very intentional. The current gation was built this building one of those sitting where you were sitting not to pay attention. To the outside environment. But to the multimedia messages about jesus. And god. And scripture from. From the bible. Which were regularly presented up on these two walls. Butch told me that the congregation use these projection screen. When they sang their many hymns in each service. And when their pastor would be preaching and he would be referring to. Piece of scripture. The scripture would go out so that the people didn't have to be fumbling around in their bibles. They could follow the scriptural lesson. That was being taught. The focus. Architectural focus was to be very much. N-word. And upward. The fact that this room is designed to facilitate multimedia projection. Is a real plus for us as unitarian universalist who also want to share. Our faith and communicate as clearly as weak and everyone who comes to worship here. As your minister. I've been so excited to have multimedia capability in my last complication of river road. They had was typical unitarian universalist all glass windows so there was no. Surface dark enough to project anything on nice. But. I like these communication tools and the possibility of multimedia worship. We know the different people learn and taking information in. Start waze and by using. Projection screens. And powerpoints and putting up key phrases. Who sings i've never been able to do in my ministry. To make sure that everyone gets the message. Video clip. Visual slides. We're going to have some of that next. On our earth. A day celebration. The design of this building which again is clearly geared toward multimedia presentation. Also prevents us as unitarian universalist from doing something. That are transcendentalist hearts. Yearn to do. Adapt. Lookout. The windows. And look out on the beautiful world that lies just beyond this. Simtower earliest beginnings. In america unitarian-universalist have been nature appreciating. A nature focused folks. 12 always seem the holy. In the natural world many of our new england meetinghouses have the clear glasses. Did some of the old buildings have the wavy glass but nonetheless when you sit in the first parish. Concord massachusetts renewal. Write out. We are nothing but unadorned. Clear glass. The world. And that's why most of our buildings most of our modern buildings built since wwii also have huge windows and abundant sunlight and often natural wood. As their primary. Construction. I guess i said the last my last church. Was a perfect example. Sunwood screamin from the high windows and go out the other windows in. We couldn't reject anything. It was beautiful. Too bright. I would suggest you that while this sanctuary which we have inherited. Does not readily allow us to bathe in transit dental communion with the outside environment. A spiritual drawback in a deficit to be sure none the less. Alternately provides us. With these multimedia opportunities. Which. Can greatly enhance our worship that many you use. And by the way it is. If you if you can't do multimedia stuff you're kind of stuck in the last generations way of. People learning. As you know this is a multimedia world end. The next generation is. Used to. Seeing images of. And many image. Getting getting b. If we're going to communicate effectively. Because of our unique evangelical christian architecture. Kirin zero we simply have to find other venues for our transcendentalist. Take a walk on the beach. For a little while. A list of title lookup antenna can see the. Heart of a palm tree. Well. There is much much much more i could say about this building. It's designs it's many rooms it speak and venues. So please let me briefly summarize what to me feels like the sum and substance of the spirituality. Of this. Building. Despite its big size. Ours is a warm and welcoming. Invite people in. For the holy purposes of our faith. Are accessible location. And friendly inviting lobby. Extend the hand of hospitality. To all who seek to find us here at the corner of 27th avenue and 16th street. And then this room. Extend a warm and safe embrace. To all who come into worship. Jasika fuller deeper and more meaningful. The shape space. The human beings give two places they build with purpose. The shapes on the spaces make. Matter profoundly. And this place. Good luck. Is well-suited. To what we aspire here. Even though p. Varied if. And ideas about the world. As a congregation. We are blessed. With a solid a beautiful home. That invites us to practice our religion boldly. And lovingly and well. And i leave you with this thought. May we tend always. Loving care. The sacred space. This. Wonderful. Church.

uufvb_org

2011Jun05Sermon32.mp3

As i prepared to offer these words this morning i do want to say thank you to reverend alexander for the invitation. On to speak and to be with you. I'm on this sunday morning. And offer my roof and cut off my spirit and strength to him as he is away. Working with other communities. But i have this opportunity here with you i also appreciate the help and support of colin kessler on that brings me to be able to stand before you this morning. Every morning. Jewish worship opens with very powerful words. Marcus luttrell. How beautiful are your 10 so jacob your dwelling places israel. And the words are beautiful in themselves. Because it's a reminder that we are as a community together to look out and see how beautiful of community we are. But it's really the story and the setting that happens for the story that really provides the punch. You got to realize that the people of israel in the book of numbers in the people of israel or i'm on the east side of the jordan the rainbow off. In moab and they are getting ready to cross into the land and as they are going they are coming into contact with other kingdoms and other tribes and other people's. One of these other tribes and other kingdoms. Is lead viking named bella. And the lock is in their way and he doesn't want the people of israel coming anywhere near them cuz everyone that has stood in front of the people of israel doesn't last very long at this point in the story. And so he does whatever you bolting should do with it wants to assert its way you go out and you hire a good prophet. Still on oorvalam is some of you might know in the english. You hire a good topping to stand on the mountain and to offer courses to protect your people. Sounds like a good defense. Right. Until he hires bill on oorvalam. Who is ben supposed to go out and come in and send the mountain in front of where the people are and offer curses. And just precedes many chapters go on i'll give you the short form of the story he goes out. There's wrestling he talks with god survives flaming swords of angels all kinds of stuff when it comes. The end of the story bill on through all of these signs and portents realizes that he has to say what god puts in his mouth. Even if it's not with the lock has hired him to do. Climbs up the mountain. Any stands up on the mountain and he has a lock. Around him. And he's offers opens his mouth but instead of curses. Outcomes. And these are the words to the jewish community uses to start their morning. Montague alohalisa yakub. How beautiful are your tents of jacob your dwelling places israel. And i could stand and. Talk to you about focusing on that beautiful story which is all about. Waking up in the morning and not offering purses that's the whole rolling out of bed on the wrong side of the bed kind of thing. But offering blessings instead cuz that's a really powerful image there's something else in that scene and in that story that catches my attention. You have to realize you're still on. Or standing on this mountain and he's looking down and what does he see. Fifi's tents. It is an encampment. Here's the whole people of israel and he can see them and sends them and feel them. He can survey them and get a whole sense of the community even. Standing at a distance. And to me that is such a contrast from our world. Where we have so many walls and gates and doors with locks. So many more boundaries and barriers in our world that separate us one from the other. If you looked up and saw an aerial photograph of vero beach. You would see the houses in the walter gates in our separation of our land not necessarily getting a sense. Of the people in the whole sense of community. Our families and communities. So much more diverse and dispersed. And even if you wanted to argue that we have technology. Write our technology would say little smaller. I can converse with students and israel weekend information on our screens and our cell phones. On the all of us realm. And yet we also know that they treat other types of barriers and distance. Suddenly we can text we don't have to even use all of letters. And it's. Communication. But it's different from tiny melpomene that sense of face-to-face communication that really means. Connecting. We might have more ways of communicating. But we still have plenty of boundaries boundaries and barriers. And filters. There are. Even greater distances between us. And i would tell you that this isn't just about interpersonal interaction. About how we interact one person to another. I came across a number of years ago in a book called putting god on the guest list. On a story by f forester church was a unitarian minister and actually when i was. Talking about the what i was. Discuss this morning title of my sermon with reverend alexander he made mention of this text to. Different images of windows and walls. Epworth church rights. We stand in the cathedral of the world. In the cathedral are a multitude of stained glass windows. We are born into one part of the cathedral. And our parents and teachers teach us how to see the light that shines through our window. The windsor that carries the story of our people. That's theme light shine through. Cathedral. Different ways. The light. Is the presence of god. The way we see its colors. The ways of our tribe. They're different responses to this cathedral of the world. People who think there is one such there was such so such a way that is absolute truth. And that any opinion about living is as good as any other. There's some that say all the windows were basically the same. And so it doesn't matter where i stand. And there are some that say my windows only right window and i'm going to go in fact break. All of the other ones. Best responses all in between. Then i had one of my students. It was apartments a student at the time. Has now graduated in off the college and she added to it there are those that say all the windows are dumb. There are those that stained glass windows. And then there are those that say and i have to do this with the yiddish accent signs and it gives me a headache. If we consider those boundaries and barriers. As i bring this to you on this sunday morning. It's not just human to human. But it's also human creation how we look out on our world and how we bring our world. And it's also human to creator to divine to god. It's how we connect with that which is greater than ourselves. And it would be easy. To just stand up here and say that if we want to reach our full potential. That ideal that we have the hebrew term shalom of wholeness. Completeness. We want to reach our highest potential just go out and tear down all the walls into open all of the doors and open the windows and then we can be like israel at that moment. Right that would be the john lennon imagine approach imagine all the people worshipping and harmony there's no religion god i know i'm missing a few but i think you all know the song right. You don't want me singing it i assure you. If we just get to that moment then we'll all be hunky-dory. But we also know that there are good reasons for creating and maintaining. Separation. We do need boundaries and we do need barriers. We have those connections we get power from those stories and those windows and all of that. Stop. There's a book called my name is asher lev bike i am potok it's got to be 20 and if not 30 years old. And it offers a term that captures that idea that we need those barriers and walls and it's not so simple just to go out and tear them down. It speaks of a citra opera which is yiddish. Hebrew term and it means. The other side. Great bird. Ditra. Sidious. Dark. The sitra opera don't let the other side. Sneak urine and get you. The word from the ultra-orthodox community in the language it means that community. That's on the outside. Non-orthodox secular community. Sidra offers not just the people were activities were theologies. Zipper different from that orthodox community. Twice as well as we talk in a different theologies. Practices. And ways of looking at the world but when you say see-through ofra. You mean something. Threatening or insidious. Or dark. Feature opera is that outside. It's plain to get in and diminish. And destroyed the community's belief and god and way of life. In asher lev when they talk about sitra opera in their world it ranges from the soviet government which of your familiar with. The experiences of jews in the 1950s and 60s and 70s and 80s. We talked about refuse next the government soviet government was doing everything it possibly good. To destroy diminish the jewish people that were. Still in the soviet union or in the eastern europe they were taking away jobs. For example was in prison for decades. Even on they were terribly oppressed group and part of the book of joshua was trying to save. Those people. Ditra off-road was the soviet government trying to destroy those jews. But also see chakra was art. And secular studies. There's other ways of thinking and looking. The world that would undermine that image of the ultra-orthodox of that ultra-orthodox world. For that community was threatened by that secret sitra okra that dark side of star wars one of my favorite movies and books. Did it would corrupt and destroy and so you have to build walls. The block and always on guard and protect and preserve from its influence. And if we think and while we're not an ultra-orthodox community but there is jewish christian muslim whatever. We do have we're not so quite so afraid of other ways of thinking. Audio was just speaking about we know that there are theology. Ways of looking at the world that are insidious and darken to scare us that we need to protect. Ourselves that we see is destroying our world to destroy envy world that we do want to protect. And it's not just. Worldview's were knowledge were theology is not that only feature opera. The weenie be strongholds i came up with another image that i think we should really think about this well when we talked about meeting barriers and boundaries. I am a home & garden tv hgtv addict. I will say that we watch it every almost every night we love house hunters and house hunters international and all of those shows that fine. Show people trying to figure out where is the best. The weather. Put on sunday night when there aren't a whole lot of shows and sometimes no good sporting events on either. There's a show that we watch called holmes on homes. How many of you have seen homes on home. You have today it's really a show that they should have a little advice. So please be aware that your house might not be in this bad of shape. Right. He's a building inspector good strong and he says make it right and he carries his tools and. Infrared detectors in all of this it's a it's a really pretty interesting show. I'm in what is the pieces make it right and it goes into all of these homes were people are having problem with a might see some water damage. Enzyme he goes in and he does a full inspection right bank inspection not with those home inspectors might do or those people that are trying to make a quick buck. He says it with lots of authority and dignity. And i'm sure there are good inspectors and not-so-good home inspector is the best. 3 goes into every home and finds his little things and he looks for all matter of the sea tropper this evil stuff dark stuff. That is coming in drainage issues and holes and wiring and plumbing problem. And one couple. Was very interesting they had a little bit of water damage there they saw underneath the window and they said we're not sure what's causing it. And they lived in one of those places where the houses are connected. Lachrymose. World. The houses are small and all connected to each other and they had a little alley. And they are going down into the alley after they had bought the home where they were having this water come through and they saw. And they moved. The stack. Rick's. Call butthole. They said this. Good. And that's when they called mike holmes. To come in and check the problem. Until he comes in and they will video camera things and start leaving it down and they looked into the basement. It is not good. When somebody standing outside your home. Take the movie camera and threads it through a hole and sees inside of your house. That is bad that's where the secret awkward the other side all of the water and gunk was coming into this house. And they start peeling back the layers you find the whole. You want to see how big it is. And they found that the whole header being that have been holding up the house. And all of the mortar and bricks and stuff that have been holding up with the header beam was all falling apart. A little a little the whole house is about to fall in. And so they go into the house and they start tearing stuff out and what did they find. More. And they found. Parts about to fall in. Little feat little bits of darkness. Right. And the whole house is about to fall down every sunday night at 8 you can watch how your house might be about to fall apart. Walls explode. It's a frightening hour of seeing all the ways that your house is poorly constructed. And i can stand up here and joke that all of us have those moments we know that there is stuff that we don't want in our house. We need to feel it and protect it and have it strong. So that we are safe and secure inside. Teacher offer whether it's. Theology and worldview and ideology or whether it's. Water and damp and gunk that comes into our house. It's that stuff from the other side it's real it's potentially dangerous and we need. Boundaries and barriers to protect ourselves. And yeah. Even if i say that. We know. Hard times. When are walter quite literally. Come tumbling down. Set reminder that it's not just having strong walls. Or barriers. That is not. Which really protects us and raises us. 12 higher and holier. I've course. Even in the least start with this images of september 11th. And the 2004 storms earthquake and tsunami in japan. The we've just been in our new news. We also in those. That story of pain and loss. But also. Of healing and wholeness. And home. But even as we talked about the brokenness of those moments there was something special something powerful that happened in that moment since own and those moments and so many communities. In those moments. We actually saw the neighbor helping neighbor. People really reaching out to donate blood to donate. Interlock their spirit and energy. The healthiest food to help get shelter to take care of people there was in. Joplin it was a. Apps man. He did. Big chainsaw. Linking on the term for it. But he. Lumberjack. Any happen to be at home in joplin with his really big saw. And as soon as the storm has passed what was he out doing. He just started cutting from one end to joplin's the other clearing roads to emergency vehicles. Could get in. In the hebrew term for neighbor is shocking someone who lives next door and it isn't it interesting that. Shocking. It's the same route and hebrew for checking all that's in welling presents. When we are truly acting is that way of neighbors of reaching out and helping each other beyond our barriers and boundary. Reaching across and fruit. Each other that's when we bring the divine presence into our nets. That's what we have to. Help those in need. We raise it to that level of high and holy. I even remember from this community how much i learned from the unitarian fellowship. After the storms i think it was after francis. That the power was still out both at the temple and in the fellowship. And yet you all had your gas oven and stove. And there were people that were dropping by and they have the stuff that was defrosting in their freezers and they brought it to the fellowship and threw it in and you all were making stew pot of stone soup after pot of stone soup and offer.. That is just enough that petenwell in prison. Even when everything is shaking and broken in the barriers that we need are broken. Sometimes that's when we go raise ourselves something higher and holy. It was that the destruction brought on by seadrill ofra that other side. And how we react and responded that brought the best in all of us. Arthur wascal riding. Right after september 11th. We talked about rosaline sucat shalom about a shelter a piece of shalom being spread over us and he pointed out that the word is. In susuka is what we use on the holidays. Right stuff for pools. Through the walls you're supposed to have.. You can see the stars. That we realize our sometimes in realizing our vulnerability. And have literally having holes in the walls. That's how we are strongest when we have holes in our walls. We have hospitality and we can reach out through those holes and connect. With one to the other. But even talk about the storms or 2004 or 911 or any of these other disaster. And that sense of chefinho boiled out of all of us as we reached out to help one another. We can also look at our world and realize that that doesn't sustain itself for a long time in those times of tragedy. It's ramen or energy level rises and we get out of her riding off to the rescue. But it takes a lot of energy. Prevents us from having our regular routine that really does. Affected and is so much a part of our world and that old routines atkins us and we get out of that emergency state. And so here. I wanted to call your attention to sitra. Opera. To those walls. Because it went out those times when we have to reach. Through the walls and those barriers that it's not diminished. Did when we get back into your old routine how can we keep finding ways to connect to something greater and something that is positive. If we don't need those. Orphic lapses to experience it. And i go back to usher love conversation in it. It says a lot to all of us as we think about walls and barriers and how we get through them. Washer is talking with his father when his father says now listen to me author. I know you're only a boy and perhaps you'll be today. And perhaps. You will be able to understand anyway. Someone else. How was it possible to establish a connection between that man. And god the master of the universe ribbon on show alone. And the answer was that man. Hey. First. Step. In order that for there to be a connection between humanity and ribbono shel along the master of universe. Their first must be an opening. A passageway. Even a passageway as small as the eye of a needle. The man must make the opening by himself. A man must take that first. Step. Master of the universe ribbono shel olam will move in as it were and widen the passageway. We have to make the passageways were people in russia. We have a responsibility to them. We must make the passageways for them to move into. They can't make the openings on their side so we must make it on our side. Do you understand. Oscar. What's the tiniest. It doesn't take a big opening. To send our positive energy into the world. What are use language that often use for our communities together to build bridges. T'god. The friends to community. We saw this morning in our text that we read by yesi yaakov. Write jacob is on the run. He stole the blessing and the birthright. His brother from esau and his brother now wants to kill him now but isaac. Is gone and he's fearful of himself he's fearful of esau he's got to leave he doesn't see a life for himself and kenan and he knows he's running out. And when you run elf. Talk about evacuation xp. You're often lonely you don't have all of your stuff around you to be able to navigate and figure out where you want to go. Easy to feel lost. Until here in the midst of his teacher oscar going to that other side. There he sees what we just heard. A stairway to heaven with ron's going up to god with angels going up and angels going down and it was monorom. God is in this place and i didn't know. He feels that connection that he needs for support. To get him through times of struggle and challenge. He sees god he feels it. Times of disaster. Of all and light. Those stones. And so he didn't have to be from that place. And he has that power that he could to muster what he needs. Do we have to gather in mustard to be confident. Device that which mike harris down or diminish us. And we have those moments of all and then we leave that place. And how do we carry it with us we get into the same routines like jacob. Back into our llamar whole or everyday. How do we keep that passage open. Announcers let's says you just need a tiny crack to open it. And jacob doesn't in the story ended in an interesting. And it before i looked at the story before i thought about sitra offer in this little crack i always looked at the end of that story when jacob says. When are you sleeping beauty. If you bring me back to this place if you'll protect me if you'll do all of these things then you will be my god. That was quick. Right. If you'll cook for me if you'll clean for me if you'll take my clothes to dry cleaner then. What is self-centered and self-absorbed. What craziness health. But i think about this concept of walls and other side in craps. As i thought about all of this. Realize there's something else going on. I realize that when he. Says that if you do this then i will. It's a statement. Climbing. It's a statement of being rabid ready he thinks i want god to be with me. I want a positive i want that community i want that connection. With me i'm looking for it. It's a positive can-do attitude not on going out in the wilderness and i'm going to die we get lot of that in numbers. An exodus and in deuteronomy from the people of israel but not from jacob. I can do this. Like there's a good chance. And shelter and clothing and when i get food and shelter and clothing where am i going to look that where did that come from. That's my connection. Something greater than myself. I want weapons and goodness for god in the world and in those experience. And with that oath with what started out very self-centered. It's really something wider he's reaching out and opening himself. He's reaching out to find that positive and powerful that can help him get. Get something higher. And so here we set. On this sunday morning. On your ship off your day. Avesta beginning of your week. And it's not a novel. And if not at work portion. We can say that's just fiction that's how it works in those worlds around eye. But we face that thing kind of stuff in our world barriers and walls that we need to keep out that seadra opera that which could diminish and destroy us. There's nothing too good or too strong. We can't build our walls aren't that are higher or stronger or better that we can keep out all of that negative. We realize that if we don't open ourselves to those connections divine and human. We would then even be diminishing or stealth. And so here we have that opportunity. How do we make those crap. How do we open those windows. What do we need to do. Positive and conscious for ourselves. To bring that which is divine and human. To bring strength and wisdom and goodness to ourselves in a world. Let us be like jacob. And learn to do this. To remember and factors to do this. Opening ourselves to those awesome moments. And let us also. Augment expand enhance. That paradigm. Not just in those awesome moments. Not justin has moments of trauma or tragedy or light. Everyday moments. Little ways conscious app. Opening ourselves. Reaching out. To let our light and our goodness out. And to bring that light of god of creation all of that positive acts of goodness. Into our world. So that we can then reach and build those bridges. And be partners in building. World of shalom.

uufvb_org

2011May15Sermon32.mp3

Welcome. To this quiet morning when life restoring rain. Return to the treasure coast. All the world seems like. May we be as well. We welcome you this morning and we. So delighted all of your chosen to be here. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wanderers 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. And we welcome you just. You come this. Can all of your. We hope you will find the service meaningful 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. What a living of. Coming week. My topic. This morning so you've. Had a bad day. Is unashamedly inspired by one of my favorite popular songs of the same title by the singer-songwriter daniel powter. So that you can follow along with the words as we play this now they've been included. On the pinky. In your order of service but i also have arranged a special slideshow. So that you don't miss the point. So. You had a bad day. All of you who gave me a bad day face. I just love that song. Simple. Melodic toe-tapping melody i love the lyrics. Every time it comes on the radio especially if i'm driving alone i belted out of the top of my lungs by myself inner drivers may think i'm about to go off the road but i'm having. Find find. And by the way isn't that the best part of driving or showering alone. You can sing along and nobody will ever tell you how badly you're singing. It's just great. In any case after repeatedly enjoying the song on the car radio. Begin thinking you know there's a sermon. This experience we have called bad day. I wonder if this common phenomenon something would be something we benefit by reflecting on. I mean everybody knows about having bad days or universal. Experience. And maybe these out of sync and irritating days. Have something to teach us. Spiritually. And maybe it's beardsley matters maybe really matters. How we deal with them so let's take a little time right now. I'm about to have a bad day it's just one of those little things. Let's spend a few. Minutes on this subject. This morning i have seven. Things. Tell you about bad days now i got to tell you the 40 years ago back in seminary mike, lennox professor the reverend dr. joseph barth. Wisely in phatic lee send me one day in class kid. A good sermon has three points. No more. But you don't you folks and vero beach like the clever. Smart folks of lake wobegon are above average. And i am sure. You can go with me with seven points. And just so you don't listen john is going to project them up one at a time. Observation i want to make about a bad day. Is there really is objectively something in life called a bad day and like it or not we all occasionally have them. Every person in this room knows what a bad day looks and feels and smells like. Because. Daybreak over us. Tamia bad day is like alexander when in one single 24-hour. a sequel. Little irritating complications difficulties strokes of bad luck. None of which are in an of themselves earth-shattering or devastating. Occur one after the other or simultaneously. Often exacerbated by you're feeling physically or emotionally down or out of sorts of just. Mobilized. The person. And these kinds of days then. Steadily nibbles away at your normal sense of enjoyment. Fluidity. Let me just take a quick stabbing. Describing such a day a bad day starts when you wake up in the morning.. Slept all that way because you're worried about one of your kids or grandkids. And you can only find one of the slippers at the foot of your bed what gremlin is it the hides those. So you stumble barefoot to the shower wake yourself up to wake yourself up. And the hot water knob comes off in your hand while it's scalding hot. After you get in your bathrobe you step outside to get one of your most treasured little possessions of the day your morning newspaper would you love to read first thing. Only to discover the delivery guy didn't get it to. Funtime once. You sit down for breakfast to empty the last of your favorite cereal into a bowl and a wonderful slice banana and sugar for milk. From the refrigerator karnal over only to discover in your first and tips. With your first anticipatory spoonful. But the milk has. You settle them for breakfast of orange juice decide to get on the computer for a couple to a couple things before you. Everything goes bad on the computer until you try to complete the complicated order and the site through no fault of your own x you out and will not let your visa number work. Forcing you to start all over again now you're running late for your doctor's appointment you tried to quickly get dressed only discover the shirt you've chosen is missing a critical button. The flight of the car back up and hit the overloaded trash can you put out. Overnight. You currently pick up most of the trash put it back in the can. And head to your doctor. Every light. You catch every light or every light catches you. At final you arrived the doctor more less i'm time you open the waiting room door to see a room full of sullen looking for. Sure enough. 89 minutes later you're ushered in. Examination room where you cool your heels for another 70. Your doctor isn't sure what's going on with you so she orders more test two of which involve long sharp. You finally get home in the afternoon to find your morning paper waiting for you you want to go in. Study invited finally butts. Wants you to help with the grocery trip a comment askew secret. The dinner cooked for you that night isn't exactly a favor. What you put on. Only to have your beloved. Beg you to watch a movie with her you know one of those. Movies of slow-paced movies about. Enterprising and empowered women. You just loved one. By the time. You're ready for the data and you're feeling totally put upon you go to the bathroom to brush your teeth and the peppermint to breaks. Spilling the stuff all over your hands finally you've had enough and you go. Keurig. In a way that your spouse hears. You've had a bad day. Friend of mine describes a day like this is getting nibbled. That's what a bad. Deus. Each level eat irritation each difficulty. Isn't monumental. By the end of your day. Tatted up. Deflated. Even if you had a day when you felt nibbled to death by ducks. And to imagine you can skate through life without such days. Is simply to ask existentially. Farting. That's my first. Number two. When you find yourself in the midst of a bad day don't take it personally because it's really not about you. It's really how can i say that. A bad day of course in one sense is a very personal thing it's your bad day and no one else is and that in fact is one of the most. Frustrating part of having one. All kinds of little things are for no reason going wrong and out-of-sync in your life. Almost everybody else around. On such days it feels like the it feels like the universe. Has purposefully singled you out for a hard time with this of course. The case. Ideologically i want to see ology school i will tell you it's not. The universe has not singled you out don't flatter. Or the president of the united states even has ordained. They simply happen because they happen. This universe in case you haven't noticed is paying no particular or cosmic attention to you. The grand scheme of all that is doesn't really care or notice about your little needs. Wants desires or demand. Life just roll the head in one big caz one big complicated mystery. And when the day doesn't go particularly smooth for you it really doesn't need a whole lot to anyone or anything other. Done yourself so when you're having a bad day. You can if you accidentally want to. Wallow in self-pity or feel sorry for your poor old little put-upon self but. Don't spiritually imagine. That this is all about you because it's not. The universe isn't particularly picking. You anymore. Send it ever. Looks out. And the real and that realization. Should. Make the complicated. When you find yourself in the midst of a bad day acknowledge this reality first to yourself and then is appropriate to others in your immediate circle you really don't have to carry the burden of the bad day completely alone. I am persuaded that when a bad day is in the process of as my mother used to say declaring itself. In wisconsin would have started to rain in the morning my mother said today is. When a bad day is in process of declaring its. For example and by lunchtime several unrelated things have already gone bad for. It is spiritually and emotionally important to acknowledge to yourself. The date least so far isn't working out so. Speaking personally. I when i feel out of sorts with one of those days. Just nothing's working. I find it helps. Say psychic. To myself. Leaving a little ironic. Smile well looky here through no fault of my own i'm having a bad one. I guess it's just going to be one of those exasperated days. I must. Just as well gird my loins. And lower my expectation. Such internal acknowledgement. Help me to cope with. Alaska. And i also find it helpful matter-of-factly without excessive drama or self-pity and that's a key. To share my emotional and spiritual state of being with trusted people who are close to. My spouse. My co-workers life. Winter example i'm having a bad day here at the office and yes they happen. I find it helpful to walk into deb's office usually without my shoes. You notice i don't wear my shoes. Yikes tab. It's only a little after 11 a.m. and i'm already having a bad day i had a flat tire on my bike on the way to work. The arthritis in my knees is killing me. My sermon is not coming together. My printer cartridge just ran out of ink. And the phone won't stop ringing if he's parishioners would just leave me alone i can get my work done. And deb bless her heart always looks at me sympathetically and says. They are there oh my yes i've had a day like that. And sometimes we even laugh about justin. Accumulation of. And that puts my dad day back in for. And sympathetic people around you probably can't all by themselves turn a bad day around. Sympathy isn't enough. But allowing good folks around you to share in the knowledge of what you're going through and express their sympathy and under. Lightens your burden helps you feel less alone. And helps you feel like you're not the only one in creation. Fairing. To share. 4. When you find yourself in the midst of a bad of what is shaping up to be a bad. Trust. That you may. May be able to turn things around by sunset. Though i must admit to sometimes when i'm personally in the midst of a bad day. Try the way my time unable to steer. The thing around starlight trying to steer the titanic around an iceberg. In my life sometimes bad days to clear themselves early. And are insistent and hang me on emotionally hang on my psychic ankle. Until i crawl into bed. Defeated and the. Some bad days are mean. Strong and tenacious. And simply my experience these days must be tolerated must be endured must be gotten. Experience. They can be turned around by me making the right emotional and spiritual decisions. Specifically by my refusing to sit in the soup. But i seem to be. Sometimes i a broken the spell. Of a bad day by taking a restorative power nap. Or by calling an old friend and going out to lunch. Sometimes i broken the spell the bad day by putting down the sermon that does not want to be written. Briefly take a walk around the building. Get out. Beautiful sunshine. Or ride my bike hard on a1a for an hour and. Comeback. Play doing or going home. Instead of feeling bad cooking. My world famous. Meatloaf. Mashed potatoes. I'm sure the freaks one of us different decisions different activities and techniques. Help us to. To turn a bad day around to break out of that stupor of a bad day the point is. When we find ourselves in the midst of a hard day. We are often quite capable if we'll just get up the gumption to try. To take positive action. Dirt bikes flipping. Flipping ourselves out of the pan. And transforming. What was going to be a bad day in the one that turns out to be altogether. 5. Remember that when you're in a bad day it can only last 24 hours. By definition it's a bad day it's not a bad week it's not a bad month it's not a bad year it's a bad. Is probably the most obvious observation i can make. Also maybe the mom. Important. A bad day doesn't have to shape the red. Nor does it even have to set the pattern. Your next week. Or month. Four season. A bad day doesn't have that kind. All bad days come to an end. At the end of the day. And just as i affirm. Bad days can even an earlier if. Succeeding. Composite decision. The help unify. By definition in my experience. Nnn reality. Disappears. Entirely. When you fall asleep. In the embrace of sleep that night. And just a quick. Important word hear about the. Restorative power of sleep. No matter how complicated or irritating a day you have had. Sleep. The simple bomb. Unconscious rest. Where you can't go over and over it. Once you fall into. Has the power to send all the pieces of your life back. To order & co. Next day how many times have i. Irritated and upset. Only to have eight hours of. Not sex. I-5. No matter what your age. 8 hours of good. Can help put. Everything back in. Perhaps the most merciful thing about it. Has no real staying. It's 24 hour. Unless of course. Decide to fixate or focus on it. Immediately when you wake up. Erasing the. Of the fresh start. You have. The very substance. So next time. You're having a bad day remember that it is trapped. And it's very existential. 6. When you find yourself having a bad day. Can you find yourself having a bad day. It's really important. Irritation. Unpleasantness. Troopers. Trooper. This idea of course is related to the last. About bad days only being a. Irritations and complications and difficulties. They are by definition small. Little. But if you blow them up in your mind as big and pervasive. Permanent. And even more spiritually.. Used to hold on to them. Nursing. Nursing them in a kit bag. Complaints. You've given the bad day much more power over your life than it could ever have dreamed. Of having. Its own. I also help. Profoundly helps. Keep a sense of self-deprecate. During the car. Bad day about how things aren't working. Some of the aspects of a bad they aren't all that fun. Others are. For example. Back when i was at. Maryland live. One day i had three flat tires. 18 minutes. As i was trying to get up to a meeting at work. At 9. E-flat. And one of the first one happened because i was think she i haven't had a flat. In a long time. It was very irritating as i was feeling my blood pressure. Rising i finally learned. Perspective. What is the chance of my fine fine. Three bits of glass. 15 minutes. And then i laughed again saying. The bicycle slabgod. Through his best at me. And is perhaps laughing and having right now but by god i fixed each one of them in 7 minutes flat. I'm ready for you. I was late. But i was not bent out of spiritual. All the bad day really has to throw at you was a lot of little stuff. And as dr. richard carlson reminds us. In his famous book. The same title. Don't sweat the small stuff. It's all. Small stuff. I called him. Often we allow ourselves to get all worked up about things. But upon closer examination. Really that big a deal. Most of the little irritations and complications notices me. Jamaica bad day. Are not in fact all that big a deal. One glorious early spring day when i live back in boston. I saw a guy in revere massachusetts. In a great big yellow cadillac with those fins that go for days like 1958 cadillac. Light yellow color yellow. What they call a wife-beater t-shirt on with all this gold on it. Bananas bumper sticker. I loved it said. Everyday above ground. It's a good day. Play a great big cigar to spell everyday above ground is a good day. Perspective. Perhaps one of the most important strategies for spiritual emotionally surviving a bad day. Is the keep it in perspective and realize that each component of a bad day is not in and of itself. That big a deal. Certainly not that big a deal to make you miserable unless of. That is the. Janet. My 7th. I guess i'm getting close. I would remind you that occasional bad days cert syrup to spiritually remind us. How generally good and pleasant and congenial normal everyday life. Look this maybe an example of me. And i admit to being already optimus. Trying to make. Spiritual purse out of a sow's ear. But i really do believe. The fact that we all occasionally have bad days cancer. Remind our hearts. How generally speaking. Life. Dan and day out as we are giving it. In the normal. An exciting unsexy flow of things. Life is pretty darn good. Gracious. Ingevity. I mean one thing mosquitoes. Decides. I think it can be fairly said that all of us make. Spiritual mistake. Falling out of the hat. Being grateful. Drake. 1. More. Normal. Ordinary. Pedestrian. In her wonderful essay the riddle of the ordinary. Cynthia ozick. Reminds us how easy it is to take. The ordinary. She rides. Play making it smells so noticeable. Has gotten itself in a bad fix. We hardly ever notice it. The ordinary simply by being so ordinary tends to make us ignorant and neglectful. What's something does not insist she right. I'm being noticed when we are grabbed by the collar or struck on the side of the head or skull buy a present sort of it. We take for granted. The things which most deserve our gratitude. Is the deepest point. Concerning. The ordinary. That it does. Deserve. Our gratitude. And then she concludes the ordinary. Is aboveall what is. And what is expected. Is not off. Let me give an example. Every time. Every time. Am i get a miserable chest cold. With all the eggs from the paynes. For 45 days everytime i get swept into one of these damn viruses. I say to myself. If i can only just feel normal again. I will never take. Feeling for. And as soon as i get out of the cold i forget my promise to life. I start griping and groaning about all the little things. I forget my promise to the ordinary that i'll just be grateful i forget my promise. God that i'm not going to. Look. No one enjoys having. Or even afford a lousy chesko. And i'm certainly not suggesting. Unpleasantry. Are some sort of. Necessary. Spiritual correct. In our lives it somehow we're dealt this stuff. But i will say to you. I'm having a bad day every once in awhile. Hanser. To remind our stubborn. And often. Ungrateful. What info. A simple blessed gif. Is an ordinary day. For example. Cake stock. The day we. Find ourselves. We awoke this morning. In a beauty. Apart. The world. Inotropic. Play some. The rain. So desperately need was. We digested breakfast. Maybe even some of the sunday paper. And now we're comfortably sitting here. In a pleasant air. In good company. Family and. Like mine. And when we leave here we have much of the data. Like dr. seuss says. Brain in her head and shoes on her feet. Go wherever. I pray you dear. Each and every. Take spiritual. Of the holy ordinary blessing. Ordinary. Everyday. Ford isn't that guy in revere mass. Everyday above ground. That's all. I really know. Life. It's bad days. Life.

uufvb_org

2014Jun22Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. It feels like summer on the treasure coast this morning get used to it we got a few weeks of it coming welcome. The 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 seeking to become our best selves even as together we work to make our world a better. And more humane place. Please know that you are 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. Whether you are 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 we welcome you in all of your human. 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. Enjoy in the days ahead. The opening words i do not know the author. Hush. This is a holy place. A sacred place. Where's envisioned wells. Where the dreaming of a race began someone's god. Has stepped here. Slept here. Knelt here dwelt 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 in providence rhode island. It's a small movement were a part of i've known mark for 40 years we were among the various thought 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. When we were the second and third. Tessa come out. That 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 meta. Divine mystery. Some call you the universe. Tim call ukiah. The great mother. Some call you the power of life itself some. Call you the spirit. For some you are loved. Incarnated in human form. The christ the 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 some mahi. For many in it. Bautizo adonai. Are only words vibrations in our throat 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. To its constant unspoken cry of. I am. I am. And 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 hand. 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 in the great cosmic machine or park. 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 time i shall set myself free. As a servant. Of 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 and otherwise ordinary moment of my life i suddenly encountered god is i have never before. And it has made all the difference in my life. It was late october in 1972 and i a 21 year old minister in training. What's the attendance 3-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 this picture of that park. It's at the confluence. Of the mississippi and 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 dorm room. 1 with 1 grimey dirty window looking out on the alleyway for the emergency room. Working long shifts. In the chaotic inner-city emergency room there it 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. And two city of memphis police departments all the families there together. In the blood screwing emergency room. 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 than the gation of that 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. Faith in the goodness. And the beauty of my world. Well that monday after another tough weekend at the hospital i drove alone in my little. Blue american motors javelin remember those little cars. Sheesh. 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. Do what 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 you drew it 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 and we're laughing loudly as they swapped 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. The merging 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 adorn 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 a majestic v of canada geese that were just. A few feet above my head heading south. Amazing i could see the feet on the bottom of their bellies. Honking their way. Majestically. Suddenly i was filled with a powerful sensation that healed my heart and well. Saved my soul. In one holy and 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 and 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 east. The river water is shimmering in sunlight down below in the brightly-coloured autumnal landscape. Finding out as far as the eye could 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 as 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 and.. The feeling was so intense. But i began to weep. I just sat there on that 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. And how profoundly it had healed me. It was just all too intense all too personal all too profound especially for those good. Quiz. 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 me and 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 sack. 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 or theists or a daughter or confused or something in-between. Process theology can be a useful and important spiritual way of understanding the world. And understanding your place and purpose in it. Unitarian universalist theologian paul reiser points out quote. 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 eternal 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 no. Process theology rather sees god as a kind of. Fluid and mystikal presents. An evolving and participatory presents much like what a claudia was talkin 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 to a process theologian is a positive and creative power sunk deep down into all that is. Which calls to our hearts it calls to our hearts at back unsalted invite. Our participation in shaping the future of the world. In ways of goodness. And beauty and health. I love the way my colleague. 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 just. Found this from her a few weeks ago she said she suggested that god is not like. 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. Just leave lasting into your bedroom. Calling you to wake up. Nourish yourself. Jen about something positive today god is an angry parent yelling get your sorry ass down here. God is the aroma. A pancake. Listen to her wonderfully crafted words. In process theology god or the spirit of life for the creative spirit or goodness or love insert whatever works for you she right. God is like the scent of pancakes in the morning. To awaken longings in the heart lowering not just people but all of creation forward. It continually unfolding process of growing and becoming god then is what keeps. Pulling the universe forward pulling it toward life and love and peace and connection 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 nourished. And then she goes on to make the important point that in process theology god is not some. All-knowing all-powerful cosmic entity running. 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. And activates deeper life giving and love-filled longings the god of process theology doesn't make rules she goes on. 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 love is but god is in the thick of it she right. Just like the rest of us. God is powerful. And is essential to the continuance of life. But god is helpless actually. To concretely do much of anything beyond. Lowering the universe toward 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 longings in our heart that lure us to places we need to go. Turn all you have to do is lean into the longing. Lean. 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. Presents. 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. To know and cherish the world and live better. Listen to the way my weight by 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 succinctly put it this way. God is in the mess. 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 theologians. Rick hauser 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. A theologian 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 soul. And god is in your soul. God is here. My soul.. Is in. God persuades us. Toward 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 invites us toward creativity. Torrid engagement and beauty in the world. We are free event by event in 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. That's in 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. Have had not much use for god talk. To understand god not not as some sort of external transcendent being but rather. As a living breathing evolving and vulnerable presents with us. A fragile yet powerful presence suck deep down into all things that is available. To us as we journey in our everyday relationships. For that which is good. This feels exactly theologically right to me it's a unitarian universalist. 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. Do 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 was supposed to 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. Unholy 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. Are 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 instincts. 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 as you know so broken. And tormented. Now i suppose it is true that for 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. This is articulation of these articulations of the process theologians may simply feel unnecessary to you. 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. Toledo life of joy and responsibility and meaning. What i personally find so spiritually helpful. process theology. Is it a 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 theological supposition. But i find a spiritually fulfilling to believe as i have since though that day on that illinois hillside. That 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. What does vulnerable 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 in all choices in all things i can lend myself. I'm so dear vero beach friends here is the good news that i would have. You spiritually consider this morning. Again what do you 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 a shimmering. And reliable holiness sunk down in all things. That invites us to know 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 the illusions. 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. That's becoming partners with this world's holiness. Helping us. In whatever little corner of the world we occupy. To nudge creation b. I bet. Bybit. Toward the best world we can imagine. I for one can see logically ask for nothing more precious. Or sustaining. Then that idea. I leave you this morning with the words of german theologian. Dorothy i'm not sure how you pronounce her name sole i think. 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 she goes on means to stop looking for some neutral ground. Between murderers and their victims and to cease looking upon the world as some sort of supermarket. In which we can find 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. Until 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. With life. And until i'm back with you again god willing. Say a mean. And i leave you to stay 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. God. Is a moving. Loving. Doing. Knowing. Growing. Mystery. Psps. Nba of god.

uufvb_org

2014May04Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. What a beautiful rain we had yesterday. The earth is washed clean and redemption. This morning. Welcome. Unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so pleased to be with us this morning. We are congregation. Open minds loving hearts. Seeking to become our best selves even as together we. Work to make our world a better and more humane 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. 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 are feeling on top of the world. Or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We are delighted to see you just as you come to us this morning. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. I think you'll find something here this morning. The nurse is your spirit and feed your soul and gives you a new job and purpose. An energy. For the living of life in the days that are to come. Good morning america. The song. Over this vast and beautiful nation. The crystal-clear waters here in the treasure coast already sparkle in the mornings and brace. A fresh spring light. In the mountains and deserts of the west will soon receive their baptism. A promising hope. And all across america the people are stirring to life. Wiley gargling in bed with a new york times. Walking the dog getting ready for soccer. Chores. Church. Good morning america. We are avastin great nation the land was so much beauty and promise as well as challenging.. As we begin this day. May our hearts remember the high ideals and noble hopes of our nation. May we strive this day to open our hearts to life and one another. And by the work of our hands. Help shape america. Into the nation. Of our dreams. Good morning america. Good morning. Talking about crime and punishment in america and i've asked. Bruce mackay to share a reading from the economist magazine. It's a long meeting but it lays out in very clear terms. What i believe our situation is in america today to thank you for sharing this week. It's different from the rest of the world in lots of ways many of them good. But one of the bad ones is its willingness to lock up its citizens. 1 american adult and 100s behind bars. With the rate. Rising 21 and 94 young black men. It's in prison population of 2.3 million. Exceeds the population of 15 of its individual states. No other rich country is nearly as punitive as the land of the free. Britain has a rate of incarceration that is 1/5 of america's level. Germany 19 and japan-only 1/12. Some parts of america have long taken a tough frontier attitude to justice. Sharpened around for decades ago as rising crime became emotive political issue. And voters took the backing politicians who promised to stamp on it. This created the ratchet effect. Lawmakers who wish to sound tough must propose lost tougher than the last shop. Propose. When crime rate. sentences are hailed as the cause. Even when every indication is that demography or other factors may matter more. When the rate rises sentences are demanded and solve the problem. As a result. America's incarceration rate. Has quadrupled since 1970. And yet america's violent crime rate is higher than it was 40 years ago. Conservatives and liberals will always about the right level of punishment. Most americans think the dangerous criminals which statistically usually means young. You should go to prison for long periods of time especially for violent offenses. Even by that standard the extreme toughness of american laws especially they ever brought her classes of criminals seems increasingly counterproductive. Many states have mandatory minimum sentences which remove judge's discretion. To show mercy even when circumstances of a case cry out for it. Three-strikes laws which were first used to put away for us instantly violent criminals for life. Haven't been applied to lesser offenders the so-called war on drugs. But also for selling prescription drugs illegally. Pedaling a handful. 15-year sentence. American prisons. People for violations of immigration laws. Environmental standards and arcane business rules. So many federal rules carry criminal penalties that experts struggled accountant. They are incomprehensible. Few are ever repealed. The potential for injustice is obvious. As a result american prisons are now packed with not only with racist and. White-collar criminals and small-time drug dealers and criminals. Those scary when they were young and strong are now to gray and arthritic to pose a threat. Some 200,000 inmate over 50. Roughly as many as they are. Sorry. Can't believe. As many as there were of all ages in 1970. Locked up dangerous criminals off the streets but the more you lock up the less dangerous each extra prisoner. Is likely to be and since prison is expensive $50,000. It does not have to be this way. In the netherlands non-custodial sentence and the crime rate at both been falling. Britain's new government is proposing to replace jail for lesser offenders with community were. Some parts of america are bucking the national incarceration trend new york has incarceration rate by 15% between 1997 and 2007 while reducing violent crimes by 40%. This is welcome but deeper reforms. Are required. America needs pure and clear laws. Apps that can be regulated should not be criminalized. Prosecutor. Prosecutors powers should be. Clip while most white-collar suspects are not alcapone and should not be treated as if they were. Mandatory minimum sentencing law should be repealed or replaced with guidelines. The most dangerous criminals. But states should try harder. Reintegrate the softer cases into society. By encouraging them to study or work. And by ending appointment. It seems odd that a country that rejoices in limiting the power of the state. Should give so many draconian powers to its government. Yep for the past 40 years american lawmakers have generally regarded. Selling to produce the idea of locking up. People as political suicide. An era of budgetary constraints however as a good time as ever to try. Sooner or later. American voters will realize that their incarceration policies are unjust and and efficient. Here ends the morning reading. So this morning i continue my year-long sermon series which was floor some of our culture's most persistent and perplexing moral dilemmas. And ethical arguments. Punishment. American people. Main and i hope obvious and logical supposition. Which is these moral dilemmas and the ethical arguments that result from them. Persist. And divide us as a society because each side each of them involves. Worthy principles and goals that stand natural opposition and contradiction. 21 others. Indeed this is implied in the very definition of the word dilemma. Which according to my online encyclopedia. Says is quote a problem offering two possibilities neither of which is practically acceptable. And the big old dictionary on my office shelf since i was a boy. Cells that dilemma is a situation involving a choice between. Equally unsatisfactory alternatives. A problem or situation seemingly incapable. Of a satisfactory solution. Indeed which with each of the moral dilemmas i've explored during this series anybody with the least bit. Of moral imagination and sophistication. Can see the integrity power and reasonableness. Of either side of the argument. And yet many in our culture persist in arguing the case as if only one side that there's. Is the right side. Making everybody else wrong. But the obvious truth is it no matter which side you take on these vexing issues. You end up abrogating or subjugating some worthy values and principles. Over the course of the sermon series i hope to do justice to. Both sides of articulating in honoring is fairly and thoughtful. The values in the principles which anime beachside because i in fact do and pants. The moral and ethical efficacy. A both positions. And yet with this fair-minded and balanced goal in mind i will also remember. The wise word of recently departed folk singer pete seeger. Who's unitarian by the way. Who surely had it right when he said yeah. We all know there are two sides to every issue. There's two sides to a piece of flypaper also and it matters a great deal to the fly. Which side he lands on. In the real world we live in then. We are often in the end i basically applied to decide for one moral view or the other. Even when we understand that choice is far from perfect. Punishment. And see if i can't bring a bit more clarity and insight the debate that is raging. So fiercely as most of debate are in america between american conservatives. And american progressive. Let me begin by framing in as i understand the two more or less polar. Moral positions would stand in contrast. An opposition to one another when it comes. To crime and punishment. They're both familiar to you even the least bit of attention. To the debate over this persistent issue an american social policy. Among us. The conservative. Of crime and punishment. We must be strict. The keeps its citizens safe. With a judicial and corrections system. Does harshly punishes and incarcerate criminals. Who violate public safety or order. And the progressive you. We must be a compassionate society. With a judicial and corrections system design. Dangerous criminals off the street. While at the same time offering genuine correction. For individuals in the system. So that they can return to society. As productive and law-abiding citizens. As soon as possible. Clear from the reading which sue just shared from the economist magazine. Overrate the recent american it is the conservative position. That has more or less helps with. America today is starkly a law-and-order society. That imprisons a far greater percentage of its citizens than any other nation on earth. Including the third world totalitarian regime. They do not even the worst dictators don't throw as many people in jail as we do. Heroes of mind-boggling statistic. Well the united states has less than 5% of the world's population. We have about 25%. Albert's prisoners. Most of the rest of the developed world is mystified. And i think rightly appalled. By both the numbers. Number and length of american prison sentences. And the gap between us and the rest of the world in regards to the social policy is not shrinking. It's getting worse. It's growing. It is interesting and i think important to know that not only is this harsh. American approach to crime and punishment not only distinctive. It is also is to pointed out relatively new. When french writer alexis de tocqueville. Visited america in 1830 and wrote his famous book. Democracy in america which was considered the. A basically the snapshot of america in the 19th century. He chronicled social and political style the new nation. He visited our prisons. And wrote this. In no country. Is criminal justice minister with more mildness. United states. As the new york times recently reported. The spike in american incarceration rates is relatively new. From 1925 to 1975. Remain stable about 110 people. Per 100,000 citizens. But it shot up with the movement to get tough on crime in the late 1970s. The nation's relatively high violent crime rate. By the much easier availability of guns. Helps explain the great number of people. In american prisons. Unquote. Curiously it may impart as the reading from the economist eluded. It might be in park. Due to the vigorous and open dynamics of american democracy. Itself which leads. To our astronomical incarceration rates. As several sources i consulted upon this issue point out. We have a highly politicized. Criminal justice system in this country where people running for office. Most noticeably judges. District attorneys. Governors and legislators and house. House house and senate offices in all the 50 states. They respond democratically to public fears about crime and criminals by promising to quote on quote. Get tougher on criminals more so than their opponents. Which directly leads. To excessively punishing laws and practices state. Bi-state. Bi-state. No. In fairness to conservative law & order approach to crime and punishment. Most experts across the spectrum do believe. Turn america's aggressive incarceration policies. In fact many career criminals off our streets. And have in fact been responsible the demographers suggest. For the steady drop in american crime rates over recent decades. That's true. As kent and mark mcmichael rushford of the criminal justice legal foundation recently wrote. The simple truth is an imprisonment works. Locking up criminals for longer periods reduces the level of crime. The benefits of doing so far offset the costs they right. So apparently policies. And shifting demographics relating to young males which also greatly affect. Crime rates. America does have less crime. Overall. 74 decades ago. And this internet itself must be viewed i think as a desirable social trend. We like to live. Cannasafe. Society. Speaking personally for my moment. For a moment over my adult life i have been the victim of robbery and theft. Several times. In one case i was the victim of a very scary attempted robbery at the end of a gun one night in washington dc. Something i never want to re-experience. I'm so i have nothing particularly good to say about street crime. Or the criminals who perpetrate them. Most especially the most violent and destructive crimes of assault. Rape. And murder. As a law-abiding citizen of these united states. I want to be safe at home. And here at church. And on my streets and i want. Hardened criminals. Dealt with firmly and i'm sure all of you do too. We want and expect the police. Judicial and corrective systems. To provide us with the safest most secure society possible. And to not cuddle repeat criminals and lawbreakers. But with all that said i believe the real question that comes into play. When we consider the diametrically opposed conservative and progressive approaches to crime and punishment. Is this. Which approach. Leads to the safest. Most humane and well-ordered society. And here is where my attentions and i will admit. A substantial portion of my allegiance. Here is where i shift. The more progressive view. A crime and punishment. In a nutshell i believe. The facts are. That our society will best be served when it comes to public policies about crime and punishment. If we focus not on incarceration and punishment. But i'm correction. And redemption. There is mounting evidence that whenever we americans fight. Sensible alternative. To putting people in prison and quote-unquote throwing away the key. Not only do we save massive amounts of public money. The sky high cost of maintaining. Expensive prisons. We also strengthened our society from the top to the bottom. In a comprehensive study of american incarceration policy by the prestigious and nonpartisan pew center on the states. In the study called 1 and 100 behind bars in america. It was pointed out. As a whole series of other studies reveal. Alternative. Community corrections strategies rather than long prison sentences. Not only are more humane for those who break the law. To lower crime rates. Safer communities. And more americans getting out of the vicious cycle. Poverty. Joblessness and crime. I quote from their executive summary. Policymakers are becoming increasingly aware of research facts strategies. For community corrections. Better ways to identify which offenders need a prison cell. And which can be safely handled out in the community. New technologies to monitor their whereabouts and behavior. And more effective supervision treatment programs. To help them stay on the straight and narrow. An executive summary goes on. These trends are encouraging public policy makers. To diversify their states array of criminal sanctions. With options for low-risk offenders. The save tax dollars but still hold. Offenders accountable. For their action. So they're not talking about coddling anybody. It may interest you to know that two particular states. Texas and kansas. Texas progressive place. Over recent decades. I've had very harsh correction policies that led to mass. Incarceration of their criminals and citizen. Both texas and kansas have both recently radically reverse. Their corrections policies. Toward this community-based approach. I quote now from again from the pew. Center study. Kansas and texas are well on their way to a more logical approach. Facing daunting projections of prison population growth. These two. Have embraced the strategy that blends incentives. 4 reduced recidivism. With greater use of community supervision for low-risk offenders. The new approach board of bipartisan leadership. Is allowing the two states to ensure that they have enough prison bed. For violent offenders. While helping less dangerous lawbreakers. To once again become productive and law-abiding citizens. But it is my hope that america and now the data on the failure of madison-carver and incarceration is becoming clear. It is my hope that america will quickly move toward a more sensible. Humane and the keyword community-based. Way of handling. Nonviolent. Low-risk offenders. Nonviolent low-risk offenders you may not realize make up more than 65%. Of the american prison population. Today. 65%. The people who are. Languishing in jails today nearly one. The half-million men and women. Pose little risk. To the rest of us and yet we're paying $50,000 a year. To keep them away. Throwing them in jail. What are exposed to a violent antisocial and exploitive. Exploitive prisonculture. That often deeply scars or influences them negative. We greatly reduce the chances of returning successfully. Aloha by 22 law-abiding and productive citizens in our communities. We are greatly reduce the chance of their succeeding by throwing them in with with hardened criminals. Compassionate and intelligent alternatives to lengthy incarceration. For these lawbreakers. Not only will our we in our communities be safer. We will also enable non-violent offenders. Which today are mostly young black and hispanic males. The opportunity to become law-abiding and useful citizens. Cool once again hold jobs. Raise children. Pay their taxes. And contribute to the economies of their communities. And then there are there are the non incidental. A fact. The recent mass incarceration policies have cost taxpayers. Billions of dollars. With again mostly dubious results. John the trail and john whitmore two republican state legislators one legislatures. One from texas and one from kansas. Have specialized. A new criminal justice approach. They write. Locking up 2.3. American people. Has undoubtedly helped produced. Reduce the nation's crime rate and we certainly believe that violent and chronic criminals deserve good long-terms behind bars. Shahi numbers these republicans right. Of non-violent lower-risk criminal. Have been swept up into the prison boom. Getting has gotten tough on taxpayers. Without an adequate public. Safety benefit. A prison cell cost about $65,000 bill. And $24,000 a year to operate they right. And for this much money the public expects lower recidivism rates and safer communities. Yeah crime rates are still to rise. Recidivism rates are still. Too high and then they make their case. These two conservatives. For america moving to a creative more humane alternative. Then throwing people in jail. Greater reduction in recidivism by the alternative treatment and sanctioning programs. Research has shown a write that by using new technologies and treatment strategies. Community correction program. Can cut rates of repeat offense by 25%. It is up to all of us as it is and then they conclude it is up to us as policymakers. To consider all of the options and create an array. Of alternative punishments and programs. That deliver the biggest. Public safety bag. For the box. Unquote. And no discussion of america's america's crime and punishment policies would be complete. Until we address the all-important question of raced. And racism. That is played itself out in terms of our american incarceration policies. And practices. Today the biggest single problem with the american criminal justice system. Is it back in the 1980s as crack cocaine use. And related criminal activity spiraled out of control. In many american communities. Most especially. In large cities. And fearful over-reaction many legislators and other policymakers. But harsh. Mandatory sentencing laws like the inflexible. Three-strikes-and-you're-out laws. And laws that mandate long prison sentences merely. For the possession of small amounts of any number of drugs. These harsh and rigid laws against singularly focused on the kind of drug crime. That were more prevalent in black and latino communities. Forest american courts to sentence many young. Nonviolent low-level drug users and dealers. To jail. For decades. This led to hundreds of thousands of american citizens again overwhelmingly people of color. To languish in prison. Where they receive little or no job or life training. Education or addiction or mental health treatment. Recently the washington post published a very moving article. In their sunday magazine about 1 young such a young african-american man. From dc with a bright future who spent 20 years. Imprison. For having a tiny amount of illegal drugs on his person one night. No again. No one wishes. Excuse or ignore crime. No matter what race or age the lawbreaker is. And america must have a goal i believe of eradicating illegal and deadly drugs. Being sold out our streets. That these harsh incarceration policies. In terms of the way they have been applied. Are bladez unjust because they are racist. In that they were written to suppress one type of crime. There was particularly prevalent in black and latino communities. I believe it is undeniable applied in america. Over recent decades. And we must clearly correct. The race bias against certain kinds of criminals. But with this troubling observation about race and incarceration having been noted. Let me return to the overarching perspective. That i would have you considered today. As a unitarian universalist i passionately believe. To crime and punishment. America must emphasize correction. And rehabilitation. Over-incarceration. And punishment. Our liberal faith tradition in particular has long advocated. Such a redemptive emphasis. Back in the 19th century. When alex said that are prisons. We're we're mild activist is a little after that. The so-called prison reform movement sought to make our justice system which was awesome earlier so brutal. More humane. The so-called prison reformers many universalist unitarian. Persuaded. To begin calling the places we send our criminal not prisons. What correctional institutions. Correctional. Meaning that the goal of the time in jail. Whether access to society was denied or limited. The goal was to correct. The course of the life. Note to self. And to return them. To society. As productive peaceable citizens. With their dignity intact. So they can get jobs and raise families and have hope. But i haven't but as i have observed earlier in the sermon. Over recent decades. The correctional component of our system. Has receded. Impart i am sure because of the high cost of educational. And therapeutic job training. Last month for example the new york times. Governor cuomo of new york. Ran into an absolute political buzzsaw. When he proposed a relatively model low-cost program. Underwrite college classes. Of the larger prisons in new york state. At the time he pointed out. Who got an education had a much better chance of finding a job. And were much less likely to miss their neighbors when they were released. But. As soon as he tried to get a modest program going conservative politicians around the state. Pounced on this proposal. George maserati. State senator from western new york said quote. It should be. Sorry do the crime get the time. What a thoughtful comment that is. What dangerous nonsense. Every criminal justice study. The focus is on correction programs clearly indicate. That educating and rehabilitating prisoners. Leads to a safer and better society. And you're over recent decades. We still continue to fill our prisons as warehouses. We want to remove from society prisoners were removed from society. With the unintended consequence of course of having the system. Someday dumped them back into society completely unprepared. For being good. Citizens. Now as i've already pointed out. There are a whole host of a fordable. And progressive criminal justice strategies available. To american communities. These strategies cluster around that idea of community corrections don't send somebody off. Just some hideous state prison up in the woods in northern adirondacks. Keep them in your community monitor them work with them. Restorative justice model. All of these progressive approaches assume. The with the right supervision and support. Nonviolent persons who have broken the law. Again with the right support and the restraint. Can pay for their crime. Well getting the support needed to become good and responsible citizens once again. No one is saying you should not pay for crime. It's a it's an it's about. Again as i close let me be very clear about what i'm saying. By advocating yes a more progressive. And the less conservative approach to crime and punishment. I am not saying the punishment and incarceration. Must be done away with. Nobody is saying the prince that criminals should be cuddled or treated with kid gloves. Serious crime must be punished. And all just societies make those who break the law. Pay for their transgressions. This clear to me. That will both be a safer. And more humane and more prosperous society. If we can just find affordable ways. To correct and rehabilitate those who break the law rather than breaking them. And locking them up and throwing away the key. This other approach redemption and correction. Is the right thing to do socially. It's the right thing to do economically. And it's the right thing to do morally. The way to make america truly safe for all of its citizens. Is the bible sperm. Uncompassionate. Let us that in this room. Lenar voices in the public square. In support. Ovary of a revised criminal justice system in america. That is just. And wise. And above all. Humane. Can i say i mean to you. Amman. And i send you on your way to your week with these words by the founder of methodism. Wesley. Do all the good you can. In all the ways you can all the places you can all the time. To all the people you can. As long as ever. You can. Do good.

uufvb_org

2012Oct21Sermon128.mp3

This morning we are welcoming the reverend rodger fritz to our pulpit as guest minister. Reverend fritz is minister at the u church in sarasota. Where our reverend alexander is preaching this morning. Before coming to florida. Reference serve churches in bethesda maryland. Evanston illinois new bedford massachusetts and lexington kentucky. While on sabbatical he served congregations in australia new zealand and scotland. We're so pleased to have you here reference. The word meditation were written by reverend frederick giles. My colleague. From many places and conditions of the spirit we come. Seeking to center for our lives. A sense of holiness. From dry places where the words and knowledge seem broken into. Brittle fragments that do not cohere. From overfill places where information abounds. But there is no real understanding. From hard places where feelings are dulled. And lonely. Hollow places where meaning cement. In this caring and supporting. Community. At this time of quiet reflection. We come to be empty. And filled with the spirit that flows in and among us and throughout the world. Mts of the chattering. Infusion. The information we thought was all-important. Quiet our minds. Send her our spirits. Ground rv. Enable us to find that power that already lies within us. The power for love. For creativity. For hope. Open our eyes to the possibilities of love. Sustagen. But already surround. And uphold. Help us to see and every. Cubic inch. Space. 4life is at each moment a wonder. Hey gif. Of. They are hearts be open. Compassion. Our minds open to wisdom. Our spirits. But to be together from. What a beautiful place to worship you. You really have a wonderful. It is a delight to be here. I went to a school in. Berkeley california called starr king school for the ministry. To learn to be a unitarian universalist minister. And i entered there when i was 23 years old back in nineteen. 4. And the first week or so i was there i was. Outside the school actually there's some steps. The school is located on what's called holy hill just north of the university of california and berkeley. Call holy hell because there's a nine different. Seminaries there. Episcopalian joshua franciscan. Pacific school of religion. Remember all them right now but. Roller coaster together and we share classes so you can take classes. In many different. Seminaries. Wonderful place for a religious ed. But i was there at the beginning in 1974 and september and i was outside on the steps. Talking to somebody. This fella rise up in a bicycle. And. Picks the bicycle up and walks and up the steps and into the school. And he says hi. And i said who is that and i feel that scott alexander. Some people you never forget the first time you meet though. Scott and i have been friends since 1974 and it is really an honor and a privilege to. The congregation. He serves as a minister here in fira. And have him over in. Sarasota. The sermon started. Back when i went to serve my first congregation. And lexington kentucky. And a member of my congregation amanda and david chance and was treasurer. And we were talking after i arrived and he said well so. The unitarian universalism began about 1948 when a bunch of humanist rejected. All that christian stuff. And decided to get together and have their own religion. And i said well david that's. Not really how it all started. And i thought it's time i need to preach. About our roots and. There was a unitarian minister named harry missouri. Septa. A wonderful quote now i have to go to my manuscript. He said it's a curious are to suppose you can carry-on effectively. A great. Liberal tradition. While remaining at the same time ignorant. Or i'm almost ignored. Of the police. Achievements. Other people. Who have handed that tradition. Over to you. That's true of. People. 20th century in the 19th century. It goes at back long long before then. When the disciples of jesus. First established christian church. Just a few years after the death of jesus. It's organization was very loose. It consisted of small groups of people. Leaders and priests. Arose from within these small groups. Still. Over 300 years the church gradually grew in size. Empower and an info. Subtracting followers. A nasa crew the christians were persecuted by the pagan rulers of the roman empire. But all this change. And ironically. It changed exactly. 1700 years ago this month. Exactly 1,700 years ago this. 312 312 years after. The estimated birth of. Constantine had an army. And he was marching towards rome. To take command of the roma. Empire the western part of the roman. And. According to the story which of course you know this is a long time ago so who knows what really happened. But this is the story. That. His soldiers saw in the sky a flaming cross. And then a couple nights. I'll later. Constantine had a dream. And in the dream. He was visited by. Some force that said to him. Change. All the banner. The. The soldiers flags. And put a croissant. And march. So constant. According to the legend did this. And then. After he arrived in rome within a short. of time. He ended the person who. Historians speculate they don't know when constantine. Became a curse. Jen ry. For sure but they they still. They know that his daughter was named anastasia. Which is a christian. And so they see. At least when his daughter was born he was. They know that his mother was. Converted to chris. Hannity and we all know it's very important. Get along well with our mother. So that that may have been flown. But also a popular theory is that. He wanted to unite. The roman empire. Under one religion. And that. Font of christianity. How's the best choice. That if all the. Everyone agreed on one religion. And it was. Christianity. It would be less. Divisive. Tesla squirrel. Let's fighting. For those with a c. But whatever the reason. By the year three. 14. Christianity was the official religion. A constant. Roman. However. Christianity. Did not have a universal. Or set of beliefs. Rules that everyone should. This is a movement that had been persecuted that had growing up. An individual communities throughout the middle east. People had different ideas of what it meant. To be a christian. One of the biggest debates. Was about who jesus is. There was. A significant number of people. There weren't poles back then we got. Pools every hour or so in the united states day but. They didn't have those sorts of surveys back in this. So we don't know exactly how many. But there was a significant number of. Who felt. That. Jesus wasn't. Just an ordinary person. Just was. God. Came to earth. And they obviously said. If that was true if jesus was god. Then. The arguments. That christianity is the best religion in the religion that everybody should follow is. Stronger. But there are other people who said. This doesn't make any sense. We know if we look at. The. Accounts. At this point. There wasn't even a new test. But we know.. There were a whole bunch of gospel. And no decision had been made as to which gospels were really true and which were. Or had been written off late and work. Valid. So there were all these gospels out. But they said look if you look at matthew. And lou. And john. You don't find evidence. Proof. The cheese's. Thought himself or said that he was god. So this. This doesn't make any sense. No. One of the leaders of this movement was a man named areas. He was a man who benefited from. Constantine's decision to make christianity. The religion. Of the roman empire. He had trained. Hippie been born in libya. We believe and then train. With a man named lucien. In an area near lebanon. 2. Become a christian priest. And after constantine made. The christian religion the official religion of the roman empire he was appointed as a priest. At a church in alexandria egypt which was a major city and a major port city. Minister to a lot of of sailors who. Andarius was a karizmatik. Christian priest he was. According to the description. Thin. Call he was in his fifties when he went to alexandria he had this beautiful. Silver hair and. People were very attracted to his preaching. One of the reasons they really like darius is because. He had the ability to. Right. Poems that rhyme. And he would write his sermons. And a rhyming poem. And then recite them to the congregation and lisa rhyme. But the sailors would common and listen to. In alexandria they would hear these rhymes and they would memorize. And then they would take them from city to city. And so other people throughout the mediterranean started to listen to these. Poems that that areas had written. Andarius argued that jesus was a human being. Pacesetters. There's two reasons why. This is. First of all he said. Jesus is not refer to as god and the gospels of luke and matthew and john. He's referred to as a human being. And the new testament jesus cleared will they didn't have a new testament yeah but in those gospel. Jesus was several times clearly differentiated from god. The other source that are is pointed out. Was. The claim. Did it was not logical. To say. That was for use our own reason and our own experience of life. Then we. Realize that jesus was a great prophet. But not god. Knows i said there were no surveys back then. Historians today estimate that popular opinion was about evenly divided. With half of the christians believing in the humanity of jesus. And half believing that. This was god. This. Difference in beliefs. Let the considerable discussion. Andarius was an effective debate. He cited a series of texts drawn from matthew luke and john. The describe the human characteristics of jesus. He said how could jesus be god. When jesus slept as a human being just god need to sleep. Is descriptions of jesus crying weeping. God weeps. There's places in the gospels where jesus. How to learn by asking questions. Would god have to ask question. Jesus is fear and uncertainty with your expressed in john and matthew disprove the suggested linkage between jesus and god. Human beings have fear have uncertainty. Why did jesus pray to god area said. If jesus was god was he talking to himself that didn't make any. Finally area said if jesus and god we're the same. Why on the cross. Did jesus say the words. My god my god why have you forsaken me. Again. Talking to himself that makes us. Now this theological dispute was not a mere debate between clergy. In mediterranean sea. 1700 years ago ordinary tradespeople. Workers sailors passionately argue. About the identity of jesus. There's a manuscript a letter from a priest who said. If in the city. You ask a shopkeeper for change. He will argue with you about whether the sun is begotten or unbegotten. If you inquire about the quality of bread the baker will answer the father is greater the sun is less. And if you ask the bath attendants to draw you your bath he will tell you. That the sun was created out of nothing. No i should explain when the shopkeeper asks whether jesus. Was begotten or unbegotten. Begotten mean jesus was born human unbegotten mean jesus is god. When the baker asserted that jesus was. Separate and lesser than god he's arguing the aryan position that jesus was a special human being but not god. When the bath attendants said that jesus was created from nothing. Is proclaiming the area position that jesus was born. Just like all other human. As i said no central authority existed in the christian church. Instead christians regard of the gospels as the source of authority. Although they argued about which gospels were authentic original and belongs in the christian bible. And which did not. The debate over the nature of god and jesus might have continued as a back-and-forth argument between. Different factions of the church. Except for constantine. No remember. Constantine wanted to use the church as a unifying force. His goal was to unite the empires. Diverse quarreling people. Into one harmonious religious community. He did not like disagreements at undercut that unit. I'll buy 324. Constantine had moved. The capital. Of the roman empire from rome. To istanbul. Constantine. A city named after himself. And he got hotter in the summer apparel. So he had a summer home. In a place called nausea by a lake about 60 miles from. What is currently istanbul. In 324 constantine sent his closest christmas christian advisor. To the egyptian city of alexandria. He send the letter addressed to areas and to his opponents and we we have this letter. The letter observe a strict neutrality he didn't take a position on the theological contour. However the emperor made clear. Did he considered the doc. Doctrinal conflict among high-ranking christian. Unnecessary and disruptive. Why constantinus should good christians coral over questions. But nobody could answer with real certainty. Constantine said in his letter that he thought these issues this debate was trivial. He called on the adversaries to quote. Reconcile and permit him once again. To enjoy. Trouble free days. And nights of repose. Apparently he wasn't sleeping well. Any blame this controversy. Well this letter this appeal by constantine was not successful. The debate continued. So the unifi the church constantine ordered the first meeting in history of all the bishops. Invitations were sent to more than 400 bishops. The bishop of rome at this point who is now called the pope was not the supreme leader. There were just. 400 bishops spread-out. Throughout the mediterranean. Each of them equal in a. Constantine decided to hold a council at his summer residence on lake nicea. The roman empire invited the bishops to his home. And not only did he invite them this is important but he promised to pay their travel expenses. And their living expenses during the several months they be away from their own city. This sounded great. Folks who have been persecuted by the the roman. Pagans for many years being fed to the lions and now the emperor was going to pay their way to a conference. The bishop's felt as though they were living america. The great council began its. Deliberations in early june. Of the year 325. And more than 250 bishop. We're able to attend. We don't know what the exact number there are different numbers in the. But more than 250 were there. It was the largest gathering of christian leaders. Up that time. The history of the church. Today it is considered the very first ecumenical council. Of the catholic church. Now 9 years ago in the book the davinci code. Chapter 55 gives a description of the council and this is where most people today. I'll have any information all about the nicean council from the book the davinci. The book says that until the council quote jesus was viewed by his followers. As a mortal prophet. A great and powerful man but a man. Nonetheless. According to the davinci code the description that jesus was divine. Was the result of a relatively close vote. In fact. We don't know that it was a relatively close.. So when you read that or see that quoted. We don't really know that. There were no official. Minutes. Other official records of the proceeding. It still exists today. What we do know about the council is based on fragmentary letters by a few of the bishops who attended the meeting. And on the several documents. That came out of the meeting they were copied down and have been preserved. From these sources. Historians say that the bishops met and a large hall of the palace called the judgment hall. They sat on benches arranged in rows running the length of the hall. Constantine himself appear dressed in purple. And seated himself at a slight distance from the bishops. But close enough to participate in their discussion. It was very hard to make the color purple. And so it was reserved primarily for the. Extreme wealth either. The emperor could wear purple. And not really anybody else. Speaking in latin. And translated into greek. Constantine. Pleaded for peace. And harmony. And at the beginning of the discussion. As far as we can tell he took no public position on the issues. The arian controversy is it was called was the first order of business. And dealing with it took two weeks. Area simself was present. But because he was only a priest and not a bishop. He was kind of. On the sidelines kind of what we would today call a lobbyist. Not permitted to address. The group formally or to participate in the formal. It's um. Point probably early in the discussion. One of the supporters of various presented. An ambiguous creed. It could be interpreted as saying. Jesus was a human being. Who became define. Or the jesus. Was born divine. Now before anyone else could respond constantine suggested. That a greek word be added to this ambiguous creed. And the wording the constantine proposed was still ambiguous. It could mean that. God and jesus were of the same essence. But it could also mean. Of the same substance. The same reality the same being. Or even the same type. If this was the meaning of the word areas and his supporters could accept the creed. Since. Bakery that human beings are made in god's image. Those who believe that jesus was divine we're not happy however with this. Interpretation. They didn't like the ambiguity. Course but they concentrated come up with the word and they were not. Happy about disagreeing. Constant. The man who had. Invited him there who was the emperor who had the soldiers and. Pay for their expense. But the bishops who believe that jesus was god. Continue to debate and argue and they added the words and phrases. The creed. Supported their views. They added the passage to the creed. The condemned certain of areas. Specific. The hardcore. Areas supporters. Opposed exchange. But after two weeks constantine one of the issue resolved there for. He sent his officials to each bishop. With copies of the document. The revised document that said that jesus is god. Bourne got sent this document each. Other bishops. And said. I want you to sign this. Everyone sign with the. Two of arias's most devoted. Supporters. Two bishops from libya. Constantine immediately sent these two into excel. Along with areas and several priests who supported him. Today most people do not know this history of how jesus became god. Most people believe that jesus told people he was god which is not true. They have no idea most people have no idea that his. Divinity was divided decided by. A meeting. The council. Upvote. The intimidation of the roman empire. About 300 years after. 2 years ago the davinci code appeared. And in the middle of this popular novel. There appeared in imperfect account of how jesus became god. At the council of nicea. Millions of people bought the book. And read a description of this key meeting in history. In the history of christianity. And millions have seen the movie which includes a discussion of the council of nicea. Ellen reaction to the book some christians insist that no serious debate about the identity of jesus ever occurred in 325. An article appeared in the conservative magazine christianity today. It said. The first thing you notice when you read the early church fathers. Is that they are completely convinced that jesus is god himself. The article then lists as the early church fathers only those persons who supported the view that. This was god. Leaving out those who believe that. This was a human being. Another article in the same magazine said that. Quote early christians overwhelmingly worship jesus christ as their risen savior and lord in. This contradicts the evidence that many early christians believe that jesus was a human being. The christianity today article goes on to say that. Quote the united testimony. Of the apostles. Have always attested. But jesus christ. Was and remains god himself. It didn't take an ancient council to make this true. And that of course. Is not true. The evidence of both the gospel. Kind of our own experience and reason. Is the jesus was a human being. And not god. This was a widely-held view. For the first 325 years. Of the christian. After losing the debate about the identity of jesus areas died eleven years later and 336 constantine died in 337. In 381 a new council added the holy spirit to the nicene creed completing the trinitarian formulation. Today this revised nicene creed is the only creed accepted as authoritative. By the roman catholic. The eastern orthodox. The anglican churches and major protestant church. The nicene creed. Is the one thing they all agree on. The bishop's replace the story of a loving compassionate jesus. With a bureaucratic statement about the identity of christ. They replaced simple phrases like. Blessed are the poor. With a confusing creed. It starts with these words we believe in one god the father almighty maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible and in one lord jesus christ the son of god begotten of the father the only-begotten that is of the very essence of the father god of god light of light the very god god begotten. No mention. Do the sermon of the mount blessed are the poor. Blessed are the meek. That is the jesus the original. It's all gone. Ananias. But throughout the history. Of the christian church a few people have raised questions about the theology than icing. They believe that jesus was important. But they do not believe that jesus was god and then transylvania as you heard in the children's story. In the year 1690 wrap these people started calling themselves. Unitarians. Gradually the movement spread to england and then to the united states. And in the middle of the last century it made it all the way to a place called vero beach. So today we are a mixture of christians and humanists and others. You have historically our theological roots go back to the sun bleach christian churches. Of the mediterranean. They go back 1,000. 700 years to a tall thin pre. To serve the church any. I recently i talked to a young couple. Who wanted to get married. She was raised episcopalian and he was raised jewish and they wanted they came to me because they had heard that unitarian universalist ministers. Will do us ceremonies which combine both the episcopal and the jewish tradition. So they said. Reverend fritz we would like you to begin the ceremony with the jewish wine ceremony. We will. Pour a wine into a glass and we'll each drink a little wine from the glass and we'll set. The glasses side to be broken at the end of the ceremony. As is often done and jewish. Wedding. And i said sure we can do that. And then the young lady said and then to bring in the episcopal tradition i would like you to say these words from the. A book of common prayer. In the name of god the father god the son and god the holy spirit bless and preserve and keep you. And i said. I know i can't do that. Bocephus what you know we came to you because. We heard that unitarian universalist minister. Are very flexible and willing to include different traditions. And. So i said well there's a lot of. Did that but. You have to understand that i am a unitarian universalist. And that means a lot of thing. But one of the things that means the word unitarian mean. Is that we believe. And the unity of god. The fact that jesus was a human being and not. Not god and therefore we do not say. The trinitarian. Prayer in our server. She said what. That's okay i don't. Nope i believe in the trinity either this is just easier just. Words that i grew up with it and it would make my parents really happy if you would say them. And i. We had a long discussion. And which i talked more about the history of unitarianism. But essentially i said folks. To the couple. There are folks out there. Throughout history. Who have literally given their lives. To make a possum. From me. To say. This was a human being and not god. And. I'm response. And i am as a unitarian. And when i talked to her about it she said i. We went ahead and plan the ceremony. When i hadn't had the wedding. Without reference. And the in my imagination. As i had this conversation. I saw areas. Out there saying. Thanks for not forgetting me. Play the knowledge we share in common. The desire to love. And to be loved. Transcend our differences of experience. And perspective. And united's together. Into one family. As we go from this place made that unity give us. Strength. To livwell. And to live. With joy.

uufvb_org

2010Aug15sermon128.mp3

uufvb_org

2014May04Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. What a beautiful rain we had yesterday. The earth is washed clean and redemption. And we're at that time of year when our rain starts in a little bit aren't we the snowbirds of all flown and so you got to sing loud or this morning. Welcome. To the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so pleased that each of you has chosen to be with us this morning. We are congregation. Open minds loving hearts and helping hands people. Seeking to become our best selves even as 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 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 are feeling on top of the world. We're down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We are delighted to see you just as you come to us this morning. 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 a new joy and purpose. An energy. For the living of life in the days that are to come. Good morning america. The sun is slowly spreading its welcome. Over this vast and beautiful nation. The crystal-clear waters here in the treasure coast already sparkle in the mornings and brace. The vast prairies of the heartland or being awakened by the touch. A fresh spring light. And the mountains and deserts of the west will soon receive their baptism. A promising hope. And all across america the people are stirring to life. Cooking pancakes with the kids. Wally goggling in bed with a new york times. Walking the dog jogging the beach getting ready for soccer. Chores. Church. Good morning america. We are avastin great nation the land was so much beauty and promise as well as challenging pain. As we begin this day. May our hearts remember the high ideals and noble hopes of our nation. May we strive this day to open our hearts to life and one another. And by the work of our hands. Help shape america. Into the nation. Of our dreams. Good morning america. Good morning. Morning going to be talking about crime and punishment in america and i've asked. To smacky to share a reading from the economist magazine. It's a long reading but it lays out in very clear terms. What i believe our situation is in america today sue thank you for sharing this week. America is different from the rest of the world in lots of ways many of them good. But one of the bad ones is its willingness to lock up its citizens. 1 american adult and 100 fester's behind bars. With the rate. Rising 21 and 94 young black men. It's in prison population of 2.3 million. Exceeds the population of 15 of its individual states. No other rich country is nearly as punitive as the land of the free. Britain has a rate of incarceration that is 1/5 of america's level. Germany 1/9 and japan only 1/12. Some parts of america have long taken a tough frontier attitude to justice. That tendency. Sharpened around for decades ago as rising crime became emotive political issue. And voters took the backing politicians who promised to stamp on it. This created the ratchet effect. Lawmakers who wish to sound tough must propose lost tougher than the last chap who wanted to sound. Tough proposed. When prime rate falls top sentences are held as the cause. Even when every indication is that demography or other factors may matter more. When the rate rises tough sentences are demanded to solve the problem. As a result. America's incarceration rate. Has quadrupled since 1970. And yet america's violent crime rate is higher than it was 40 years ago. Conservatives and liberals will always food about the right level of punishment. Most americans think the dangerous criminals switch to statistically usually means young men. You should go to prison for long periods of time especially for violent offenses. Even by that standard the extreme toughness of american laws especially they ever brought her classes of criminals affected by them seems increasingly counterproductive. Many states have mandatory minimum sentences which remove judge's discretion. To show mercy even when circumstances of a case cry out for it. Three-strikes laws which were first used to put away force instantly violent criminals for life. Having several states been applied to lesser offenders the so-called war on drugs has led to harsh sentences not just for dealing illegal drugs. But also for selling prescription drugs illegally. Pedaling a handful. Can lead to a 15-year sentence. American prisons. People for technical violations of immigration laws. Environmental standards and arcane business rules. So many federal rules carry criminal penalties that experts struggle to count them. Many are in comprehensible. Few are ever repealed. The potential for injustice is obvious. As a result american prisons are now packed was not only with racist and. Thugs but also with petty thieves white-collar criminals and small-time drug dealers and criminals who. Those scary when they were young and strong are now to gray and arthritic to pose a threat. Some 200,000 inmates are over 50. Roughly as many as they are. Sorry. I just can't believe i. As many as there were of all ages in 1970s an excellent way to keep dangerous criminals. Locked up dangerous criminals off the streets but the more you lock up the less dangerous each extra prisoner. Is likely to be and since prison is expensive $50,000 per income per prisoner per year in california the cost of imprisoning criminals often far exceeds the benefits in terms of crimes averted. It does not have to be this way. In the netherlands were the use of non-custodial sentences has grown the prison population and the crime rate have both been falling. Britain's new government is proposing to replace jail for lesser offenders with community work. Some parts of america are bucking the national incarceration trend new york cut its incarceration rate by 15% between 1997 and 2007 while reducing violent crimes by 40%. This is welcome but deeper reforms. Are required. America needs pure and clear laws so that citizens do not need a law degree to stay out of jail. Acts that can be regulated should not be criminalized. Prosecutor. Prosecutors powers should be. Clipped while most white-collar suspects are not al capone and should not be treated as if they were. Mandatory minimum sentencing law should be repealed or replaced with guidelines. The most dangerous criminals must be locked up. But states should try harder. To reintegrate the softer cases into society. By encouraging them to study or work. And by ending the pointlessly vindictive gesture of not letting them vote. It seems odd that a country that rejoices in limiting the power of the state. Should give so many draconian powers to its government. Yep for the past 40 years american lawmakers have generally regarded. Selling to voters the idea of locking up fewer paleta. People as political suicide. An era of budgetary constraints however as a good time as ever to try. Sooner or later. American voters will realize that their incarceration policies are unjust and inefficient. Here ends the morning reading. So this morning i continue my year-long sermon series which will explore some of our culture's most persistent and perplexing moral dilemmas. An ethical argument. Today focusing on the issue of crime and punishment. That is long-troubled and divided the american people. Now over the course of the sermon series i will return again and again to my main and i hope obvious and logical supposition. Which is at these moral dilemmas and the ethical arguments that result from them. Persist. And divide us as a society because each side each of them involved. Worthy principles and goals that stand and natural opposition and contradiction. To one another. Indeed this is implied in the very definition of the word dilemma. Which according to my online encyclopedia. Says is quote a problem offering two possibilities neither of which is practically acceptable. And the big old dictionary on my office shelf which i've since i was a boy. Cells that dilemma is a situation involving a choice between. Equally unsatisfactory alternatives. A problem or situation seemingly incapable. Of a satisfactory solution. Indeed with each of the moral dilemmas i've explored during this series anybody with the least bit. Of moral imagination and sophistication. Can see the integrity power and reasonableness of either side of the argument. And yet many in our culture persist in arguing the case as if only one side that being theirs. Is the right side. Making everybody else wrong. But the obvious truth is it no matter which side you take on these vexing issues. You wind up abrogating or subjugating some worthy values and principles. So over the course of the sermon series i hope to do justice to. Both sides of each dilemma articulating and honoring as fairly and thoughtfully as i can. The values in the principles which anime teach side because i in fact do and can see. The moral and ethical efficacy. Of both positions. And yet with this fair-minded and balanced goal in mind i will also remember. The wise word of recently departed folk singer pete seeger. Who's the unitarian by the way. Who surely had it right when he said yeah. We all know there are two sides to every issue. There's two sides to a piece of flypaper also and it matters a great deal to the fly. Which side he lands on. In the real world we live in then. We are often in the endo basically obliged to decide for one moral view or the other. Even when we understand that choice is far from perfect. So with all that said let me turn to crime and punishment. And see if i can't bring a bit more clarity and insight the debate that is raging. So fiercely as most of the debates are in america between american conservatives. And american progressive. Let me begin by framing in as i understand them the two more or less polar. Moral positions which stand in contrast. And opposition to one another when it comes. The crime and punishment. They're both familiar to you if you've been paying even the least bit of attention. To this the debate over this persistent issue an american social policy. Which now rages among us. The conservative view. A crime and punishment. We must be a strict law & order society. The keeps its citizens safe. With a judicial and corrections system. That harshly punishes and incarcerate criminals. Who violate public safety or order. And the progressive you. We must be a compassionate society. With a judicial and correction system design yes to protect its citizens. By getting dangerous criminals off the street. While at the same time offering genuine correction. For individuals in the system. So that they can return to society. As productive and law-abiding citizens. As soon as possible. No as is clear from the reading which sue just shared from the economist magazine. Over the recent american decades it is the conservative position. That has more or less held sway. America today is starkly a law-and-order society. That imprisoned a far greater percentage of its citizens than any other nation on earth. Including the third world totalitarian regime. They do not even the worst dictators don't throw as many people in jail as we do. Here is a mind-boggling statistic. Well the united states has less than 5% of the world's population. We have about 25%. Of its prisoners. Most of the rest of the developed world is mystified. And i think rightly appalled. By both the numbers. Number and length of american prison sentences. And the gap between us and the rest of the world in regards to the social policy is not shrinking. It's getting worse. It's growing. It is interesting and i think important to note that not only is this harsh. American approach to crime and punishment not only distinctive. It is also is to pointed out relatively new. When french writer alexis de tocqueville. Visited america in 1830 and wrote his famous book. Democracy in america which was considered the. A basically the snapshot of america in the 19th century. He chronicled social and political style the new nation. He visited our prisons. And wrote this. In no country. Is criminal justice administered with more mildness. Then in the united states. As the new york times recently reported. The spike in american incarceration rates is relatively new. From 1925 to 1975 the rate of incarceration in this country. Remain stable about 110 people. Per 100,000 citizens. But it shot up with the movement to get tough on crime in the late 1970s. The nation's relatively high violent crime rate than. Partly driven by the much easier availability of guns. Helps explain the great number of people. In american prisons. Unquote. Curiously it may impart as the reading from the economist eluded. It might be in park. Due to the vigorous and open dynamics of american democracy. Itself which leads. To our astronomical incarceration rates. As several sources i consulted upon this issue point out. We have a highly politicized. Criminal justice system in this country where people running for office. Most noticeably judges. District attorneys. Governors and legislators and house. House house and senate offices in all the 50 states. They respond democratically to public fears about crime and criminals by promising to quote on quote. Get tougher on criminals more so than their opponents. Which directly leads. To excessively punishing laws and practices state. Bi-state. Bi-state. No. In fairness to conservative law & order approach to crime and punishment. Most experts across the spectrum do believe. That america's aggressive incarceration policies. Have infect gotten many career criminals off our streets. And have in fact been responsible to demographers suggest. For the steady drop in american crime rates over recent decades. That's true. As kent ashley digger and mark mcmichael rushford of the criminal justice legal foundation recently wrote. The simple truth is an imprisonment works. Locking up criminals for longer periods reduces the level of crime. The benefits of doing so far offset the costs they right. So apparently due to these policies. And shifting demographics relating to young males which also greatly affect. Crime rates. America does have less crime. Overall. That it did four decades ago. And this ended up itself must be viewed i think as a desirable social trend. We like to live. In a safe. Society. Speaking personally for my moment. For a moment over my adult life i have been the victim of robbery and theft. Several times. In one case i was the victim of a very scary attempted robbery. At the end of a gun one night in washington dc. Something i never want to re-experience. And so i have nothing particularly good to say about street crime. Or the criminals who perpetrate them. Most especially the most violent and destructive crimes of assault. Rape. And murder. As a law-abiding citizen of these united states. I want to be safe at home. And here at church. Head on my streets and i want. Hardened criminals. Dealt with firmly and i'm sure all of you do too. We want and expect the police. Judicial and corrective systems to provide us with the safest most secure society possible. And to not cuddle repeat criminals and lawbreakers. But with all that said i believe the real question that comes into play. When we consider the diametrically opposed conservative and progressive approaches to crime and punishment. Is this. Over the long run which approach. Leads to the safest. Most humane and well-ordered society. And here is where my attentions and i will admit. A substantial portion of my allegiance. Here is where i shift. To the more progressive view. A crime and punishment. In a nutshell i believe. The facts are. That our society will best be served when it comes to public policies about crime and punishment. If we focus not on incarceration and punishment. But i'm correction. And redemption. There is mounting evidence that whenever we americans find and implement. Sensible alternatives. To putting people in prison and quote-unquote throwing away the key. Not only do we save massive amounts of public money. The sky high cost of maintaining. Expensive prisons. We also strengthened our society from the top to the bottom. In a comprehensive study of american incarceration policy by the prestigious and nonpartisan pew center on the states. In the study called 1 and 100 behind bars in america. It was pointed out. As a whole series of other studies reveal. That alternative. Community corrections strategies rather than long prison sentences. Not only are more humane for those who break the law they also lead. To lower crime rates. Safer communities. And more americans getting out of the vicious cycle. Poverty. Joblessness and crime. I quote from their executive summary. Policymakers are becoming increasingly aware of research back strategies. For community corrections. Better ways to identify which offenders need a prison cell. At which can be safely handled out in the community. New technologies to monitor their whereabouts and behavior. And more effective supervision and treatment programs. To help them stay on the straight and narrow. And then the executive summary goes on. Taken together these trends are encouraging public policy makers. To diversify their states array of criminal sanctions. With options for low-risk offenders. The save tax dollars but still hold. Offenders accountable. For their action. So they're not talking about coddling anybody. It may interest you to know the two particular states. Texas and kansas. Texas not known as a progressive place. Over recent decades. I've had very harsh. Correction policies that led to mass. Incarceration of their criminals and citizen. Both texas and kansas have both recently radically reversed. Their corrections policies. Toward this community-based approach. I quote now from again from the pew. Center study. Kansas and texas are well on their way to a more logical approach. Facing daunting projections of prison population growth. These two red states. Have embraced the strategy that blends incentives. Or reduced recidivism. With greater use of community supervision for low-risk offenders. The new approach born of bipartisan leadership. Is allowing the two states to ensure that they have enough prison bed. For violent offenders. While helping less dangerous lawbreakers. To once again become productive and law-abiding citizens. But it is my hope that america and now the data on the failure of madison-carver and incarceration is becoming clear. It is my hope that america will quickly move toward a more sensible. Humane and the keyword community-based. Way of handling. Nonviolent. Low-risk offenders. Nonviolent low-risk offenders you may not realize make up more than 65%. Of the american prison population. Today. 65%. The people who are. Languishing in jails today nearly one. The half-million men and women. Pose little risk. To the rest of us and yet we're paying $50,000 a year. To keep them away. Throwing them in jail. Or they are exposed to a violent antisocial and exploitive. Exploitive prisonculture. That often deeply scars or influences them negative. We greatly reduce the chances of returning successfully. Aloha by 22 law-abiding and productive citizens in our communities. We are greatly reduce the chance of their succeeding by throwing them in with with hard with him. So by finding compassionate and intelligent alternatives to lengthy incarceration. For these lawbreakers. Not only will our we in our communities be safer. We will also enable non-violent offenders. Which today are mostly young black and hispanic males. The opportunity to become law-abiding and useful citizens. Cool once again hold jobs. Raise children. Pay their taxes. And contribute to the economies of their communities. And then there are there are the non incidental. A fact. The recent mass incarceration policies have cost taxpayers. Billions of dollars. With again mostly dubious results. John betrayal and john whitmore two republican state legislators one legislatures. One from texas and one from kansas. Have specialized. In a new criminal justice approach. They write. Locking up 2.3. American people. Has undoubtedly helped produced. Reduce the nation's crime rate and we certainly believe that violent and chronic criminals deserve good long-term behind bars. Get high numbers these republicans right. Of non-violent lower-risk criminals. Have been swept up into the prison boom. Getting tough on them has gotten tough on taxpayers. Without an adequate public. Safety benefit. A prison cell cost about $65,000 a year to build. And $24,000 a year to operate they right. And for this much money the public expects lower recidivism rates and safer communities. Yeah crime rates are still to rise. Recidivism rates are still. Too high and then they make their case. These two conservatives. For american moving to a creative more humane alternative. Then throwing people in jail. Greater reduction in recidivism may be achieved by the alternative treatment and sanctioning programs. Research has shown they write that by using new technologies and treatment strategies. Community correction program. Can cut rates of repeat offense by 25%. It is up to all of us as it is and then they conclude it is up to us as policymakers. To consider all of the options and create an array. Of alternative punishments in program. That deliver the biggest. Public-safety bang. For the box. Unquote. And no discussion of americans america's crime and punishment policies would be complete. Until we address the all-important question of race. And racism. That is played itself out in terms of our american incarceration policies. And practices. Today the biggest single problem with the american criminal justice system. Is it back in the 1980s as crack cocaine use. And related criminal activity spiraled out of control. In many american communities. Most especially. In large cities. I'm fearful over-reaction many legislators and other policymakers. What harsh. Mandatory sentencing laws like being flexible. Three-strikes-and-you're-out laws. And laws that mandate long prison sentences. For the possession of small amounts of any number of drugs. These harsh and rigid laws again that singularly focused on the kind of drug crime. That were more prevalent in black and latino communities. Forest american courts to sentence many young. Nonviolent low-level drug users and dealers. To jail. For decades. This led to hundreds of thousands of american citizens again overwhelmingly people of color. To languish in prison. Where they receive little or no job or life training. Education or addiction or mental health treatment. Recently the washington post published a very moving article. I in there sunday magazine about one young such a young african-american man. Without from dc with a decidedly bright future who spent 20 harsh years. In prison. For having a tiny amount of illegal drugs on his person one night. No again. No one wishes. To excuse or ignore crime. No matter what race or age the lawbreaker is. In america must have a goal i believe of eradicating illegal and deadly drugs. Being sold on our streets. But i think it is painfully clear. Southeast harsh incarceration policies. In terms of the way they have been applied. Are bladez unjust because they are racist. In that they were written to suppress one type of crime. There was particularly prevalent in black and latino communities. I believe it is undeniable that justice has been unequally applied in america. Over recent decades. And we must clearly correct. The race bias against certain kinds of criminals. But with this troubling observation about race and incarceration having been noted. Let me return to the overarching perspective. That i would have you considered today. As a unitarian universalist i passionately believe. But when it comes. To crime and punishment. America must emphasize correction. And rehabilitation. Over-incarceration. And punishment. Our liberal faith tradition in particular has long advocated. Such a redemptive emphasis. Back in the 19th century. When alex de tocqueville said that are prisons. We're we're mild activist is a little after that. The so-called prison reform movement sought to make our justice system which was awesome earlier so brutal. More humane. The so-called prison reformers many of whom were universalists and unitarians. Persuaded the nation. To begin calling the places we send our criminal not prisons. What correctional institutions. Correctional. Meaning that the goal of the time in jail. Where their access to society was denied or limited. The goal was to correct. The course of the life. Not to simply punish. And the return them. To society. As productive peaceable citizens. With their dignity intact. So they can get jobs and raise families and have hope. But i haven't but as i have observed earlier in the sermon. Over recent decades. The correctional component of our system. Has receded. Impart i am sure because of the high cost of educational. And therapeutic job training. Just last month for example those of you who read the new york times may have seen this. Governor cuomo of new york. Ran into an absolute political buzzsaw. When he proposed a relatively model low-cost program. To underwrite college classes in just 10. Of the larger prisons in new york state. At the time he pointed out. That inmates who got an education had a much better chance of finding a job. And were much less likely to miss their neighbors when they were released. But. As soon as he tried to get a modest program going conservative politicians were around the state. Counts on this proposal. George maserati state senator from western new york said quote. It should be do the crime. At at sorry do the crime get the time. Not do the crime earn a degree. What a fossil, that is. What dangerous nonsense. Every criminal justice study. The focus is on correction programs clearly indicate. That educating and rehabilitating prisoners. Leads to a safer and better society. And you're over recent decades. We still continue to fill our prisons as warehouses. We want removed from society prisoners were removed from society. With the unintended consequence of course of having the system. Someday dumped them back into society completely unprepared. For being good citizens. Now as i've already pointed out. There are a whole host of affordable. And progressive criminal justice strategies available. To american communities. These strategies cluster around that idea of community corrections don't send somebody off. Just some hideous state prison up in the woods in northern adirondacks. Keep them in your community monitor them work with them. Restorative justice model. All of these progressive approaches assume. The with the right supervision and support. Non-violent person to a broken the law. Again with the right support and the restraint. Can pay for their crime. Well getting the support needed to become good and responsible citizens once again. No one is saying you should not pay for crime. It's a it's an it's about an. Again as i close let me be very clear about what i'm saying. By advocating yes a more progressive. And the less conservative approach to crime and punishment. I am not saying the punishment and incarceration. Must be done away with. Nobody is saying the prince that criminals should be cuddled or treated with kid gloves. Serious crime must be punished. And all just societies make those who break the law. Pay for their transgressions. But that said it is clear to me. That will both be a safer. And more humane and more prosperous society. If we can just find affordable ways. To correct and rehabilitate those who break the law rather than breaking them. And locking them up and throwing away the key. This other approach redemption and correction. Is the right thing to do socially. It's the right thing to do economically. And it's the right thing to do morally. The way to make america truly safe for all of its citizens. Is the b bull sperm. Uncompassionate. Let us that in this room. Lenar voices in the public square. In support. Over a revised criminal justice system in america. That is just. And wise. And above all. Humane. Can i say i mean to you. Amen. And i send you on your way to your week with these words by the founder of methodism. John wesley. Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. It all the ways you can in all the places you can it all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever. You can. Do good.

uufvb_org

2015Mar15Sermon32.mp3

Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. We're very glad you've chosen to start this beautiful day here on the treasure coast with us. We were 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 precisely 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 were a first-time visitor or been coming for decades. Whether you're feeling absolutely on top of the world this morning or worried or anxious or sad about something. We welcome you. Just as you can. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching at you'll find something here. To take with you. That nourishes your spirit. Come feed your soul and gives you a renewed energy and purpose. Enjoy for the living of life in the days ahead. These words from my colleague penny hackett evans. Each of us brings a separate truth. Here this morning. We bring the truth of our own life our own story we've come as empty vessels. But rather we come as full people. People who have our own story. Around truth. And we seek to add to our truth and to add to our stories. This room is rich with truth. Rich with experience. All manners of people are here. Needy people. Joyful. Brighton. Anxious. Grateful. We all bring our truth with us. May we all recognize the truth and the story in everyone's life. And may we hear and honor the truth. That we all bring. As we gather together. Together we have true. Together. We have a story. Together. We are. A religious commune. This morning meditation and please there will be about 45 seconds. Silence following. The reading of this out and the meditation. with the ringing of the bell. This comes from david rees williams one of our 20th century minister. Who wrote. The precious life that is in you and me. Is the same at all. Rich and poor wise and simple strong and we are joined together. In a mystic oneness. Who is soros we may never know but who is reality we may never doubt. When one suffers we all suffer. When one hungers for bread we all hunger. When one trips the streets in search of work we all tramp. When one destroys a human life we all share the guilt. And when one attains his her heart's desire. We are all partners in that troy. This mystic identity. Of the one with the many. Was affirmed by hosea. Buddha. Jesus. Gandhi. And martin luther king. It has been glimpsed by all nearly all the great sears. And saints of humanity. We are our brothers and sisters keepers. Because every person is but our larger self. Reticence of our vital unity with men and women everywhere possess our minds and our hearts be whole. Thou shalt love thy neighbor. As thyself. Because thy neighbor. Is. So in the 19th century us god's frozen people. Thank goodness and thank goodness for that him know which has so many multicultural. Pieces of music as we expand our musical horizon. I have an old friend her name is pat heath my friend from plainfield you remember pat. Her family's huguenot roots back to 17th century france. The huguenots some of you may know we're protestant reformation sect who. Like so many other european religious minorities including the unitarian. Mercilessly persecuted. By the established roman catholic church. And we're finally forced those who had not already been killed. To flee france altogether. The story of their escape which i told you the first that sunday you called me as your minister i told you the story. The story about their escape. Orally passed down in pat's family for generation. Is that her huguenot ancestors were jammed into a tiny boat. And woodforest to wrote war england across the frigid. And choppy english channel. As he began to roll for their lives across the treacherous waters. It became painfully clear. The door just too many people. In the small vessel. And unless something was done and done quickly and all of them would perish. In the frigid channel. So what did they do. Did they draw lots and throw the losers overboard. Did they set upon the elderly the sick or the defenseless young and toss them into a watery death. Or did they decide by some sort of rational spreadsheet. Who were the least productive members of the community and force them out of the boat. No. They could have decided of course on any of these. More or less reasonable courses of action. But those believe book beleaguered huguenots did something else something. Far nobler and lovelier than ultimately something far wiser. Without discussion or dissension. The people in that tiny boat decided that they will take turns. Several of them at a time swimming alongside the boat. So for the many hours of that cruel crossing. As of the few swimmers tired others would quietly willingly. As members of that tight-knit community. Take their place. In the numbing waters. And that's it was. Her family's heritage says. Set the small boat and everyone. Who sought refuge on it. Survived. The crossing. Does beleaguered huguenots arrive safely on the shores of england and my friend pat tells me. But they are prospered down the generations since because they understood. Without so much as a word passing between them. That is members of a community they collectively had an obligation. For the well-being and the survival of all. Story number 2. On december 7th 1941 the japanese imperial navy and air force launched the devastating surprise attack. On pearl harbor hawaii. And the very next day the congress of the united states meeting and joint session. Immediately after president franklin delano roosevelt. Day of infamy speech. Declared war. Germany and japan. For the next 4 years. As you all know. The american people came together as one purposeful people. United in their efforts to win the war. Preserve the american way of life. And rid the world of the tyranny. Which so threatened. There were many personal sacrifices to make and hardships and sorrows. To bear but the american people banded together. To ensure the nation's survival. And i want you to look at some of the posters. From wwii era as i speak now these are just going to run through. So you can get a sense of. How the american people. Two together. Victory gardens were planted. Carpool. We're form millions of men and women voluntarily enlisted in the military risking. The ultimate sacrifice. Of their lives. Everyone cooperated almost everyone in with massive coupon rationing. Add recycling effort. Labor unions and management worked together to increase material production. Councils housewives rolled up their sleeves and became rosie the riveter. During wwii. As any of you who were part of that greatest generation no. All 130 million americans came together. Across racial. Ethnic. Generational. Political and economic divide. And cooperated with and sacrifice for one another. Until germany and japan. Defeated. And until peace. Could be restored around. The globe. And these posters. Dory number three. Fast forward now please. To america today. In the year 2015 when the whole idea of community the whole idea of our belonging to one another. Seems terribly threadbare. I offer two divergent and i think alarming images. For you to consider the first. The sad news this winter out of california and other places that measles. A daily and disfigure a deadly and disfiguring disease. Which we thought we had eradicated in america decades ago through. The wise universal vaccination of the young. Has resurfaced as you know in the population. And is once again causing many kids to become very sick. In some cases. What is the cause of. You all know. And in my view it is a ridiculous. A dangerous caught. The cause of this outbreak is that hundreds of thousands perhaps millions of american parents. Are insisting against all logic. And the irrefutable science. Samuel's vaccine is safe. The fey need the quote personal freedom and choice not to inoculate their children. To ensure the safety of all. Thomas frieden director of the cdc puts it this way. Study after study has shown. But there are no negative long-term consequences. Of the childhood vaccine. And the more kids who are not vaccinated. The more they are at risk and the more they put their neighbors children. At risk. As well. But today many america. Far. Too many americans believe that their personal desire to quote. Preserve their individual freedom of choice. Is more important than the health. And the safety. Of the population. We are becoming. I fear. A self-absorbed insular. Selfish and irrational. The second image of the weakening bonds of our community i offer is one even closer to home. My guess is that most of you recognize this iconic image. It is known as the gladstone flag and revolutionary war flag. With a yellow field depicting a rattlesnake actually a deadly. Eastern diamondback rattler. Coiled and ready to strike with the emphatic words. Don't tread on me. Benise. The flag is named you may not know i have to go online to figure out all this stuff. After an american general and statesman christopher gladson. Who designed it in charleston south carolina in 1775. During the early days of the american revolution. To express his and other colonists angry resistant. To the oppressive and absolutely brutal policies. Of the english king and his occupying armies. Soon this flag became the battle flag of the newly-formed american navy and marine. And became one of the war's leading symbols of freedom and liberation. From british tyranny. So how was this flag used today. Perhaps many of you like me noticed lately all over this town. Flying defiantly on flag poles outside of homes. And displayed on the bumper sticker on the bumpers of cars and pickups. This flags been adopted in american culture today for better and worse as a libertarian symbol. And a symbol of what is called the conservative tea party movement. On a website titled the humble libertarian. It states that the motto don't tread on me is being a brace today by american libertarian. Who are basically saying to their government. Listen to quote the website. I'm mad as hell. And i'm not going to take it anymore. And what are they mad about. Well from everything i can read online and elsewhere. They are mad about any government control or regulation. Government are mad about governmental programs especially those. Designed to help the disadvantaged than the poor. They're mad about paying their taxes. Set a required of them by these governmental regulations and program. The bottom line is it today the don't tread on me flag don't tread on me don't tread on me. Originally a symbol. A resistance against against a great foreign tyranny. Is now being angela flown by american citizens. Who bitterly resent the workings of their own government. And bitterly resent. Ask to support the common good. So where do these four stories lead us. What i'm really talking about today and i want all of us to grapple with this as unitarian universalist. For i believe it is terribly important for the future of our culture and our country. Is one of the most persistent and painful tensions in american society indeed alsip. Namely the persistent. Struggle. And creative interplay. Between individualism. And collectivism. There is a persistent struggle and creative interplay between these two things. Since our beginnings as a nation 200 almost 250 years ago. There's been a persistent and often bitter philosophical and inevitably. Political struggle. Between individualism which can be summed up i think as i've done it the need valuing desire. To look out for the benefit of one's own self and one's own family and on the other side collective. The need value and desire to look out for the benefit of the whole exercise. To lookout. For the common good. When every country i know of in every culture inoa. These two opposite what can be oppositional perspective. Which constantly both clash and interact with one another. Edwards both have vocal advocates on the extremes. Vie for dominance not only in the political marketplace. But also in our cultural narrative. Indeed much of the steaming intractable and nasty. Political and policy paralysis. But now grips washington dc. Is i think in large part. Due to the fact that in our time the american people. Are pretty much evenly philosophically split. About which of these two perspectives. Could hold sway. Over our cultural life. And here's how that breaks down. The next flight. Is the way i. Individualism tends to focus on personal freedom. Laissez-faire as opposed to regulated capitalism. Restrained government. Anti-regulation pretty much of any sort auntie taxi. And the label libertarian where is. The collectivist side. Tends to focus on community concern. A more regulated economy muscular government. They're not afraid or opposed to regulations or taxation. And that leads you to the word communitarian. And that's what this chart i finally arrived. Core of what i really want to talk about this morning. The painful and entrenched divide in american culture between those on the libertarian. An individualistic side of the equation and those on the communitarian. Or collector side. It is my belief of late. That in america our culture and our cultural and philosophical conversation. Has become dangerously imbalance in the direction of individualism. And libertarianism and away. Communitarian values. It is further my belief that if we in america as americans are ever to achieve. True health and well-being as a society. We must purposely and quickly restore the balance. Between these two perspectives. My first two stories this morning about my friend pat's huguenot ancestors. Surviving. The crossing of the english channel by quote-unquote each. Taking their turn in the channel. And my second story about the american people's fierce sense of oneness. Purpose and belonging. During wwii are stories about active. Communitarian side of the equation. Edaron painful contrast i think. To my last two stories about the excessive libertarian side of the equation. The scores of american parents insisting they have the right against all science and reason. To refuse to vaccinate their children. And. Is individualist flags flying all over town don't tread on me. As though they are being personally oppressed and enslaved. By their own governments. And the need to preserve the common good. I saw another worrisome bumper sticker the other day on a pickup truck. Which read. I love my country. It's my government. Great. Good thinking. Again. I believe right now in america in the fluid. And furious contest between individualism and collectivism and please remember. Each of these polar perspectives has value in their own right. And no one most especially me is suggesting that we can simply choose one of these over the other. In the fluid and furious contest. Between individualism and collectivism individualism. And culturally dangerous upper hand. I am passionately persuaded. That america is it as human best. When again is manages to balance. The rights and the freedoms of individuals. With the needs and the health of the whole community and this is where the idea of communitarianism. Can play a constructive role in bringing us back into the balance. Communitarianism and now i want to tell you what that is. Communitarianism is the social and political philosophy. Leopold the primacy and importance. Of the social realm. It emphasizes the connection between the individual and the community. And suggest that a person's individuality. Is first and foremost the product of community relationships. And responsibility rather than a product. Derive only from personal traits and freedoms and ran would hate this idea. Communitarianism asserts. The human identity. And well-being. Must begin. But with community. And not in the atomistic. Sphere. So where is libertarianism or atomistic individualism. Always seeks to protect and enhance. Personal autonomy. Individual rights. Individual prerogative. Communitarianism seeks first to encourage and defend the common. The sense of community belonging and responsibility but he can. This is very important we seek balance here. Without ever losing sight. Communitarianism says. Of the importance and the value of individual rights and individual liberty. In the early 1990s in response to what they perceive. To be a breakdown of the moral fabric of society. Engendered by excessive individualism. Philosophers i'm not sure how you pronounce. At the zinnias his last name. And william ladson. Articulate something they called the responsive. Communitarian. Movement. Which simply means. Ensuring both the common good. And individual. Autonomy. And right. Lying at the heart of responsive communitarianism and the word responsive simply means here. That this communitarianism is democratic not despotic. Or dictatorial. Line at the center. Is the idea that people. You and i. Phase 2 major sources. What they call. Normativity we've already discussed. The common good. Ensuring the welfare of all and individual autonomy and rights ensuring. The maximum freedom that can be provided in a community college. So responsive communitarianism. Seeks to strike a philosophical balance by saying. That's wrong individual rights and freedoms are a good thing. But. They presume first and foremost. Strong responsibilities. For the common good. Of the whole society which also is it. In other words. Communitarianism. Which many of you i suspect or not to do with that particular word. Would not have us neglect either the individual. Nor the society as a whole but again the emphasize. We are to truly have a healthy and humane society. We must always focus first. On the relational needs of the whole society our relationships with others. Before we think of our individual cell. No. I want to close this morning by looking briefly at the seven principles. Of our faith and reflect on how communitarianism. As i have just articulated it fits. With our core values. As i think you can see the principles of our faith. Carefully lift up both the rights and the needs and the liberties of individuals. And the rights and the needs and the demands of the larger social order. An individualistic side we have the inherit the first one the inherent worth and dignity of every person. The need for number three exceptions of one another that means you no tolerance and allowing a person to be who they are. And encouraging them to spiritual growth. And then the. 1234 fifth principle the right of conscience that's your own conscience. And the right of the democratic process where is the other. Taconic communitarian side we have principal number to justice equity and compassion. And then we have. The goal of wordworld community number 6. Peace liberty and justice for all. And the other communitarian value respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are apart. What i am saying here. Is it as we in this congregation. Engage with our neighbors. And our friends. In the all-important american conversation. About the interplay between honoring individual liberty. And assuring the common good. We can look to our own face. Define some sort of proper balance. Again my passionate concern at this particular moment. In the american experiment. And it is still that. Is it individualism. Is running wild. And all out of proportion. To health and goodness. And that is a people we need to return. To our primary commitment as communitarianism would have it. To our social relationships with. And our moral responsibilities to one another. Like those wise huguenots jam together. On a small boat. We americans all need again. And again and again and again. To take our turn. In the channel. And to remind ourselves. Over into soluble belonging. With every man woman and child with whom we share this culture. So that together. As a humane. Entering community. We can make it. To the other side. And i say and mean. By god. And i leave you with the words of clarissa estes. Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world. All at once. But stretching out to man the part of the world. That is within our reach. Any small column thing. That one soul can do to help another soul. To assist some portion of this poor suffering world. Will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom. Will cause the critical mass to tip. Toward the enduring good. What is needed. For dramatic change. Is an accumulation of acts. Adding. Adding to adding more continually. We know she writes in conclusion. That it does not take everyone on earth. To bring justice and peace but only a small determined group. During the first. Or the second. Or the 100 gail. And then she ends. When a great ship is in harbor and more. It is safe. There can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships. Are built for. Go to your week. And be a good citizen. Concern for everyone around you.

uufvb_org

2012Oct21Sermon32.mp3

This morning we are welcoming the reverend rodger fritz to our pulpit as guest minister. Reverend fritz is minister at the church in sarasota. Where our reverend alexander is preaching this morning. Before coming to florida. Reference serve churches in bethesda maryland. Evanston illinois new bedford massachusetts and lexington kentucky. While on sabbatical she served congregations in australia new zealand and scotland. We're so pleased to have you here reference. The words of meditation were written by reverend frederick giles. My colleague. From many places and conditions of the spirit we come. Seeking to center for our lives. A sense of holiness. From dry places where the words and knowledge seem broken into. Brittle fragments that do not go here. From overfill places where information abounds. But there is no real understanding. From hard places where feelings are dulled. And lonely. Hollow places where meaning cement. In this caring and supporting. Community. At this time of quiet reflection. We come to be empty. And filled with the spirit that flows in and among us and throughout the world. Mts of the chattering. Infusion. The information we thought was all-important. Quiet our minds. Send her our spirits. Ground rv. Enable us to find that power that already lies within us. The power for love. For creativity. For hope. Open our eyes to the possibilities of love. Sustagen. That already surround. And uphold. Help us to see and every. Cubic inch. Space. 4life is at each moment a wonder. Hey gif. Oportun. May our hearts be open to compassion. Our minds open to wisdom. Our spirits. But to be together for ammo. What a beautiful place to worship you. You really have a wonderful. It is a delight to be here. I went to a school in. Berkeley california. To learn to be a unitarian universalist minister. And i entered there when i was 23 years old back in nineteen. Before. And the first week or so i was there i was. Outside the school actually there's some steps. The school is located on what's called holy hill just north of the university of california berkeley. Call holy hell because there's all nine different. Seminaries there. Episcopalian joshua franciscan. Pacific school of religion. Remember all of them right now but. Clustered together and we share classes so you can take classes. In many different. Seminaries. Wonderful place for a religious ed. But i was there at the beginning in 1974 and september and i was outside on the steps. Talking to somebody. This fella rise up in a bicycle. And. Picks the bicycle up and walks up the steps. And he says hi. And i said that scott alexander. Some people you never forget the first time. Scott and i have been friends since 1974 and it is really an honor and a privilege to. The congregation. He serves as a minister here in fierro. And have him over in. Sarasota. This sermon started. Back when i went to serve my first congregation. And lexington kentucky. And a member of my congregation amanda and david chance and was treasurer. And we were talking after i arrived and he said will so. The unitarian universalism began about 1948 when a bunch of humanness rejected. All that christian stuff. And decided to get together and have their own religion. And i said well david that's. Not really how it all started. And i thought it's time i need to preach. About our roots and. There was a unitarian minister named harry missouri. Septa. A wonderful quote now i have to go to my manuscript. He said it's a curious are to suppose you can carry-on effectively. A great. Liberal tradition. While remaining at the same time ignorant. Oran almost ignorant. Of the police. Achievements. Of the people. Who have handed that tradition. Over to you. That's true of. 20th century in the 19th century. It goes at back long long before then. When the disciples of jesus. First established christian church. Just a few years after the death of jesus. It's organization was very loose. It consisted of small groups of people. Leaders and priests. Arose from which group. Still. Over 300 church. Empower an info. Attracting followers. Christians were persecuted by the pagan rulers of the roman empire. But all this change. And ironically. It changed exactly. 1700 years ago this month. Exactly 1,700 years ago this. 312 312 years after. The estimated birth of. Constantine had an army. Any was marching towards rome. To take command of the roma. Empire the western part of the roman. And. According to the story which of course you know this is a long time ago so who knows what really happened. But this is the story. That. His soldiers saw in the sky a flaming cross. And then a couple nights. Later. Constantine had a dream. And in the dream. He was visited by. Some force that said to him. Change. All the banner. The soldiers flags. And put a croissant. And march. So constant. According to the legend did this. And then. After he arrived in rome within a short. of time. He ended the person who. Historians speculate they don't know when constantine. Became a curse. Skin ry. For sure but they they still. They know that his daughter was named anastasia. Which is a christian. And so they say. At least when his daughter was born he was. They know that his mother was. Converted to chris. And we all know it's very important. Get along well with our mother. So that that may have been fun. But also a popular theory is that. He wanted to unite. The roman empire. Under one religion. And that. Thought of. Hannity. How's the best choice. But if all the. Everyone agreed on one religion. And that was christianity. It would be less. Divisive. Tesla squirrel. Plus fighting. For those who thirst. By the. 14. Christianity was the official religion. A constant. Roman. However. Christianity. Did not have a universal. Or set of beliefs. Rules that everyone should. This is a movement that have been persecuted that had grown up. An individual communities throughout the middle east. People have different ideas of what it meant. To be a christian. One of the biggest debates. What is about who jesus is. There was. A significant number of people. Kohl's every hour or so in the united states day but. They didn't have those sorts of surveys back in this. So we don't know exactly how many feet. But there was a significant number of. Who felt. That. Jesus wasn't. Just an ordinary person. God. Came to earth. They obviously said. If that was true if jesus was god. Then. The arguments. That christianity is the best religion in the religion that everybody should follow is. Stronger. But there are other people who said. This doesn't make any sense. We know if we look at. See. Account. At this point. There wasn't even a new tesla. But we know.. There were a whole bunch of gospel. And no decision had been made as to which gospels were really true and which were. Or had been written a half late and work. So there were all these gospels out. But they said look if you look at matthew. And lou. And john. You don't find evidence. Proof. The cheese's. Saw himself has said that he was god. So this. This doesn't make any sense. One of the leaders of this movement was a man named darius. He was a man who benefited from. Constantine's decision to make christianity. Religion. Of the roman empire. He had trained. Hippie been born in libya. We believe and then train. With a man named lucia. In an area near lebanon. 2. Become a christian free. And after constantine made. The christian religion the official religion of the roman empire he was appointed as a priest. Had a church in alexandria egypt which was a major city and a major port city. Minister to a lot of sailors. Andarius was a karizmatik. Christian priest he was. According to the description. Send. Call he was in his fifties when he went to alexandria he had this beautiful. Silver hair and. People were very attracted to this preaching. What are the reasons they really like darius is because. He have the ability to. Right. Poems that rhyme. And he would write his sermons. Anna rhyming poem. And then recite them to the congregation and these rhymes. But the sailors would common and listen to. In alexandria they would hear these rhymes and they would memorize. Oh and so other people throughout the mediterranean started to listen to these. Poems that that areas had written. Inarius argued that jesus was. Pacesetters. There's two reasons why. This is. First of all he said. Jesus is not refer to as god and the gospels of luke and matthew and john. He's referred to as a human being. And the new testament jesus cleared will they didn't have a new testament yeah but in those gospel. Jesus was several times clearly differentiated from god. The other source that are is pointed out. Was. The claim. Did it was not logical. To say. That was for use our own reason and our own experience of life. Realize that jesus was a great prophet. But not god. Knows i said there were no surveys back then. Historians today estimate that popular opinion was about evenly divided. With half of the christians believing in the humanity of jesus. And half believing that. Who's god. This. Difference in beliefs. Led to considerable discussion. Andarius was an effective debate. He cited a series of texts drawn from matthew luke and john. Describe the human characteristics of. He said how could jesus speak god. When jesus slept. Which descriptions of jesus crying weeping. God weeps. Places in the gospels where jesus. How to learn by asking questions. Would god have to ask question. Jesus is fear and uncertainty with your expressed in john and matthew disprove the suggested link. Human beings have fear have uncertainty. Why did jesus pray to god area said. If jesus was god was he talking to himself that didn't make any. Finally areas. Why on the cross. Did jesus say the words. My god my god why have you forsaken me. Again. Talking to himself that makes us. Now this theological dispute was not a mere debate between clergy. In mediterranean sea. 1700 years ago ordinary tradespeople. Workers passionately argue. About the identity of jesus. There's a manuscript a letter from a priest to said. If in the city. You ask a shopkeeper for change. He will argue with you about whether the sun is bhagat or unbegotten. If you inquire about the quality of bread the baker will answer the father is greater the sun is less. And if you ask the bath attendants to draw you your bath he will tell you. That the sun was created out of nothing. No i should explain when the shopkeeper asked whether jesus. Was begotten or unbegotten. Begotten mean jesus was born human unbegotten. When the baker asserted that jesus was. Separate and less than god's is arguing the aryan position that jesus was a special human being. When the bath attendants said that jesus was created from nothing. Is for claiming the area position that jesus was born. Just like all other human. As i said no central authority existed in the christian church. Instead christians regarded the gospels as the source of authority. Although they argued about which gospels were authentic original and belongs in the christian bible. And which did not. The debate over the nature of god and jesus might have continued as a back-and-forth argument between. Different factions of the church. Except for constantine. And i remember. Constantine one church as a unifying force. His goal was to unite the empire. Diverse. Into one harmonious religious community. He did not like disagreements at undercut that unit. I'll buy 324. Constantine had moved. The capital. Of the roman empire from rome. To istanbul. Constant. A city named after himself. And he got hotter in the summer apparel. So he had a summer home. In a place called nausea by a lake about 60 miles from. What is currently istanbul. In 324 constantine sent his closest christmas christian advisor. To the egyptian city of alexandria. B7 letter addressed to areas and to his opponents and we we have this letter. The letter observe a strict neutrality theological contour. However the emperor made clear. City considered the doc. Doctrinal conflict among high-ranking christian. Unnecessary and disruptive. Why constantine i should good christians coral over questions. Then nobody could answer with real certainty. Constantine said in his letter that he thought these issues this debate was trivial. He called on the adversaries to quote. Reconcile and prevent him once again. To enjoy. Trouble free days. And nights of repose. Apparently he wasn't sleeping well. Any blame this controversy. Well this letter this appeal by constantine was not successful. The debate continued. So the unifi the church constantine ordered the first meeting in history of all the bishops. Invitations were sent to more than 400 bishop. The bishop of rome at this point who is now called the pope was not the supreme leader. There were just. 400 bishops spread-out. Throughout the mediterranean. Each of them equal in a. Constantine decided to hold a council at his summer residence on. The roman empire invited the bishops to his phone. And not only did he invited this is important but he promised to pay travel expenses. Expenses during the several months away from their own city. This sounded great. Folks who have been persecuted by that the roman. Pagans for many years being fed to the lions and now the emperor was going to pay their way to a conference. The bishop's felt as though they were living america. The great council began its. Deliberations in early june. Of the year 325. And more than 250 bishop. For able to attend. We don't know the exact number there are different numbers in the. But more than 250 were there. It was the largest gathering of christian leaders. Ups that time in the history of the church. Today it is considered the very first ecumenical council. Of the catholic church. Now 9 years ago in the book the davinci code. Chapter 55 is a description of the counseling this is where most people today. I'll have any information all about the nicene council from the book the davinci. The book says that until the council quote. As a mortal prophet. A great and powerful man but a man. Nonetheless. According to the davinci code the description that jesus was divine. Was the result of a relatively close vote. In fact. We don't know that it was a relatively close.. So when you read that or see that quoted. We don't really know that. There were no official. Minutes. Other official records of the proceeding. That still exists today. What we do know about the council is based on fragmentary letters by a few of the bishops who attended the meeting. And on the several documents. That came out of the meeting they were copied down and have been preserved. From these sources. Historians say that the bishops met and a large hall of the palace called the judgment hall. They sat on benches arranged in rows running the length of the hall. Constantine himself appear dressed in purple. And seated himself at a slight distance from the bishops. But close enough to participate in their discussion. It was very hard to make the color purple. And so it was reserved primarily for the. Extreme wealth either. The emperor could wear purple. And not really anybody else. Speaking in latin. And translated into greek. Constantine. Pleaded for peace. And harmony. And it's the beginning of the discussion. As far as we can tell he took no public position on the issues. The arian controversy is it was called was the first. And dealing with it took two weeks. Area simself was present. But because he was only a priest and not a bishop. He was kind of. On the sidelines kind of what we would today call a lobbyist. Not permitted to address. The group formally or to participate in the formal. It's um. Point probably early in the discussion. One of the supporters of various presented. An ambiguous creed. It could be interpreted as saying. Jesus was a human. Who became define. Or the jesus was born divine. Now before anyone else could respond constantine suggested. That a greek word be added to this ambiguous creed. And the wording the constantine proposed was still. It could mean that. God and jesus were. But it could also mean. Of the same substance. The same reality the same being. Or even the same type. If this was the meaning of the word areas and his supporters. Since. Bakery that human beings are made in god's image. Those who believe that jesus was divine we're not happy however with this. Interpretation. They didn't like the ambiguity. Course but they concentrated come up with the word and they were not. Happy about disagreeing. The man who had. I didn't there who was the emperor who had the soldiers. Pay for their expenses. But the bishops who believe that jesus was god. Continue to debate and argue and they added the words and phrases. The creed. Supported their views. They added the passage to the creed. It condemns certain of areas. Specific. The hardcore. Areas supporters. Opposed exchange. But after two weeks constant me one of the issue resolved there for. He sent his officials to each bishop. With copies of the documents. The revised document that said that jesus is god. Born god he sent this document each. Other bishops. And said. I want you to sign this. Everyone signed with the exception. Various is most devoted. Supporters. Two bishops from libya. Constantine immediately sent these to end excel. Along with areas and several priests who supported him. Today most people do not know this history of how jesus became god. Most people believe that jesus told people he was god which is not true. They have no idea most people have no idea that his. Divinity was divided decided by. A meeting. The council. Afloat. The intimidation of the roman empire. About 300 years after. Few years ago the davinci code appeared. And in the middle of this popular novel. There appeared in imperfect account of how jesus became god. At the council of nicea. Millions of people bought the book. And read a description of this comedian history. In history of christianity. And millions have seen the movie which includes a discussion of the council of nicea. Ellen reaction to the book some christians insist that no serious debate about the identity of jesus ever occurred in. An article appeared in the conservative magazine christianity today. It said. The first thing you notice when you read the early church fathers. Is that they are completely convinced that jesus is god himself. The article then lists the early church fathers all those persons who supported the view. This was god. Leaving out. This was a human being. Another article in the same magazine said that. Quote early christians overwhelming worship jesus christ as their. This contradicts the evidence that many early christians believe that jesus was a human being. The christianity today article goes on to say that. Quote the united. Of the apostles. Have always. But jesus christ. Was and remains god himself. It didn't take an ancient council to make this true. And that of course. Is not true. The evidence of both the gospel. And of our own experience and reason. Is the jesus was a human being. And not god. This was a widely-held view. For the first 325 years. Of the christian. After losing the debate about the identity of jesus areas died eleven years later and 336 constantine died in. In 381 a new council added the holy spirit and formulation. Today this revised nice is the only creed accepted as authoritative. By the roman catholics. The eastern orthodox. The anglican churches and major protestant church. The nicene creed. Is the one thing they all agree on. The bishop's replace the story of a loving compassionate jesus. With a bureaucratic statement about the identity of christ. They replaced simple phrases. Blessed are the poor. With a confusing creed. It starts with these words we believe in one god the father almighty maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible and in one lord jesus christ the son of god begotten of the father the only-begotten studies of the very essence of the father god of god. No mention. Do the sermon of the mount blessed are the poor. Blessed are the meek. That is the jesus the original. It's all gone. In the niacin. But throughout the history. Of the christian church a few people have raised questions about the theology than icing. They believe that jesus was important. But they do not believe that jesus was god and in transylvania as you heard in the children's story. In the year 1604 mation europe these people started calling themselves. Unitarian. Gradually the movement spread to england and then to the united states. And in the middle of the last century it made it all the way. So today we are a mixture of christians and humaneness and others. You have historically. Of the mediterranean. They go back 1,000. 700 years to a tall thin free. Serve the church and. I recently i talked to a young couple. Who wanted to get married. She was raised episcopalian and he was raised because they. Will do the ceremonies which combine both the episcopal and the jewish tradition. So they said. Reverend fritz we would like you to begin the ceremony with the jewish a wine ceremony. We will. Pour a wine into a glass and drink a little wine from the glass animals. The glasses side to be broken at the end of the ceremony. As is often done and jewish. Wedding. And i said sure we can do that. And then the young lady said bring in the episcopal tradition i would like you to say these words. Book of common prayer. In the name of god the father god the son and god the holy spirit bless and preserve and keep you. And i said. I know i can't do that. You know we came to you because. We heard that unitarian universalist minister. Are very flexible and willing to include different tradition. And. So i said well there's a lot of. To that but. You have to understand that i am a unitarian universalist. That means a lot of things. But one of the things that means the word unitarian mean. Is that we believe. And the unity of god. The fact that jesus was a human being and not. Not god and therefore we do not say. The trinitarian. Prayer in our server. Goodwill. That's okay i don't. Nope i believe in the trinity either this is just. Words that i grew up with it and it would make my parents really happy if you would say them. And i. We had a long discussion. And which i talked more about the history of unitarianism. But essentially i said folks. To the couple. There are folks out there. Throughout history. Who have literally given their lives. To make a possum. From me. To say. This was a human being and not god. And. Armed response. Am i am as a unitarian. And when i talked to her about it she said i. We went ahead and plan the ceremony. Took one i hadn't had the wedding. Without reference. And the in my imagination. As i had this conversation. I saw areas. Out there saying. Thanks for not forgetting me. Play the knowledge we share in common. The desire to love. And to be loved. Transcend our differences of experience. Prospective. And unitas together. Into one family. As we go from this place made that unity give us. Strength. To livwell. And to live. With joy.

uufvb_org

2014Apr27Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so pleased that all of you have come to be with us this morning we are as the graphic set. A congregation of open minds loving hearts and helping hands individual people seeking to become our best selves. Even as together we work to make for a better world and please know this morning. But you're welcome just as you come to us. What ye whether you are whether you are young or old gay or straight black or white. Or some other wonderful shade of humanity with you have a ged or a phd. What do you want a visitor with us this morning or have been here for decades. 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. We hope you'll find the service of music. A meaningful and enriching this morning and he'll find something here this morning. That nourishes your spirit and feed your soul and gives you renewed energy and purpose. For the living of life and the days ahead. Very special choir and earth day service. Here at the unitarian universalist fellowship. A vero beach. Who are widows today. For the 2014. Of unitarian universalist association. If you were here this morning visiting from one of our sister congregation. Would you please stand. Or raise your hand. Welcome all of you. Rhythm. Harmony joyfulness. Tune our ears to the beautiful anthems to the earth. Which will be performed for us. But to the song of life itself. May our worship together this hour remind us of the boundless beauty of our world. And the blessing of finding ourselves alive. Together. And so rich and wonderful creation. We are so pleased that so many of our fellow unitarian-universalist sunshine. Are able to be with us for worship this morning as we celebrate earth day sunday. Curity usdp. That this weekend was originally also scheduled to be the florida you you choir festival. An annual event when choirs from all over the state to have fun and make music together. Culminating in a gala musical service on sunday but much to everyone's disappointment. That festival for a variety of complications. Has been postponed for a later date. Are unflappable music and i decided that our indefatigable choir. Was up to the task. I mean after all voices. That's what we're going to do this morning. And we have printed the words for all four anthems on yellow inserts. This is a choral festival. Just enjoy the words that are printed there so you know the affirmations they're making. So get comfortable now in your fuse. Take a deep breath and listen to anthems of the earth and the readings and reflections. Which we have chosen to accompany them. This service is design. To remind your heart. How blessed we are. To live. And beautiful. And ever so fragile. Planet. There is religion and everything around us by john. Ruskin. There is religion and everything around us. A calm and holy religion. Can the unbreathing things in nature. It is a meek and blessed influence. He comes quickly and without excitement. It has no terror no gloom. It does not rouse up the passions. It is untrammeled by creed. It is written on the arch sky. It looks out from every star. It is on a sailing clouds. The invisible wind. It is among the. Where the shrub list mountaintop pierces the thin atmosphere of eternal winter. For the mighty forest fluctuates before the strong wind. Wheaton star quasar bring foliage. Ocean. 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. That i shall never forget. It was during the 1990s and one summer my now husband get over that idea. Collins and i. We're up at this way up in northern maine. It has been a very hot day. A rare thing that far up in new england. And that night it was hard for us to get to sleep was still quite hot inside. Finally after a couple of hours of tossing and turning in bed we decided to get up and take a swim. In the cool waters. Of the lake to knock our body temperatures down to finally get to sleep. We walked in the dark the end of our rickety dock. Slip slowly into the water need i point out that bathing suits are not required at that time of night in northern maine. And began swimming we. Away from the rocky shore. Almost instantly realized that the sky was ablaze absolutely ablaze with the aurora borealis. The so-called northern lights. We were amazed. By the heavens vivid dancing display. Blues reds and yellows and purples all. Pulsating brightly from one horizon to the next. Now the scientists tell us that this amazing life. A natural light display in the sky particularly in the higher latitude regions of the globe. The collision of energetic particles with atoms. In the high altitude. Atmosphere unquote. Whatever causes it. It is an anyone who has ever seen it will testify. And amazing. Stone columns and i were floating on our back arms fully stretched out in the water legs kicking gently. Just stay in place. Eyes open. The spectacular heavenly show. And then it happened all of a sudden. My spiritual bearings as a creature of creation shifted. To a whole new and wonderful consciousness. I lost all sensation. Of where myself as a separate and isolated entity in the universe. And where all the rest began. Maybe it was in part because the cool lake water had numbed me. What in an instant. I had absolutely no sense of where my fingertips steve. And where the water the hills and the aurora borealis began. I felt absolutely in one creation and appease. It was one of the most magical and healing sensations. And belonging i have ever had as a human being. I hope and trust. That every last person in this room right now understands the pressing. An undeniable truth. Turn these early years of the 21st century we are living at a time of great danger. For our planet. And ourselves. The rapid climate change that is resulting from increased human population and activity on the earth. Not only threatens our future as the globe's dominant species. But also threatens the extinction of countless. Thousands. Of other plan. An animal species. If life as we know it and love it. Is to be sustained. We homo sapiens you all notice. We'll have to change much about the way we live on this thin. Green. Blue surface of planet earth. Many many changes. Are going to be required of us. And perhaps the first and foremost of these is the way we spiritually and scientifically under understand ourselves. In relation. To the rest of creation. I have come to believe. We must shift our self-understanding. From seeing ourselves as isolated separate individual beings.. To realize that we are in fact radically and scientifically and spiritually connected. To all things. We must all begin to live our lives on this fragile planet as if the oneness and connectedness i felt in that lake that night in northern maine. Is the foundational spiritual and physical reality of our existence. Because. Is. According to the unfolding discoveries of quantum physics as i understand them. Everything in the universe is interconnected and multi-dimensional waze. By time space matter and energy. One website. Which along with string theory is is one of the mathematical building blocks of the new physics says this. Once connected. Objects anywhere in the universe affect one another forever no matter where they are. Following that principle. An individual stream of energy will always. In any way in the past. This means website. That everything is connected to everything else. And that physical reality is both waves and particles. This model birth. The holographic universe idea. The powerful conscious energy that the whole. In the tiniest particles. An atom of a blade of grass. To the most distant galaxies. The building blocks this website ends of atoms are merely. Parcels of compressed energy. And patterned according. To certain mathematical. Formula. I fully understand. I know this stuff gets pretty abstract. I'm pretty complicated to think about pretty quickly. So let me put this simply. The new physics tells us that every part and particle of creation. Including those two atoms that make each one of us us. Are irretrievably and magnificently connected to one another by time space. Matter and energy. What does scientifically mean is at the powerful oneness i felt that night with my body. And the lake and the hills and the stars. And the aurora borealis is in fact the primary fact of our existence. As living breathing thinking parts. On this earth day 2014. And how we ought to live as citizens of this planet. What if we human beings move through our days on this earth. Thinking of ourselves as we really are. Interesting little organic clumps of water and stardust. Held together. Fire very thin layer of skin that keeps. Most of us most of the rest of the world out. Yep radically and intimately is connected to everything out for the farthest. What if we all shifted our spiritual consciousness. To that place where we become aware of how utterly. And intimately connected to everyone and everything we actually are spiritually move. From the soul of the self. To focus. On the sole of the whole. What if we move from the old isolated paradigm of the soul of the self. To a new expanse a paradigm of the soul of the whole. As we begin to spiritually see on a daily basis are radical kinship. And responsibility for everything. That is around us. I am persuaded that once we spiritually become aware of the reality of our connectedness to everything else. The closet. Physics makes so clear. That we will start god help us. Treating our planet and everything that lives on it. With greater wisdom. Greater respect. Greater restraint. And greater care. I have every hope that our human behavior as citizens of a much larger living hole. Will change once our hearts fully realize our radical. Interconnected. And so i believe in these early days of the 21st century that are biggest. Space journey. That we must embark upon. Is right here in this. Space. In our own. Little. It is a spiritual journey toward a new consciousness. Toward a new organic narrative. About our oneness. And our belonging. To everything. Absolutely. Our final reading is by reverend kenneth patton. The world is our home. We have no reminder of the inhospitality of space more than the ice units of winter. We have no comfort more than summer. We have no better bed. In the warm grass in august. No better napping the napping in a slight breeze. We have no better roof than an overlay of leaves the sun glinting among their wrestling heaven. We have no better food in the strawberries in the grasses and the raspberry from the bushy clearing. We have no better bath in the ocean a tub as big as the world. We have no better playground than the sandy beach. No better steeple. We have no color more than the flower. And burn. We have no grace. And tower of life more than the cat. And dog and horse and the swinging given. There is no rest to our eyes. No recovery and reestablishment better than sleep. Sleep is our retreats into nothingness. There is no proportion more than the stars. There is no companionship more than a man and woman. There is no joy greater 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. And now join with us please respond. Northpark. Is below. We join. With the earth. And with each other. We join with the earth and with each other. We join with the earth. And with each other. We join with the earth and with each other. We join. With the earth. And with each other. Go in peace.

uufvb_org

2012Jan08Sermon128.mp3

Don't let the hippos eat you. On the second sunday of the brand new year and my first sermon of this new year 2012 i must be feeling. Unusually spiritual ambitions because it is my intention this morning to share with you nothing less. And the purpose of life. Capital p. Now since the dawn of human consciousness and across all the diversities of human thought and religion philosophy. Third of shirley been countless articulations andre articulations of what the purpose of life. For human beings ought to be. This morning i want to give you my own personal answer which does come from a decidedly unitarian. Universalist perspective and there's no reason for me to be coy or obtuse here. So let me get right down to it. I believe that the purpose of life. For human beings on this planet. Simply boils down to this. One must simultaneously and over and over again in one's lifetime. Regularly find joy. In your daily life. And at the same time seek to bring joy. Two others around you take joy. Bring joy. It may surprise you to learn that this dualistic spiritual idea. Finding the purpose of your life in the giving and taking of joy. Is actually one of the oldest articulations of purpose known to humanity. And that's where the hungry. Hippopotamuses come in. It is wonderful little book free-thinking mystics with hands my colleague tamil and tol. San diego recounts an ancient egyptian myth. Which says that after death every individual is confronted by the god osiris. What's a quiz. But the deceased must answer. Honestly. And after 42 routine questions concerning how the deceased has live. Osiris asked to critical. Questions. First did you find joy and second did you bring joy. Now the petitioners according to the ancient egyptian myth. Cannot lie. To osiris. And much is at stake. Or if you are if they are able to honestly answer these two questions about giving and taking joy affirmatively they returned to a measure of continued existence but if not they're taken away and fed. To the hungry hippopotamuses. And then yeah. I don't want to go swimming in that egyptian river. No thank you. And then tom reflects. This old egyptian myth teaches a valuable lesson about joy and the purpose of life. Note that the emphasis tom says is not on what we produce or our van our possessions not even our creative talents or our good works. The purpose of our earthly journey according to egyptian religion. Is simply. Did you find joy in your life and did you bring joy to others. In your earthly sojourn. No i've been a minister for almost 40 years. Animals time that time i've heard a lot of articulations about what the true meaning and purpose of life is. But i think the suggestion one comes as close. To being useful. And perfect as any i've heard. I do believe. We are on this earth. To unashamedly find joy in the living of the life we have. And to generously. Seek to bring joy to us. So taking and bringing joy is the key. But. The question quickly becomes won't what precisely is joy. And how can a human being tell if she or he is got it. And if equal importance given it. The surely joy isn't some sort of straightforward simple commodity of human being. What you can. Bring any scientific or even spiritual precision 2. My big merriam-webster dictionary that i keep in my office says joy is this quote. Pleasurable feelings. Or emotions caused by well-being. And that they have joy the dictionary says is to experience or show pleasure. Gladness or great delight. Okay. I suppose that's fine as far as it goes. But i think joy is fiercely personal and subjective. When i think about you no joy in my own life i think i intuitively know. More or less what it feels like it looks like when i'm in a joyful mood. As i was on this beautiful florida morning. As i rode my bike across the barber bridge and look to my right look to my left at about hospitable and beautiful. World. But surely join manifest itself and thousands of other ways over our lifetime. And is experienced very differently from individual to individual i mean. There are quiet joys. And there are boisterous ones. There are physical joy spiritual joy than intellectual joy like when you discover. A new idea that really make sense to you. There are momentary fleeting joys like. Watching a smile suddenly come across a grandchild face. Watching a songbird. Arks of the sky or witnessing a beautiful sunrise. Coming up out of the atlantic. And the rest of spain. Enduring joy is like. Like living with a beloved spouse for decades. Getting along and enjoy. Or doing work for many years. You love. You might do it even if you weren't paid for. Or watching your kids grow up. How likely is this in the all being productive owl. Productive insane adults. Joy. Is a vague and complicated thing but most of all. Most of us like the supreme court justice in his famous ruling on pornography said. I'll know it when i see it. And who doesn't want more joy in their life. But back to the egyptians and those hungry hippos. At first the spiritual suggested that the meaning of our lives is secured by both taking joy and giving it to others may seem contradictory end and paradoxical dualistic. It reminds me of the famous quote by american saseb white. Who won seattle now i paraphrase him. Every morning i wake up with a twin desire to savor the world. And save it. This makes it hard for me to plan the day. But in fact i think this dualism about taking him giving joy saving and savoring the world. Those are two sides of the same spiritual coin. As i thought about it i realized that our ability. To take joy for ourselves is inextricably spiritually and emotionally bound up. With our ability to give and create joy for others. There. They're wedded. Similarly our ability to get out there and help save the world making a better place. Is inextricably bound up in emotionally bound up with knowing how to take joy and pleasure. For ourselves. So what's first might seem like selfish pursuits. Taking joy savoring the world enjoying our own lives fully. Artifact the very things which empower and energize us. To nurture life around us it's that same paradox that jesus talked about when he said. Love your neighbor as you love yourself. You have to love yourself. Before you can love your neighbor is implied i think in jesus's. It's the same idea. But let's back up and take each side of this interconnected taking and giving equation intern. Let's talk first about the necessity in our spiritual eyes. To know how to take. Joy and find it in our lives. A lot of religions particularly conservative ones. Are very hesitant. To affirm people finding and taking pleasure in their lives perhaps some of you grew up in religions like this joyless religions religions where you were told to feel guilty. If it felt. Good. Theologian matthew fox. Who was an episcopalian but it was once a roman catholic priest who was silenced by the pope for a year for his teaching. Elena 366-day after the pope's i'll timmy got up at a college lecturer and said now as i was saying when i was so rudely interrupted. I even the last. He was an episcopalian about six weeks later. He calls this this one-sided life hating. Theology of some conservative religions the fall redemption paradigm or fall redemption theology. Which is focused on the idea of original sin. He postulated a different. Theology theology of original blessing nevermind original sin original blessing. The focus is on our creations beauty holiness and joyful. I'll let it say it is on words. Scandal of fall redemption theology is one of ignoring and then despising. Creation and those who love creation. Fall redemption theology has ignored the blessing of creation. That is creation because of its. Anthropomorphic preoccupation with sin. If anyone on the result has been among other things the loss of pleasure. From spirituality and the lost. And with this loss and increase of pain and injustice of. Sadomasochism and distrust. Domenico's on creation centered mystics. As well as as a jewish tradition. Have on the other hand always begun their theology. With original blessing. And not original sin. Knowing life is as an original blessings about enjoying life's basic gift and then fox. Includes. If creation is a blessing. And a constantly original one. Then our proper response would be to enjoy it. We human beings must learn the art of savoring. Pleasure. Is one of the deepest spiritual experiences of our lives ecstasy is the experience. Of god. Unquote. In any case while these ideas about the spiritual value of taking joy from like are anathema to some conservative religion groups who frowned on. Joyful things like singing or dancing or. Sexuality or almost anything else which feels good. They certainly these up this original idea of original blessing. Certainly strikes a responsive chord with us as unitarian universalist. Our life loving and creative creation affirming tradition. Has always first celebrated and a firm what is right and lovely and beautiful and joyful about this world. Ours is obviously not a guilt and fear and send driven religion. We are a religion that. Please naturally to the idea that it's okay in fact it's spiritually imperative. To take joy carl sandburg. The american poet news has in his poem. To a child you were made for joy child. The feet of you were carved for that the ankles. Of you run for that the rise of rain the shift of wind to drop of the red star on a fire water rim. An endless catalogs of shouts and laughter silent contemplation. They made you. From day-to-day for joy child for joy. Our prayer must be that as we move into adulthood we are prepared. To accept joy. In the last church i served. I had a parishioner named joy sexton. Who was the daughter of poet anne sexton. When joy was a child this is a poem and sexton wrote. There is joy and all. In the hair i brush each morning in the chapel of eggs i cook each morning. In the outcry from the kettle. That heats my coffee each morning in the spoon in the chair that cry hello there an. Each morning in the godhead of the table. That i sent my silverplate copperpot each morning all this is god. Right here in my p greenhouse. Each morning i mean and though i've often forget to give thanks to faint down. Play the kitchen table in a prayer of rejoicing. As a holy birds at the kitchen window peck. Into their marriage of seeds. So while i think of it. He paid a thank you. On my palm. For this god. This laughter of the morning left it go unspoken the joy that isn't shared. I've heard. Dies. Young. The joy that isn't shared. I've heard. But stop just a minute. All of us. I'm just take. Quick. Existential stock. Of our situation. Are in florida. Here we are. Remarkably spinning planet. Mortal. Physical creatures all. With a lifespan of. What. If we're lucky 80 or 90. Maybe a few of us to 100. Mortal creatures you find ourselves alive in a creation which by any objective reckoning is. Beautiful. Integrated. Curious is. Is lovely. Is fresh. What then. As the ancient egyptians knew could be of greater. Spiritual importance then. Knowing. How did simply take joy. We imagine that the gods have more. But they do not have access to any miracles greater. Then holding a happy giggling. Grandchild in our arms. Oregon drawing a simple supper at at. Good. Kiante. By candlelight with dear old friends are on the messy table. Wasn't watching a gentle summer sunset through the palmetto trees gently swaying. Indie atlantic breeze. Or than snuggling languidly in bed with a dear old loved one after the alarm. Goes off. All is spiritually lost. If we don't take joy from these things this life this world all is lost. You cannot find a. Joy all is. You must not squander this gift. Take existential star. It is not. No please hear this important caveats finding joy of course is not always simple. In the course of our lives. Some days and times when our lives are complicated by. Depression or grief or other forms of sadness. We are on the table sometimes to conjure up ready joy. No one can or will experience uninterrupted join our living and if you ever seen anybody like that they're probably an idiot. Indeed if someone reports. But they are blissfully happy all the time they are either moron or simply not facing the ambiguities and sorrows and hardships that come. If you want to find any measure of spiritual satisfaction in life. You must know how. To look. An unashamedly take joy in your other. In your life before your life is gone from. About 18 months before she was diagnosed. The cancer. Would take her life poet james. Canyon. New hampshire. Wrote this beautiful. I got out of bed. I'm two strong legs. It might have been otherwise. I ate cereal. Sweet milk. Flawless peach it might have been otherwise. I took the dog up the hill to the birchwood all morning i did the work i love at noon i lay down with my mate. It might have been otherwise. We ate dinner together at a table with silver candlesticks. It might have been otherwise. I slept in a bed in a room with paintings. On the wall and planned another day just like this day but one day i know. It will be otherwise. For all of us it. Someday we'll be. Text join alfred. The gift. That you have is. Is now yours. Take it now. So that's the first half of the equation. And then the other half. Is giving. Giving joy. Again these. Are connected together knowing how to take joy. And knowing how to give you this is all make sense to you that. You can't have one without the other. Similarly someone. Who only selfishly seeks pleasure and takes joy for himself is what we call a miserable human being. I had an uncle like that. He was rich as hell. And he was a miserable. If you are some sort of inward-turning hedonist. You are poisoning your life with that isolating narcissism. I do not believe that anyone can truly no joy in their heart of hearts if they're not regularly seeking. To give that joy to pour that troy and at life energy out to others. And this comes. In two ways. Obviously. 1 short and simple way to spiritually avoid the hippos drawers is to share joy with those immediately adjacent to you. Those with whom you share your immediate daily journey. What could be more simple or more important than bringing a laugh from the funny papers to your spouse. Or your grandkids over the breakfast table or sharing a kind word or a. Lighthearted joke like i did with you and they're reading this morning with a discouraged coworker. Or offering a friendly glance at a sullen stranger across the publix aisle. Or extending a courteous wave to a nearby driver. On route 60. Or sending that slightly too expensive birthday gift to your newest grandchild. Everyday we are presented right where we live with countless small the sacred opportunities. To bring joy. Two others right where we are. And the other part of bringing joy. To the world. Is. Social justice. In the larger picture of our lives. We all give joy by reaching out to our world and caring about the shape. Of the human journey for everyone. Every time we as people of relative privilege roll up our sleeves. And work with others of goodwill to help create annex or expand a societal structure of decency or comfort or joy. We work on poverty or homelessness or. Ending hunger as i'm going to be doing on my bike ride across the country in april. Every time we. We fight for a better world. Donald of self-interest because we know it's the right thing to do we are bringing joy to the. An abstract way at first. And this is. Key part. Of giving joy. Dreaming. And fighting and working. Aura. Better world. Well the clock up there. Says it's 511. And it's time. For this sermon to come to an end. I hope that i have persuaded you this morning at the purpose of life. Is curiously and quietly found in this helix this interconnected helix. A both taking and giving fighting and sharing joy in your life. It is imperative in your everyday spiritual life. That you work when it comes to joy and satisfaction from an abundance model. There is plenty of joy available and you have plenty of resources in your heart. From which to give joy to all. So i pray you. Know how to find and take joy. This world is an original blessing. And if it feels good it's probably just fine. And from that wealth of evermore joyful human being. Beyond statically even recklessly. In offering an opening joy for others both strangers and fred be kind to others pay attention to others needs. Share from your own abundance from your well. And do all you can in the wider world. 2 and unnecessary suffering and sorrow. Let there be no doubt about it friends the egyptians. Had it all right. The hungry hippos are always out their jaws open waiting for you to forget joy's holy work. So don't forget joy's holy work. Both giving and taking joy. For this is where. Eternity. Is always found. And i say and mean.

uufvb_org

2012Dec30Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship. My name is judy perry. And we are so glad you have chosen to be with us here this morning. Please know that you are welcome no matter how you come to us this morning. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight black or white. Or some other wonderful state of humanity. Whether you are run. Or somewhere in between. We are delighted to see you. You are welcome here just as you come to us and all your particularity and charm. Welcome. We hope you will find this service meaningful in 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 coming week. I also want to introduce our guest. Catherine giordano. She's a member of the unitarian universalist. Society in orlando. She frequently speaks to you you groups. Katherine has worked as a market researcher for most of her life. She founded her market research company answer search incorporated in 1990. However in 2008 she decided it was time to reinvent herself as a speaker. Writer and blogger so she did. She's an author of several books. The poetry collection a collection of poems what if if only so what's a collection of essays. Based on her speeches. Her third book newsprint poetry 2012. A collection of poems based on newspaper story. Her talk today is one of her most. Popular talk. The amazing laughter. Come into this place of peace. Your spirit. Come into this place of memory and let its history warm your soul. Come into this place of prophecy and power. And let its vision change your heart. Is it a poem i wrote and titled. Capturing happiness. Poetry connection. What if if only because i believe in recycling. When i was a child. My father blue smoke rings from his cigarette. I would try to catch them on my finger. I could almost do it. Before the smoke we disappear. Thinking about this it occurs to me. That happiness is like smoke. Cigarettes. But the sweet smoke. That arises from an incense stick. There it is. So enticingly close. Curly through the air. It's mine. If i can take it. I reach out my hand. My fingers had stretched and i close my fist brandon. And when i open my hand. Is there. If i want happiness. I must stand still. And let it come to me. I cannot seek happiness i cannot grab it and keep it like. I must have an interest. Letting go. And then. Happiness will settle. Breathing it in. Snelling it. Tasting it. Letting it settle on my skin. Letting my hair. And then i have it. It is part of me. When judy gave her welcoming remarks this morning. She said. But everyone was welcome here. Feeling down in the dumps and those who came in here feeling on top of the world. My promise to you is that you're feeling on top of the world. Listed as a preacher. I'm not a preacher. I'm a talker. And a laugher. And how many times have you laughed today. 5. 10. 17. I say 17 because the average don't laugh today. How many times do you laugh. Each day. Presentation. And you know why. Because i'm going to tell you when to laugh. And what are you doing the laughter workshop. Laugh. It was given by a certified laughter therapist. There is actually such a thing as a certified laughter therapist. Sometimes they call themselves ologist. Nice work if you can get it. Just laughing. Anyway the workshop got me interested in the subject. I learned that there are four sounds of laughter. Haha. Okay. I'm going to demonstrate this for you. First time i did this speech i thought it would be really funny if i walked today. Laughing hysterically. I mean totally crazy laughing like a baby. My talk about life. Did work. People looking at each other. Is she having an anxiety attack. Caesar. Maybe we should call nine-one-one. Hahaha. Laughing along with me. The gorge. I had so much fun laughing just now. I want you to have fun too. I want everybody just fishin. I am declaring today at. The laughing thing together. Okay. Alright. So. Hahaha. Excuse. The laughter. Just encourages more laughter. Laughing. You want to laugh. I don't laugh much more. Physically better now laughing. Okay tell me how you feel. Everybody else. Relax relax. I think i get that one. They say they feel lighter. Happiest. And sometimes less shaky. And that's all that's all from just the simple laugh. Banana burro relaxed and happy. Human beings love to laugh. As i said before the average adult last 17 times a day. Child laugh. 400 times a day. That is because children are delighted by everything they discover in the world. You on youtube. I'd like you to look at. Of the happiness of children. Google babies laughing. I put that in my favorites. Been having a bad day. I just click on that and there's about a dozen different ones without feeling happy. Mission place. We never really grow up. We just learn how to act in public. A while we need to let out on any child and just be silly. Everyday can be act like a kid day. There's a time for seriousness and there's a time for silliness. Laughter is the first human walked the earth. It's so old. Scientists have concluded great apes last the same way. With short exhalations of breath. And just like newman. The laughter is contagious. And it helps group to bond. Even dogs laugh. Does anybody here have a dog that laughs. Well. Kind of pants that they say is a song of a dog laughing. Your other job. Injustice is just the whale after helps you and coke. Laughter can help dog's coat. At the spokane animal shelter. They play the sound of a dog over the loudspeakers just doing regular panting. Walking total pandemonium. In the shelter. But then. A place. The dog. Version of laughter. Couple minutes. The whole place quieted down. The dog laughter. Tom's. Just the way it works with humans. The research suggests that we are hardwired falasca. You had a laugh. It may have first developed about 10 years ago. So far back on the evolutionary tree. Makes me think that laughter is a very important tree trait. Is our physical or emotional state. And it can even help us to be more spiritual. There is strong evidence that laughter can actually improve health. Laughter. In the bible it says. A merry heart doeth good. Like medicine. What does laughter do for our physical health. It reduces stress level. It lowers blood pressure. Is boost oxygen levels in the blood. Inflammation in the body. Did you ever laugh until it hurts. Well here's why because laugh. Abdominal. Back muscles. And it's so much more fun than push-ups and sit-ups. Wait. You can reduce food cravings. So don't reach for cooking. Reach rachel book. If you're laughing. You can't eat. Calories. And over the course of a year. You can eat an extra cookie. It increases your pain threshold. So the next time you have to have blood drawn or some other painful procedure. First. What happened. You missed therapy. That's a term is given to a process that claims to produce therapeutic effects using laughter. Norman cousins popularized, therapy in 1979 when he published his book of an illness. He claims that 10 minutes of laughter. Could give him two hours of pain relief. I missed your cousins made a full recovery. Patch adams. The movie true story of adam. An unorthodox that believed. A patch adams had to fight to get recognition for his beliefs. But today many hospitals are implementing. And you. When they treat their patients. And this field of medicine is called psycho neuro immunology. A ten-dollar word for laugh. Mental health. Negative emotions such as anger fear and sadness can literally last away. Is a physical release. From intense emotion. Have you ever felt like. You have to laugh or you'll cry. And after you would laugh. At one of those moments. Do you somehow feel renewed and. Reinvigorated. Because the negative emotions have been swept away. And now you're ready to deal with your situation in a rational way. The latter is one of my favorite management techniques. It's free. You already know how to do it. And you can do it anywhere. Matter if it's real laughter. And it doesn't matter if you laugh out loud. You'll get the benefits of the last either way because your body doesn't know the difference. We did some fake laughing before. And now i'll do some fake silent laughing. Situation someplace you know you can't laugh out loud. Maybe you're having a family dinner holidays. Is this one person there who always. Horrible no good very bad day. Find a private place. Silently. Depending on how private the places. Now. I know this works because it works for me. I had a j. I haven't. Instead it took you the entire day. And i was driving from back again wrong. My car to head home. I said to myself. You are feeling really angry. Why don't you try not laughing thing. At the next stop for a traffic light. All that negativity drains right. However. The people in the car next to me. But this technique. So you have to do something that you find stressful. Maybe you have to lead a meeting. Or something and it makes you uncomfortable. You're feeling a little nervous about that whatever your situation is. Do some fake laughing. What's a funny video or something. That will get you laughing. Think about a funny tv show that you store last night joke book. Whatever just get yourself laughing and you will find yourself. Better equipped. To handle that situation that's making you anxious. Another way to use laughter to get you through your day. Instead of complaining of that life frustrations. Funny story about it. Imagine yourself. Telling it to your friend. I did internet dating about 10 years ago. Had a lot of. Felt really bad. So i made up funny stories about all of my dates to my friend my friend. What happened to you. Friend. Every story will make your friends laugh. Your bad experiences putting a lot more happiness into the world. But just make sure you don't need any complaining into it. You're going to have to go with it. Find funny. Social benefits. Social situation. Embarrassing situation. Relieve tense moment. And helper groupon. Back loop. You bought. You laugh more. Or at least we love some of them. Find your private place. Everyone laughing. Is tv land on tv. So if you're at a family gathering. Things are getting yellow. Remember how we used to love. And pretty soon everybody will be laughing at. And by elevating the mood of everyone around their stress levels. And you improve the quality of the social interaction you have with them. Reducing your stress levels even more. Funny stories about the past often. Laughing. Spiritual benefits of spirituality. Tumi spirituality is a feeling of peace. A feeling of oneness with the universe. A feeling of transcendence. And you can't have those feelings when you're feeling stressed. Who is. Is. Get that stressed out with a little laughter. Sometimes in a church service will have deep breathing meditation singing. I want you can help to reduce the stress as well and then once our stress is going. Just spirituality. Conclusion. We should always try to maximize the laughter in our lives. Watching a funny show on tv and it makes you laugh. A small little half-hearted laugh. Exaggerated. Laughter yoga. And it's not like regular yogurt. Do wawa's complicated poses and everything. And there's no joke telling. People just get together and laugh. You stop with the fake laugh you can everybody can parade around. Everyone in the room is laughing. I did this one. All the women friday night. We did it at but there was a problem with it. I couldn't get them to stop. But everybody. Spell participate in the workshop. So i will leave you. You can choose to laugh. And you can choose to be happy. Happiness is not just something that happens to you. You choose it. Do you know what they say always leave them laughing. To everybody. We're going to do the laughing thing again. I want you to go all out. Should get out. Thank you and keep laughing. If here you have found freedom. Take it with you into the world. If here you have foam comfort. Going to share it with others. If here you've dreamed dreams help one another. But they may come true. If here you have found laughter. Share it with others. Your laugh. Share your laughter with a. If you're if here you have known love. Give some back. To a bruised and hurting world. Go in peace.

uufvb_org

2011Jun12Sermon128.mp3

First of all let me say this on this my first occasion at this podium as a. Sermon provider. Has how excited and pleased i am. Both to have this opportunity how honored i am that. That you would 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 a. Succeeding a line of olay people that are part of our fellowship. People who have grown from distinguished names like. Dottie and pete. Nederland art. Bonnie and. And and many others that have shared this podium and it's grape. With great pride that i'm here too. I want you to know that i'm very excited to. Have somewhat cathartic 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. Your mama. I know i should called. I'm sorry. Can you find it. 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 to me that. That somebody can go out there and die and my shins would all be i mean i didn't connect death and send somebody else's death and my send. It's just i don't know it just seemed to be a lot of mumbo-jumbo to me in. I don't know how do i. Oma. 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 that sits on her. Program today that 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 know. You're right. They do have a pretty good gig. And i'll bet it shows up in the offering plate to yeah that'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 you're you've 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. Sign up some level of success. Red tie i mean this isn't that from some book about dress for. Assassin stuff. Yeah probably put 42 pretty good image. Well know it is a problem for me. Yeah they. They say do it's called the myers-briggs. Yeah. Oh i don't know mom it's entj entf some. Ian something-or-other idea at all has to do with being an extrovert yeah. Well. Youmail. Noah. Do have my issues i do have to despite the. The demeanor. And there's a. And i need to talk with this group 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 sheep either. But we're all told to be sheet yeah most of 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. Good pointed it it is pretty easy to be a sheet when you're. When your sheep that they have pretty low expectations for chic.me. That's right you got to shepherd. And the shepherd kind of 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 and charge. You just bleed out i'm sorry i'm sorry. Bring you back in. Well. Yeah it is it's it's funny that you 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 and. 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 be. Many many people often times hundreds of a comedown front then we would 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. 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. Prayer. Forgiveness and that was about it. No. No i was never real happy as a sheep on. I think i was always too headstrong maybe maybe an eagle perhaps our although i may be too bold and assuming that rope 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. Kilt it 2000 years ago. You know absolutely jesus would probably be pretty on. 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 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 that people find it far easier. To forgive and forget. The faults they find another's. As for ourselves. We often seem to have trouble forgiving. And forgetting is tough to. Yeah. 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. Bob. I've been reading up on it now. Come to believe that. If we all work on our self-esteem. It would all feel more process more comfortable. With the process of self-administering self-forgiveness. It is it's. 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 we can't have good relations with ourselves. What foundation do we have. I have good relations with anybody else. It's it's. In fact 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. Your mom talking today with the group hear about some of the church words that we use some of the liturgies at that. Rattle around in my brain here all these years later you had some pretty good words that you shared. 2. 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 either 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. 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. Oftentimes 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. Just the way i am. Oh yeah i do have a process. Well not my process is kind of like this mom. It started back in high school in 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 to. Forgiven. I'll sort them this way i'll sort of that way i said i'm back porch. Make a glass of wine. Yeah okay. And we'll go through them one by one by one. Sort them around look at the mall. Think about me for a while. And then i get up and throw them all in the garbage can. His kind of my symbolic way of saying you know. I need to dispel these things for my life and i need to move on. No no it's it's. 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. Longest once in a while i focus on releasing the guilt and the shame. It has gotten in my way in the past. That's my process i know mom you're right i don't think it would work for everybody and 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 to make affirmations that i purposely injected my life. It helped me remind myself of my worth my dignity is a human being. Anda. Let's travel something here okay. How about i give you a saying. 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 that's. Here try this one. 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 maybe give you another when you're okay. Mom there 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 mom you 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 where we were. Mom. Her response is i cannot believe you're that stupid. Mommy did much better the first time. What happened there. Hi mom. Yes you'll do better the next time that's for sure and i you know that's the spirit that's what we're getting to. Your mommy always tried to teach his boise important it is to live in the present. Anticipating the future. You 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 was that brilliant. Let me let me take a minute 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. Flattering light that focuses on our beauty. We move away from judging our flaws. And start loving our feelings. Feelings that 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 con. 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. And with 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 do it 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 mom. Bye-bye. How did you my friends. Thanks for indulging me when i talk with my mother. I think you'll agree she's incredibly insightful woman. Inow. Where do we begin. Alright let's ask where we begin this i think it's time to. Lay down the channels that we all start working on determining. Our process. To rewrite our stories. Learn to live our lives to 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

2012Mar25Sermon32.mp3

We're celebrating all religions and i'm sure there are others here at the rapport for instance bobby what's your religion. Unitarian. So you're a christian. Well yes no. I incorporate. Christian values. As well as aspects of many 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 and. Chinese celebrate christmas or hanukkah. Louboutin. I love that slipped. 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 is universalist. Does everyone know what an elevator. Which is. Meijer fusings elevator speech elevator. 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 an 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. View magazine did a story about you you 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 onto nominations president back then first 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. 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. 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 elevators featured actually got a lot of flak as you might imagine. In our denomination that are atheist. Especially are pagans. Reverend wawrinka lauren who serves gyros are intro. Minister. She wrote this we believe that every individual has both the right and the responsibility to live out his rehearsal 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. 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. Revealed. This life. Not. The afterlife. Actions and experiences. Not. Belize. Democracy not. Hierarchy. And don't choose between goodness and happiness. Insist. On both. Especially coming from someone who's against the idea of uu elevator. The reverend chris schreiner from you congregation in fremont california. He right sergeant nomination 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 opinions. And no matter what we do believe about theology or philosophy. Try to live a good life and leave the world. Better. Found it. The union minister jeff liebman who is also you do bloggers. 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. Google image. 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. Joyce leave me 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 promotes spiritual growth. Ethical living and social justice in our church and the world. I also happen to like reverend gail gail carson here are from former minister here. Purses very shorts 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 stay. 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 ritual. 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 makes them wish they had never. You want them you want to get their attention and pull them in them to be interested. You want unitarian-universalism to look swell. Legitimate. Not flaky or wacky 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 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 antlions. 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. Weston 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. Today. Hair. The other part of weston's advice is that we must make our message emotionally compelling. It's going to have the passion in it the emotion. If you are passion for unitarian-universalism your love of our face. Does not come out in your response. For this reason to. Why should say. Care. What feeds you here. Why do you stay. Why are you. 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. Why would 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 a unitarian universalist. And that's what you what elevator speeches are all about. Well that's partly what they're about. Important so that more people will know about us and understand us and that is a great. 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. Are you use 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. It would help if we could give them a comprehensible answers. Question. Part of the idea of having great elevator speeches is to grow our faith. And we can't do that unless we can first town on unitarian universalist about us. Give them your answer to why you are a unitarian universalist for what. 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's. How many of you were raised unitarian universalist. I see about four hands i think five hands. We're counting denjiman right. Okay how many of you were raised in something other than unitarian-universalism. Aren't you excited when you found unitarian-universalism. I know i was. When i heard about unitarian-universalism as a young college freshmen. 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 folks like that would love to know about it. And don't you think we ought to tell them. Self-described uue evangelist. Peter bowden writes this. Through mayuyu work and ministry i have a simple. To 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 face and proselytizing. Many of us myself included. Are uncomfortable with the idea of our denomination proselytizing unitarian universalist. Others to her face. You're 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 you want them to ask 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. Interface of the mind and of the heart. The mind part. Unitarianism. Is the mind 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 from 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. 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 am here by accident or by design. But i am here and because i am here i need to do my part. 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 an ocean. This will help you formulate your answer. What do unitarian universalist. We use our hardcore heretic. 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 use that i could not properly fit. Any other religion. That fits with the unitarian side that's three report. At the man's i build my own personal theology. We 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 with that universal side of me. That love part of me that part. That wants to make the world a better place. I booked 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. Stephen curry shorts. 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 have to cut off the line too but we can continue it later at papio. You know i work in a con center workers are fundamentalist. Frank. 80. Audio. When when the girls asked me and they often 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 us 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 background. But we are all welcoming. We are loving. It gives us a chance to take us where we are now. In grove 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 the differing 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. 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 as they're bad for everyone else and i consider joining them but until then. Caserta. To be here. Doing good for no bad reasons like you. Neon standard and colleen i do have it down to one sentence. We are one race regardless. Color or six or nationality and how we treat one another is one hell of a lot more important than the details of our individual. Frank roberts. Unitarian universalist belief that the. That our lives and the world we live in or important. Each of us 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. Head 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. I bill murphy. I believe in the horse the dignity of every human being. And that we should all live. 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 at the uu macarena. Remember when 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. Denominations affirmation. If you were here then and remember it with me now i think. Yeah we have the words up there. We are unitarian universalist. A people of open mind. Loving hearts. And welcoming hands. It's not actually a bad. Start to you 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 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 so we get it right so when we go out into the real world we don't sound like. 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 uniworld magazine. Our elevator speeches are. The beginning. Reading 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. Conversation. You are about to meet. Some wonderful people. Let's get started this morning.

uufvb_org

2015Aug16Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. Did any of you notice the golden sunrise over the thunderheads this morning over the ocean unbelievable. Go to 99 in washington. Don't tell him it's more pleasant here they'll all be coming down. Welcome. To the unitarian universal. Fellowship. Vero beach and we're so pleased. Decided to begin. This. Warm summer day with us we are congregation is the sign set of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands people working to become our best individual selves even as together as a religious community. We work to make our world a better place. Please know that we welcome you 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. Whether you are a visitor this morning or been coming for decades weather. Start feeling absolutely on top of the world and fit as a fiddle or. Down in the dumps are struggling with some. Almond. We are delighted to see you just. What's an all of your. Circularity in need. We hope you will find our services morning meaningful and enriching that you'll find some. Here this morning. To make the days and the weeks ahead more meaningful more joyous. And more beauty. 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 that the place. Where my feet are shelby light. That is far as i can see i shall follow it to write. I am asking for the courage. To go forward. Through the shadow. I am asking. Ward. The light. This reading 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 here. Thank you. The world. Is our home. We have no reminder of the history in hospitality of space. More than the icing. Of winter. We have no comfort more than summer some may argue that here but. I thought agree with. We have no better bed than the warm grass in august. You're better than that being in a slight breeze. 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. In the grasses. 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. Then the sandy beach. We have no better temple than the mountain. No better staple. Venice frosty feet. We have no color. More than the flower. And the bird. We have no grace and power of life more than the cat. Dog. And horse. And the swinging gibbon. How many nobody given is i didn't. We're going to get a picture. That's a pessimist acrobatic in the family this is golden given. The patent found that someplace. There's no rush to our eyes more than the dark of night. No recovery and reestablishment the better than sleep. Sleep is our retreating or nothing us. That may be renewed. For re-entry into the bright 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 universe. Fellowship. It is a logical question because after all this is florida. And almost everyone. Comes. From somewhere else. Indeed except for a mere handful of florida natives we have in this congregation. 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. We're recent transplant from arlington virginia or. Syracuse new york. St louis missouri. Or somewhere else up north. And whatever the newcomer answers it provides us with an opportunity to make. Some sort of personal connection. Storrs connecticut my daughter went to college there. St louis my brother his wife and kids they live on the suburbs. Syracuse i spent every summer in my childhood just a few miles north of the. Because this is a largely retirement community. Almost everybody is quote from somewhere else. Answer this question where do you come from. Gives us a lot to talk about right away in away to get to know each other. And this question is also a conversation starter and other settings as well. Often when i'm flying on a plane somewhere seatbelt. A seatmate. In the same row will often asked so where do you come from. And even though i as an adult have lived all over the united. Since i graduated from college and left. Wisconsin i have lived in seek. Get this. In berkeley california. Keokuk iowa. Minneapolis minnesota. Memphis tennessee. Vancouver british columbia. Houlton maine. Plainfield new jersey. Saskatoon saskatchewan asked me about that one. Salem massachusetts. Bethesda maryland. Washington d.c.. And when i'm asked by a stranger where do i come from these days i saved. Because that is where. I spend most of my ear. Cuz i like i trust most of you love living here in the. Your coast. Because. We chose. To move here. We love the beaches and the blue-green ocean the waving palm tree is the warmth. Climate. And the vast. Natural beauty of lagoon. We love the low population density not high rise after. High-rise after palm beach high-rise. And we loved the high cultural dances. With so many opportunities. For art. Education. Theater in music. And here we have found. More than any other place we've ever lived wide circle of friends and. 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. What. To say to my seat made in the airplane or anyone else for that matter. Vero beach. Just where i quote on co. Come from. Is of course a bit of necessary shorthand. It was very complicated. Question when you think about. Has vast spiritual. Spiritual. And is both profound. Geographic. You know if you really stopped to think about. The question of where do you come from has so many possible layers it boggles. The mind. If you think for example for astley about this question. Cosmic love. And that's what. Birthday reading. 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 graph. The primordial soup and that's what they are found. Our earth being formed eons ago. And of course we all know. That the natural sciences tell us. That are human beginnings can be traced back nearly four billion years. When life began on earth. They're in the ocean or in a pond. As a result of the combination of chemicals from the atmos. And some form of energy to make amino acids. The building block. The proteins. Which gun slowly evolved. Into the first. Living. Species on earth. Eventually billions of years. Billions. Some adventuresome. She's like this. Reptilian fish. Slowly and amazingly evolve in ways that enable them to emerge. Habit the earth. Although it is a bit hard to get our heads. Evolutionary science tells us. And like it or not. The we human beings all descend from. Ancient. Amphibious. Features like. Rave. Green. And then next line. Scientist there is here's one paleontologist. Drawing of. Tree of the vertebrae. Which represents the evolutionary flow. From the first protozoa legacy protozoa right down there on the bottom. Up to the upper right. Does the human age. Age of man this is an old. And as you all know our human age. Began just. Just. 4a. Four and a half billion years. Which is just. Tiny. Liver. The time. In which life. Steadily evolving on earth. It is now understood that our earth. Experience. Earth experienced the evolutionary development of some. 15220 early. Humanoid. Including these bipedal folk. You look very husband-and-wife e don't they. In africa. And predate us modern homo sapien. So one clear and useful answer. The question of where do you come from. Is that we come. From billions. Years of life. Betty and amazing. Evolution on earth. Put on the more immediate and tangible level. Of course we. Uniquely and biologically come from. .. One mother. And one father simply put our parents. That's a complicated question now with. Same-gender family but you know it still takes. Email. Male genetic component in a female genetic. We all come directly from our parents. And from there countless other biological answers. Every last one of us. Course has two birthday. From whom we come into this world. Unique. Genetic family coding. That makes us precisely and uniquely. Who and what we are. The truth reminds me of the old joke shirley most have you heard about the nine-year-old girl one day a. Their mother mommy. Where did i come from. And the earnest mother having long waited. Difficult birds and. Launches into her anatomically correct. Accurate explanation involving. The female egg 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. Russian encino mammy i mean where did i come from tommy says he. Chicago. Where am i from. This old joke. Brings me back to the. Where do you. Another very practical. Relenting. Let me return to my own for. Circular human story. Just a moment. The only story. I can really tell with austin tissa. Unclarity. I was born. And raised by my parents with. Three brothers. In wisconsin. And let me tell you that although i left that part of the united states. When i graduated. College at the age of 21. Have not returned their ever to live. Wisconsin will always. Powerfully a mortally be home. Growing up in wisconsin. My heart. Soul and body somehow bonded powerfully. With that pastoral part of american one online and that picture. Is pure wisconsin the red barn little farmhouse. The hills the rolling. Hills of. Corn. Desire up there too. Did the cattle. Pause. Although i left the state more than 45 years ago whenever i travel there too. The family. I feel instantly at home. What's the green rolling countryside the bright red barn the golden cornfield that wave 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. Greenwoods. Intensity of the summer thunderstorm. Second blow up in. And the abundant wildlife. Really roams the woods. Field. Hills. In so many ways that i can hardly artech. I feel. To my bones and being. That i will ever be. Johnson boy. Radically. From. And whenever i'm lucky to. Back there is. You feel. Lipsense. A belonging in peace. 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 grew up. Let me see a show of hands how many of you have a special place in your heart. For the part of america. The town. How many special. Bonding i want to hear just a few of those. A few of those places called a few of those place. Worcester. Bob. Ups employee. What what it what. Okay. Marblehead massachusetts. Buffalo new york with a big boy. Coral gables florida. Bedford mass. All right on the button there. Okay you got the idea. Alright you see it's even if he was so passionate you can't stop. But the truth of the matter is that no matter how many places we've lived during our lifetime. And no matter how far we. Woo. From our childhood home. Most of us remain emotionally and spiritually connected. So that's the first visit. Trees. No. The woods. Or the other city. Imagine even newark new jersey. Well i lived in new jersey i live in new jersey for 10 years and i loved it though. Field bond. The place where. Experience. And the complicate things even further. As i dealt with the question of where do you come from. I have discovered that we human beings. Feel. 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. For many if not. Mostafa. Thanks for the extensive and detailed genealogical work. Completed by several members of my extended ewing. I can trace my family roots on my mother's you inside. Back to the kowall peninsula. Underwear. Side. The western edge coast. Central highlands of scotland. You can see the coop print well it's kind of hard to see. It's one of those peninsulas it hangs down. About. 40% down the. Pretty far down the map. Since the 12:00 by ewing or mcewen clan lived on. Loch fyne. Which is essentially a fjord. The ancient scottish gaelic word for such bodies. A lock fjord. There is lock. There is loch fyne. Where my family. Lived. 12. I found this on the internet. Beautiful nails. Of water that. He's out of the scottish highlands. To the atlantic ocean. Clan mcewen. Complete. Stone castle on the shore occupied about 26. Square miles on the colwell principal. Peninsula. And that's shown on the right side. That's. Cancel on the right side. Hazard detailed family history report. Glenn mcewan. What's a small but worthy clan. About. 1800 person. Who could muster about two hundred fighting men. In times of war. Now even though i have never yet personally been to scotland. Orchard the colwell peninsula. Remind mcewen answer. Live. I've always felt it. Spiritual connection to this. Art of the world. I'm proud of my scott. My brother. Play bagpipes. Gathering of the clan every june. Sooner or later i hope to make a journey there. See for myself. The place that gave birth. My family. Well and then. Earlier this spring. One of my cousins. One of my wisconsin cousin. Steve ewing a real character. And 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. Talented young filipino guy who has somehow acquired the nickname in the family of wonderboy. So what you're going to see is steve lake and wonder boy. After doing a great deal of research on the internet together the three of them travel to the colwell peninsula to see if they could locate. The exact location of mcewen castle. On the shores of loch fyne. Now because my cousin is an advertising media spell. He took the time and trouble to create a short video about the trip. To all of us ewing's back in in america. I would not yet made the journey. See where we come from. Good vicariously. Furious the thrill of their pilgrimage. The place of our age. Family roots. Now i'm going to spare you watching the entire video. I'm just going to play a couple of short excerpt. Which will give you a sense. Genealogical. Adventure. The video begins in just a minute you'll see. With a graphic representation of our ancient macewen clan crest. Which is curiously the stump of an oak tree. That has been felled parently by a woodsman. And it yet. It is. Frozen green again. The green branch is coming. And the clan motor. The clan model. Revesco witch in gaelic means. To grow green and strong again. Even in the face of adversity. Alright. Here's the short video. They say life is richer the journey more food. we understand who we are know where we came from on the sixth day in may a band of three set out on an island adventure is their story began in the land were castles are king the end of a winding one-lane road ran up a drink turismo on by ways that were lined with century-old rock fences covered in moss overlooking fields still booshie their starting point acquaint hotel built in 1764 joining an old gaelic church surrounded by tombstones and monuments some dating back over 300 years after examining burial plot records they say sign the church guest book and prepared for their journey following a map they'd stumbled upon on the internet they ventured here to the highlands and search of the ruins of their family can the gas ellipse ween mcewen almost 50 years ago. Okay where do we go. What's nice is no-no in beautiful absolutely beautiful leave the path on the left before it rises uphill and go through rough ground where you should spot cairn on the hill cock in the distant continue in the direction of the va irn going through the trees and over rocky outcrop for the castle site is reached she should be able to see the lock really at all time. What i watch that the first time i got goosebumps when they come over and see the water for the first time i don't know if it. Destiny review but it's. Beautiful for me. So that's just a part of my particular ancestor. History and i suspect. Again. That many of you would sometimes in your lifetimes have similarly. Been able to journey or at least connect with the places where you are ancest. How many of you have made a big journeys to your ancestral roots. Around the world. What are some of those places. Irving. Kiev. Lithuania. Poland. England whale. Yeah okay. Irish your irish bob i never would have guessed. One more. The azores. So 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. Deeply. Rewarding. 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 come this morning for me to wrap things up. What i have tried to do this morning is. Floor some of the important ways both. Spiritual and geographic. That we can answer the question. Where did you come from. And the equally important. Question. Where do you feel at home. The answers to these questions can range all the way from the cosmic. Tracing our roots from the beginning of time and creation. To where our parents and ancestors lived. To the places where we grew up. And built our first primal relationships. Creation. To the heron now. The place. That you know. Call. All of the very dancers we provide for this question. Where do you come from. Can be important and meaningful. For that which feels like home to watch. Helps to shape our most elemental response. To life. And meaning. All our lives long. No matter where we're living. We need to ask this one most. Important. And fundamental. Where do i come. Where. And i leave you with the words of african-american and floridian writer zora neale hurston. From her 1942 biography. When she was in her 50s. When did consciousness we know as life ceases. I know that i still shall be part and parcel of the. I was parked before the sun rolled into shape and burst forth and the glory of change. I was. When the earth was hurled out from its fiery rim. I shall return with the earth. Two father-son. And still exist in substance. When the sun has lost. Fire. And disintegrated into infinity. To perhaps. Become part of the whirling. Rubble of space. Why fear. The stuff of my being is matter. Ever-changing ever moving but never lost. So what need of denominations and creeds to deny myself the comfort. Of my fellow human being. I am one. With the incident. And need no other. Assurance.

uufvb_org

2011Apr10Sermon128.mp3

As must be obvious to anyone who has ever been in our building and that would include all of you sitting in this space right now. Here at the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. We are blessed with a wonderful beautiful. Useful. And fig. Building. By almost any standard your friends this is an above-average church building. Or fellowship building. Congregational. And believe me i know because i've seen plenty of ugly and inferior religious facilities in my day. Many of them i'm sad to say our unitarian-universalist structures. Around the country. But here in vero. Simply put we have i think a spacious gym. On our hands. I will confess to you that last year as i was searching for a new country station to serve. One key factor in my decision to put this complication is the top of my list my wishlist. Was the asset of this wonderful physical structure. The first moment i walked in here and bob murkowski probably remembers that i was with him and a couple other members of the search committee. I knew this was a facility in which i would love to work. And study. And preach. Now a building of course never makes a congregation for as we all learned that chill as children. Here's the church. Here's the steeple. Open up and hear all the people. It is always and ever the people who make a true. But it is of course. Put the right building by which i mean a beautiful spiritually conducive building. Can greatly enhance and enrich. What a congregation can do. Both for its members and the wider community and that is the case here. So the first thing i want to say this morning. Is lie hope wiza corrugation never ever take this fine facility of ours for granted. Not only must we be forever grateful to the leaders of this congregation who had the wisdom to purchase. And renovate this building in 2005 and more on that in a moment. We must also as a congregation commit ourselves over the long haul. To the maintenance and upkeep of the spine and expansive. Facility of that will not be. So. Let's talk about the spirituality of this. Particular. Building. This congregation will home of. I am persuaded the building. Although inert and unfeeling objects of wood stone steel and glass. They have a great deal of power to affect and influence what human lie. Happens within them. The architecture of any building by which i mean the design. The shape and configuration. The materials used the lighting and colors the textures. Ambiance even the odor of a building. Can profoundly affect what humanly happens. Great buildings. Bj home. Schools courthouses. Stadiums. Or religious structures. Enable encourage enhance and enrich the human activity. They were built and sadly the converse is also true. Mediocre. Or miserable build. Diminish. The track. And distract. From the things they should be doing. When they are inside of them. But here at you us cbi will assert with grateful pride we are blessed with a building. That is well suited to our religious purposes as unitarian universal. So differently. Our spiritual home here in vero beach. Is extraordinary well-suited to our spiritual purposes. And this is of course a bit of astounding and curious luck. For as most of you know this building was not designed or built by unitarian. Universalist. This building was built in 1982 to house the first church of god. Vero beach. A conservative. Evangelical congregation. Which because they outgrew this facility. Is now housed as many of you know. In an even more expansive megachurch facility. Out on 58th avenue. A congregation the builders of this place bless their hearts. With decidedly different spiritual practices and theological perspectives than ours. So this fine building a bars again which has been bequeathed to us by folks. With a very different spirituality than ours. None-the-less bike good luck rather exquisitely served our purposes and i want to count those. The first way in which this facility serves us well as by an obvious and accessible. Location. This handsome building nestled by the way. Beautiful girls with wonderful. Mature trees and shrubs. Chips as i think you all know. At a busy provident corner right near the heart of vero beach. And those can be fine but found by almost anybody in our community looking for it. Even the directionally challenged. Will stumble on this place. Those who built this building those good church of god folk. Didn't choose this location randomly they chose it. This highly accessible visible location because the primary purpose of their congregation according to their website to which i went is to bring as many people to christ. As they can. So that those persons might experience salvation. Purpose and joy in their relationship with their savior jesus. No. We are not as you all know not exactly a conservative evangelical church. But this building on this site works well for us for different reasons. This location works for us because it's perfectly suited to two of our central purposes. We use here in farrell want to provide first a safe. Practical beautiful religious home. Or anyone in our area who seeks. Rafay such as our in other words. Have a beautiful pretzel place for us to do church. Just as we do that. In our free church tradition. While at the same time. We want to provide a place from which we can simultaneously reach out to our wider community. Injustice and service. Compassion. And. Visa v the emerson center intellectual stimulation and care. Another shirley other busy corners here in vero that would do just as well for our purpose. But none better than this particular intersection. Now i must tell you. That's such a great accessible location is sadly not all that common. For unitarian universalist congregation. While many of our old historic white clabbered new england church buildings do sit a busy public squares in the center of town like sudbury massachusetts in. Newburyport places like that. Many you may not know if most of the uu buildings built since world war when the big boom happened in lee. We went from. Several hundred congregations to 1000. Many of our newer buildings. Are tucked away. It hard. Awful quiet suburban roads. Nondescript side streets or even worse. Virtually hidden from public view. In the woods. We love the woods and more on that in a moment. Unitarian universalist shows such out-of-the-way quiet location. For some pretty sound and good reason. Amongst cost. These lots on the back roads are cheaper. Or the desire to be close to nature and trees and more on that strong unitarian-universalist rate in the moment. But the end result is that many of our building are hard to find people drive by them six times before they even notice them and then we exacerbate that by putting very small signs. If you belong here you know how to find us. Ll parmentier with you and gail travel you've you try to visit uu churches all over the country. Are any of them hard to find. Yeah that's that's a yes. But that's not the case with our fellow. It's easy to. And we've got. Parking. You know my last church. 700 members we had 80. For parking spaces. Nestle. Nestle. In the woods. Great. That makes sense. The first way this facility serves us well is just buy it. Location. It's accessible. The next way our building serves us so well. Is by the design of the front door. Lawyer in the lobby that i'm not getting into that discussion. Aurora. Both of which i hope you have noticed. Our entrance way is extremely wealthy. Our front doors here are wide and made of clear glass. Which sells stranger and friends alike welcome to come on in work we're open for business and we're glad you're here. Just as soon as you come in the front door. You're greeted not just by the wonderful sunday greeters who do such a good job of welcoming. But you were greeted by a light and expansive. Lobby. With cheerful carpeting. Comfortable furniture and plenty of sunlight pouring into those atrium windows that are. Speckled with his wonderful. I like to think of our entrance way here. The lobby is the heart chamber. Of our building. The friendly space where we practice as the reverend bill schultz put it two weeks ago. We practice the precious art hospitality. Two friends and strangers. One of the most important things any religious community can do is make everyone who comes through their doors visitors and long-timers alike. Feel instantly safe. And wanted and welcome. And our entrance by its very design and our lobby achieved this. With a simplicity. An openness. The third way in which our building serves our spiritual purposes to perfection. Is the simple. An ostentatious design. Of the room you are sitting in now. This spacious sanctuary. Which to my way of thinking. If that's the heart chamber. Ivar. Building this is the heart. Soul. The very word sanctuary almost says it all doesn't it. A sanctuary any dictionary will tell you is a consecrated place. The most sacred spark part of any religious building devoted. To the keeping of sacred things. A place of. The unbusy. Architecture of this room and look around you. It's fairly modest and straightforward. The shapes and the sight lines are simple. The angles and contours argenta. Colors. Textures soothing. What. Warm in the seating. What a night. This room in my last turd we had upright. Shaker chair. Depending on what we're doing is a conjugation. This room invites us to enter the reflective calm. Or intense listening or robust singing or expressive grieving or. Active laughter. This rum allows and encourages us. Fully human across the wide range of moods and situations that make up the life of any country. It's. It's perfect for us. You use. We express ourselves and give meaning of. You are like another way of saying all this. Is the sanctuary is an open. Gentle receptacle. For everything we care about. Seek sharonville. I believe it was a nearly perfect receptacle for the church of god congregation. Which chose these shapes in this design in the color as they worship jesus christ. As their lord and savior. And it is nearly a perfect receptacle. As we live out and express. Are very different faith. Now that's said there are several curiosities about this room. Which derived from the fact that it was built as a conservative. Christian space. Not as a you you. And i want you to know that in preparation for the sermon i called butch a capelin. The contractor are painting contractor. Who was and is an active member of the church of god. Built the space. He confirmed everything i'm about to say to you about the unique features of this room when i called him and we chatted for a. The first of which may have gone almost totally unnoticed by you. Is. This. Is it just a little riser to get you to the podium the hoo no dear friends. Oh no. It's a prayer rail. Yeah how many of you knew that. It's a prayer real. With the members of the church of god. Would come to kneel. Elsa and gauged in prayer which tells me that this prayer rail which goes on both sides. Was used by the current gation freeways. Sunday members of the congregation felt ready to accept. As our personal lord and savior they would come. Second. They would use this rail when on sunday communion was offered to the congregation by the elders. One of the elder scroll. Third prayer railwood. Who's during the week. When members of the congregation. Come quietly in by themselves. To pray. In the space. Reconnect. Now because he's decidedly christian spiritual practices are not exactly part of our faith tradition. We never use this rail in this way and i mention this again some of you just thought it was a. A nondescript architectural feature to set the chancel apart. On the floor of the room. But that. It is clear. And useful christian architectural. We must acknowledge. And respect. Appreciate. The second curiosity to us as you use at least. Is that large beautiful stained glass window that you look at everyday it's backlit my fluorescent lighting if you don't know that. And that with your head. By the by the wall. Now this window again created by our good church of god neighbors has many pleasing colors. Jennifer iety of symbols symbols to my mind about specifically christian and universal. And these intricacies can best be the subject of another sermon i guess pete you've done a sermon on this window before i just going to highlight a couple of the future. You'll notice on the right and left bottom are the signs of alpha and omega. Which is christian congregation the symbol for the eternal nature of jesus christ. And of god. The next you'll notice there is what i call a corn plant. At the very bottom and i went and tried to google christian metaphors and symbols and corn plant didn't come up but. It did come up. As a native american symbol. Are corn is used to symbolize life. And life in all its abundance. Perfect for us. Next please notice the peace stuff on the left side of the window but halfway up. Bearing the olive branch of course. Again universal human symbol. Of hope and peace that transcends our christian. But the one symbol we must absolutely recognize as being the central symbol. Of the window. Which we have respectively but purposely obscured is the great big red cross. That was there and we are star symbol of course the palace. Blocked the other part of the cross but i. Beautiful job. Of without. Destroying the window we. Drew attention. Central symbol of our faith. Start a cross. Is the chalice. And yet able to maintain. Enjoy the beauty of. Other symbols. And i think it was a. Usher stroke. Genius that we've been able to. Replace the dominant symbols of our window of the swindle not and disrespect or arrogance. But simply because we need to focus. Symbol of our on our own. But we should never forget that behind our chalice. There lies across. Not only are we come from christian roots. Unitarian universalist. Are good. Church of god neighbor. Behind archer. There is a cross. Across that means so much. The good men and women who built this fine building. And there's one more architectural feature of this building that some of you don't know about. Who knows what's in here haha oh yeah. Well look at that it's a baptismal walk-ins. A place there. And it's got a separate water heater the staff and i use it after every tuesday staff meeting. Alright that's not true we thought about it though it's got a nice little hot water heater and it is quite deep it's like a 4 person hot tub. It's not a hot tub. It's not a hot tub. It's a baptismal pool or baptistry. A fiberglass walk-in full inversion which was the church of god tradition. Hot water heater hand rails and all baptistry. And. The pool is probably not going to be used by us anytime. And certainly not by the staff. Tuesday staff meeting. But i wanted you to know it was there. We've inherited. The next feature of this room is terribly important to the architect. Is these two large projection screens which were not using this sunday. And the related solitary small bag of high windows. Provide just a little light into this room on sunday morning. Now these architectural features. The projection screens and the small back windows. Are connected to one another. Very intentional. The very intentional because the congregation which built this building wanted those sitting where you were sitting not to pay attention. To the outside environment. But to the multimedia messages about jesus. And god. And scripture from. From the bible. Which were regularly presented up on these two walls. Bush told me that the congregation use these projection screen. When they sang their many hymns in each service. And when their pastor would be preaching and he would be referring to. Piece of scripture. The scripture would go out so that the people didn't have to be fumbling around in their bible. They could follow the scriptural lesson. That was. The focus. Architectural focus was to be very much. N-word. And upward. The fact that this room is designed to facilitate multimedia projection. Is a real plus for us as unitarian universalist who also want to share. Our faith and communicate as clearly as weak and everyone who comes to worship here. As your minister. I've been so excited to have multimedia capability in my last congregation of river road. They had was typical unitarian the bristles all glass windows so there was no. Surface dark enough to project anything on all we can do is look out at the trees which were very nice. But. I like these communication tools and the possibility of multimedia worship. We know the different people learn and take in information in. Start waze and by using. Projection screens. And powerpoints and putting up key phrases. Things that i've never been able to do in my ministry. To make sure that everyone gets the message. Video clip. Visual slides. We're going to have some of that next. On our earth. A day celebration. But we must also acknowledge. The design of this building which again is clearly geared toward multimedia presentation. Also prevents us as unitarian universalist from doing something. That are transcendentalist hearts. Yearn to do. Adapt. Lookout. The windows. And look out of the beautiful world that lies just beyond this. Since our earliest beginnings. In america unitarian-universalist have been nature appreciating. A nature focused folks. 12 always seem the holy. In the natural world many of our new england meetinghouses have the clear glass and silver. Read some of the old buildings have the wavy glass but nonetheless when you sit in the first parish. Concord massachusetts renewal. Write out. Lyrics nothing but unadorned. Clear glass at the world. And that's why most of our buildings most of our modern buildings built since wwii also have huge banks windows and abundance sunlight and awesome natural wood. As their primary. Construction material. Again as i said the last my last church. Was the perfect example. Sunwood streaming from the high windows and go out the other windows in. We couldn't reject anything. It was beautiful. Too bright. I would suggest you that while this sanctuary which we have inherited. Does not readily allow us to bathe intransitive communion with the outside environment. A spiritual drawback in the deficit to be sure it nonetheless. Alternately provides us. With these multimedia opportunities. Which. Can greatly enhance our worship that many you use. And by the way it is. If you if you can't do multimedia stuff you're kind of stuck in the last generations way of. People learning. As you know this is a multimedia world and. The next generation is. Is used to. Bing images. And many image. Getting getting. We got a. Capacity if we're going to communicate effectively. Because of our unique evangelical christian architecture. Kirin zero we simply have to find other venues for our transcendentalist. Take a walk on the beach. For a little while. A list of title lookup antenna can see them. Heart of a palm tree. Well. There is much much much more i could say about this building. It's designs it's many rooms it's venues but i'm out of time. So please let me briefly summarize what to me feels like the sum and substance of the spirituality. Of this building. Despite its big size. Ours is a warm and welcoming. Invite people in. For the holy purposes of our faith. Are accessible location. And friendly inviting lobby. Extend the hand of hospitality. To all who seek to find us here at the corner of 27th avenue and 16th street. And then this room into which most people come. Extend a warm and safe embrace. To all who come into worship. Jasika fuller deeper and more meaningful. The shape of space. The human beings give two places they built with purpose. The shapes in the spaces make. Matter profoundly. And this place. By good luck. Is well-suited. To what we aspire here. Even though p. Varied if. And ideas about the world. As a congregation. We are blessed. With a solid and beautiful home. That invites us to practice our religion boldly. And lovingly and well. And i leave you with this thought. Maybe 10 always. Loving care. The sacred space. This. Wonderful. Church.

uufvb_org

2015Feb01Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. And welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach let's see what day is this. You'll thank me for this later. What a super sunday. No not for football for us in this arena. A human hope and aspiration it's super to be together again. Little stuff humble. For the words to express our gratitude for this place for here let us cheer. One another along tackling. Baillargeon last in questions of the day receiving inspiration. From our unitarian universalist faith and defending every precious human go let us not penalize ourselves with debilitating shame and guilt. Even as we take time out this day. To celebrate the manifold richness of life in one another i don't know about you but i'm bowled over. By the spiritual possibility i'm almost done. By the by the spiritual possibilities that lie before us for this is our religious home and it is super. To be together. I got to tell you i sent that out on the minister's chat and it's being used all over the country this morning and unitarian several people said that's the best opening words i've ever seen it's not but it's mine. 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. What do you have a g h a g e d or a phd whether you're a 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 in between we're glad to see you. And we hope that. Will be enriched by this hour. We hope you'll find her service meaningful enriching. 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. Hello you who make the morning and spread it over the fields and into the faces of the tulips and the nodding morning glories and into the windows of even the miserable in the crotchety. Best preacher that ever was deerstar. That happens to be where you are in the universe to keep us from ever darkness to ease us with warm touching to hold us in the great hands of light good morning good morning good morning watch now as i start the day. In happiness. Hind. 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 and inspirational writer chuck swindoll his words. The longer i live the more i realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me is more important than facts. It's more important than the past. An education that money. And circumstances. Then failure. Dentist accessories. Then 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 regarding the attitude that we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past we cannot change the fact that people will act in a 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. I am convinced that life is 10%. What happens to me. And 90% of how i react. 2. I sure wouldn't with you. You are in charge of your attitude. Here in the mornings reading. Morning. I'm going to talk about life and even more importantly the attitude we bring to it. Brian pashley persuaded as is chuck swindoll. The how we emotionally react to life in all the little and big stuff that happens to us. Can make a huge difference in how successful even navigate our days and let me start. With a little example of what a big difference in attitude can make from my own life if i might you know it's amazing how dependent i am on the projection you see the picture of me and in a bicycle on a bicycle. That's the pacific ocean behind me this is what they get every sunday every saturday from me actually week before. They get the pictures embedded in the service and then they can shoot them up anyway. That was me in april of 2005 almost 10 years ago now in costa mesa california. Dipping my rear wheel in the pacific ocean about to begin my very first 30-day charity ride across america. Do you know that on april 19th just a couple of months away. Exactly 67 days from now. I will lord willing be in the same beautiful spot. And i joan am i going to be with your crazy son who's going all the way across the country with me and united methodist minister and a couple others here in town or going with me. Beginning my fourth 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 and you'll hear much more about that. The sunday before i go on april 12th. When i preach about that experience but i want to tell you a little story on my cell. But i think makes this point about what a huge difference ones attitude in ordinary life situations can make. On that first right across america 10 years ago i never done any long-distance cycling really. I enjoyed most aspects of the experience. But i hated it i actually absolutely hated it every time i got a flat tire. No flat tires i will tell you or something across country cyclist routinely experience and on that first trip across america with all the road debris that litters our highways. I had something like 20 flats almost one a day on average. Some days out west with there's a lot of road debris from the truck sometimes i had two or three flats a day now. I have to tell you that every time i would hear that unwelcome.. And feel the tire suddenly going flat i would curse to myself saying. Another flat. Anytime in a sour mood. I would be sure that i've been singled out for persecution by the road gods. I would get off my bike grumpy. And grumble and write my way to the several steps it takes to get the wheel off check the tire for sharp objects swap out the tube inflated put the wheel back on the bike clean the grease off my hand and finally got on the road again for that entire trip i allowed myself. Because of my attitude to be totally frustrated and miserable. Every time a flag came my way and. If truth be told there were several other things about the trip including several issues with the staff and accommodation. But also greatly irritated me. My point here isn't many points on that first ride. For many different reasons i allowed myself because of my attitude 2bwell unhappy. But three years later when i was planning my second charity ride across the country. I decided well before the trip come in. Did if i was to have a truly positive and enjoyable experience that i would 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 that spring. I came up with a list i'll i wrote it down a short list of spiritual practices. Which were really nothing more than attitudinal promises. But i made myself about how i would choose. Do emotionally react when difficult irritating and unwelcome circumstances occur. And the 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, you heard me say this three years ago and it did the ride and not let the 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. No relax. Get off your bike and enjoy the time it's going to take to fix it. Take pleasure in this little unscheduled break from the exercise chat up your companions the rule on a long-distance rises if you're with four people when he gets flat before you stop. And you work on the flat together. Look around at the landscape i would say to myself in the sky. Give each step in the repair process it's do 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 to ride hell that's all you've got to do anyway. Lunch will be waiting for you like it is every day and you will arrive at your next motel before dark so embrace this interruption. And as just one more interesting and enjoyable piece of the day's adventure. Let me tell you something else on that second and third ride i've been able to infect this attitude into the guys that i'm in the gals that i'm with. I've instilled this in many riders well this is a nice little break isn't it. No. This may seem corny and contrived to some of you. But i'll be damned if this simple little promise to myself about shifting of attitude and and and of about other irritations on the road. Didn't make. The trip and every subsequent one much more enjoyable. This morning i want you to know that as i approached another cross-country charity ride that will undoubtedly have. 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 attitudinal. List of promises to myself. But i know will 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 to myself. As i traverse this great and beautiful nation. But for this morning's purposes i want you 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 me 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 that life is 10% what happens to a 90% about how you react. 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 than education that money than circumstance than failure than successes then what other people think or say or do older. It is more important than appearance or giftedness or skill. Remarkable thing is that we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day we cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. That's a big. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have. And that is our attitude. And then yeah. Convinced that life is 10% of what happens to us. A 90%. How we react. And so it is with you. You are in charge. Of. He's on spothero. I rarely 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. It's amazing how diet coke. Actually i repeat. I'll be having it on my desk as i said you shouldn't be drinking that well alright then. But i can't control what people think about diet coke so i got an attitude about them to anyway by the way here. Anyway. I overheard the clerk is i walked into 7-eleven. Are complaining to the customer she was serving she said. I hate thursdays. I'm having a terrible day i can't wait till 2:30 when i get out of here. As i picked up what i needed i couldn't help but listen she griped to the next to customers about the same thing. But without thinking when i got up to the counter i said hey how are you like i always with the people and she said. I hate thursdays i can't wait to get out of here. You can write the script in a movie. I just couldn't help myself so i looked her in the eye with a warm smile and gently wagging finger i said you know. Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% about the attitude you bring to it you're in control of your day you're free to bring whatever attitude you wanted this thursday. She looked at me a little startled. Didn't know how to respond so i smiled her when i'm i said. Well sorry i suppose you really weren't looking for a sermon this morning. I should mind my own business and then quite unexpectedly a big smile broke over her face and she said. Ashley. That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me all day i just like can look at this day a little differently thanks. Now i left the store not knowing of course if she would hazard day moved on actually. Have that internal conversation with a fraulino the next customer who said how are your problem could have gotten i hate thursday. But. I can always hope that she changed her attitude by just thinking about it. Alright. What i'm 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 that 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 have it from no less an authoritative source than researchers at harvard university. Hear that here are the summary findings of the harvard study of adult development. A sixty-year-old longitudinal study. The follow the lies 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 and this is from the washington post. They write. 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. Then 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 specific findings of the study. The study identified two types of elderly person so you ready for this. The happy whale. 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 in a spiral of self-pity. The study revealed that it was social aptitude. Sometimes called emotional intelligence. Not intellectual brilliance or parental social class that lead to a well adapted older age. 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. Give some examples of man he called lucky. Lucky you at the age of 70 had. High blood pressure. Arterial fibrillation. A cardiac pacemaker. Pancreatitis and was recovering from back surgery. All that to bear yet lucky. Had no. Complaints. He was happily married. Ran two successful businesses and always made time. Forest family and friends. And was as george vaillant says always grateful for his life. He certainly was ill. But he did not feel sick. An unbalanced thumbs-up the forky. Character and attitudinal qualities that he found. Enable healthy aging. And i am going to project 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. A 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 here's a big. And not. Harbor resentment. And then he conclude. These four attitudinal factors in one life are more or less controllable. So our faith why he concluded in ourselves. Not in the stars the stars the 10%. Ourself is the name. No these harvard findings about how to age successfully and happily. Don't really surprised any of us do they. Oh sure we all have 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 realize that the habit of looking on the bright side. Can only take us so far when we bump up in our lives against real adversity pain and difficult. Anyone who has been around life for a while and suffered at the hands of the inevitable vicissitudes and adversities that we all experience. Knows that a positive attitude about life. Cannot fix or change everything for the better. And that is a limitation of optimism that i've already discussed if you believe you just can think your way into everything working out. You're living on. Some other planet than i do. No one. Is going to wake up whistling cheerfully for example the morning after the death of a loved one. Or 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 it takes. A lot more than positive thinking to get us through life tough spots. But with all that said 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. Pork line to positive thinking attitudes and behavior habitually upbeat people. Who are surprised fun to be around. And you generally move through life with good and generous and creative energy. Similarly you all know other people. With habitual negative thinking attitudes and behaviors that i had a wonderful graphics for you this is eeyore. With a little rain cloud over his head. You see why i miss my big graphics. That you all know the er images got his own little personal rain cloud right over his head. And he's always looking like a sad sack. Everybody knows peor. You know those people with their own personal little clouds of negativity which they nurture. And it have an atmosphere of impending doom hovering right over their heads. But because of these dreary attitudes they managed to spiritually and emotionally shoot themselves in the art their own foot. And make their lives gray with negativity and foreboding now. Based on everything i have observed about people over my lifetime i don't think there can be any doubt that some people are predisposed. Buy 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 net nephew. I can't help this positive benton mine. First i know that if there was such a thing as optimistic jeans i was born with them. To make matters worse i had a happy loving and secure upbringing in an upbeat. 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 affirm that this is how i optimus are made. From safe and secure childhoods but also points out. This is really good news for all of us. The people with negative childhood experiences. Who are naturally negative. Can overcome be right. Their predilection toward negative thinking. I told him. I was astonished at how much of an older person's healthy aging. Or the lack of it is predicted. Buy factors already established before the age of 50. What seemed even more astonishing. Was it these factors are more or less controllable. The past can predict. But never determine. Old age. Ana cozar. A happy childhood is certainly a plus. But even people with unhappy childhood can change their lives. I learned to embrace life. By allowing other human beings into their lives. It isn't the bad things he conclude that happened to us at dumas i want repeat that it isn't the bad thing. That happened it was the duma's it's a good people who happened to us at any age. The facilitate enjoyable. Old age. So while genetics and personality and upbringing an early experience can can and do shape. Are things in terms of our inclination toward positivity or negativity. 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 the bend of our thing. 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 signalmen in his wonderful practical book listen to this title. Learned optimism. How to change your mind and your life. He affirms with the harvard study on successful aging. And that is that. We human beings have a great deal of control over our positive and negative thinking. Doctor segelman and again i had two graphics i was going to show you but you was going to have to pay attention. A little bit more. He says pessimist believe. The bad events three things. Bad events will last a long time. Will undermine everything i say do. And are their own fault. Where is optimist believe. The bad events. 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 facts. And they see different things. Dr. siegelman goes on to assert that these two habits of positive and negative thinking have great consequences. Literally hundreds of studies show he write the pessimist give up more easily and get depressed more often. These experiments also show that optimus too much better in school at work and on the playing field. A pessimistic attitude may seem as deeply rooted as to be permanent. I have found whoever the pessimism is escapable. Pessimist can infect learn to be optimist and not through mindless devices like whistling a happy tune. Or melding cheerful platitudes. But by learning he says a new set of cognitive skills. What's sichelman is talkin about here. Is the power of the internal conversations. So we are free to have with ourselves. About like i did with my flat and 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 when you choose. And then stickelman goes on to suggest that learned optimism is simply a matter of a b c. 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. And our thought quickly congeal into beliefs. So we have. Adversity congeal into beliefs. Either positive or negative beliefs that may become so habitual 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 and 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 and diversity and we're confronting control those beliefs. Those beliefs have. And then stigleman get to the core affirmation of his learned optimism and is easyidea i wish to leave you with today. He suggests that when we have pessimistic beliefs or attitudes about some. Difficult or adverse event 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 ducking or disturbing negative beliefs a more lasting remedy is to dispute them. You must learn to argue with yourself. Give your negative beliefs and argument he says go on the attack. Spider eckley disputing the pessimistic beliefs that follow adversity. And those are that the bad event will last a long time. Edible 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. Now doctor siegelman's assertion 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's thought patterns. And fought behaviors in the direction of positive thinking. Can lead to positive changes in your mental health. Many therapist believe that one successful path to mental health. Is the change your behavior first. And hope that the partner feelings 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 change your behavior first. And they say eventually your feelings will or may follow you. In that direction that's a whole school of. I am sure that more than a few of you are at least a little bit suspicious of this assertion of doctor signalment in others. The we are substantially free in our day-to-day living to control and shoes are attitudes and beliefs especially when something really bad. 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 the emotional. I believe that regardless of how you are personally predisposed. Weird optimism and pessimism and you all know what you come from of those dreary families that was always pessimistic. You know how were you falling that continuum. No matter where you fall. You can become more positive. In in your in your attitudes you are in control. I believe that regardless of how you were personally predisposed. That you are at least somewhat capel. 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 though he is. What's right. Life is 10% what happens to you. And 90% of how you react. Positive thinking. Which is not optimism but he's 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. I meant. Life is so strange. What's the good news. Is it life. Is 10% what happens to you. And what percentage. 90% how you react. Be of good heart. Have a great day.

uufvb_org

2013Nov17Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. I'm scott alexander senior minister of the congregation here in a supporting role this morning for my associate minister. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. On this gentle. Day. May we devote ourselves to all the gentle arts of the heart. This day and everyday. We are congregation of open minds loving hearts and helping hands people seeking to become our best selves even us together. To make our world a better place. Please know that you are welcome this morning precisely as you come to us. Whether you are young or old black or white gay or straight. Whether you were feeling on top of the world. Or down in the dumps her somewhere in between we welcome you just as you come to us this morning. In all of your particularity in need. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful. And enriching and that you will find something here this morning perhaps sister nugget. Of something that nourishes. Your spirit and feeds your soul and gives you renewed energy and purpose. For the living of life in the days ahead. For untold centuries people have drawn. From the workday world on sunday. To worship. To celebrate. And to wonder at things beyond and within themselves. So we are gathered here this hour. To raise our sights. And look at new horizons. Life is more oil for bread. Life has meaning. And purpose. As we celebrate life together. Let us seek harmony within ourselves. And with one another and the world and find our lives. Uplifted. And made whole. The following is a short. Excerpt. By nelson mandela. It will be followed immediately by a short spoken meditation. And then a silent meditation. That i will end by ringing the bell. Nelson mandela. In judging our progress as individuals on external factors. Searchers one social position influence. Popularity. And standard of education. But internal factors may be even more critical in assessing one's development as a human being. Honesty. Sincerity. Simplicity. Humility. Purity. Generosity. Absence of vanity. Readiness to serve others. Qualities within reach. Of every soul. Are the foundations of one spiritual life. Never forget. Is a sinner who keeps on trying. Do the meditation. The hours of the day spin past us more quickly than we complete our tasks. And our quiet energy has been demanding needs. In this quiet space. Let us take the time to stroll peacefully secret garden of our soul. Have we cared for all the dreams and hopes and wishes. We have planted there. Have we spent enough time to nourish the fragile growth. Of our highest. Aspirations. Take the time to enter quietly. The deepest places of our being. This sacred space. Here. We can rest. Here. We can take stock. Rejoicing in the integrity of our own being. Here. We can regain the strength. To be the best person. We can be. Here. We can renew our commitment. To those we love. And to all who touch our lives. Let us take the time to nourish our soul. To do this holy work. A few months ago. Friends in new hampshire. Moved into a condo hours. They had to find something quickly. Because they had sold their house and had to move out. We have the year before when we were caught in time. But we had chosen a different one which we liked a bit more. Our friends. We're very excited about their move. They hired a contractor to make a few changes before they moved in. And when the contractor arrived he expressed. Some concern about something that he saw. He filled a glass with water and poured it on the kitchen floor. And the water ran across the floor and puddled in corner. A quick trip to the basement reveal the reason. Joyce holding up the kitchen floor. We're not supported. At the end with posts. And so the joists were doing all the work. I'm trying to hold up the floor above. Over the years the joyce had sign. And i suppose it was just luck. The kitchen and all its appliances ending up in the basement. The remedy to this problem was a very expensive. And our friends were justifiably just made about the additional cost. They have not noticed the sagging kitchen floor when they were inspecting the condo. But then neither had we. I might listen to previous owners. Of the condo head mr2. Why was this a problem all of us. Part of the answer may lie in the fact that both our friend. We're in a great rush to find a place we could buy. I'm so we did not have time to look carefully. Another part of the answer is usually look at other things. The number and placement of rooms. The general condition and attractiveness of the house. Just setting the appointment and maybe even outside the landscaping. We don't as a general rule making sure that the floors are level. The structure is found where the foundation walls are not crap. I know that when i'm invited to see your friends new home i don't rush to the basement and explain how much i love their joyce poster foundation. As an architect the structural problem during our short and cursory visit. I will be more careful in the future. Another plausible explanation why these obvious flaws were not notice. Is because we all assumed that buildings are. A watertight stable and safe. In the us this is generally true. To the world where i've traveled. Shoddy workmanship. Poor materials. Cutting corners and graph. Have caused some spectacular building collapses. When something major goes wrong in a building that we live in. Even if the problem may have been working in plain sight. Star stable and safe. Should we take these characters. And focus on whether we like what we see in the building. If our impressions are positive we make up our minds and if our initial impressions are negative we will lose interest immediately and move on to something else. With our condo choice it was simply dumb luck that we got without the major flaws. I think we all have tendencies to jump to conclusions. And to make decisions quickly with very incomplete information about many aspects. What can be the case also when we meet a person for the first time. Psychologist write that first impressions are formed in under 10 seconds. And our subsequent behaviour towards the other person is predicated on that first impression. A positive feeling about the other person will be greater engagement. Which in turn generates even more interest. We can all remember time just as much as we got to know them. Individuals can become long-term friends. Cherish for many years. Support their personalities remain pretty consistent and they are essentially the same person they were when we first met them. We describe them as. What-you-see-is-what-you-get. And label them as true-blue loyal and steadfast. Many times we get it right. Because our observational skills work so fast. And because we take so much for granted. We can also make. I'm trying to time some pretty big mistakes. We can also think of people who we've met and look very much initially very different in personality. We thought they were. Sometimes these differences can work out very well overtime. But there are other occasions. With personalities that fluctuate a great deal. Are inherently unstable and inconsistent. Trying to relate to search individuals can causes confusion and unhappiness and ultimately it comes almost impossible to build a long tramp clothes and meaningful relationship with them. Intuitively know that in order to be happy. We need stability and continuity in our relationship. Animal aspects of our lives. About character traits. I am reminded of a conversation i had recently with a friend. The concerned, his wife. Had made to him. She told him. Set up all his qualities. Which is constant. Constancy. He was dismayed. Was that the best thing she could say. He shrugged his shoulders as if to say. I had to disagree with him and said that his wife had paid him a wonderful compliment. Just for a minute. Many years ago. Young parents often name their baby daughter's. Grace. Faith. Charity. Prudence constance. What they named their son. And other equally old-fashioned names. I can think of for women my age that i have known over the years named faith. Prudish or prue. Unconscious or kai. These names have sort of fallen out of favor today. Just as our focus has shifted away from the important virtues represented by those names. It's true that constancy seems like an old fashioned shrimp and not one that we hear very often. Is an essential virtue. It is not a character trait that jumps out at you and makes you tired. But don't sell it short. It's a quiet force embedded in our value system. Are there synonyms for the same quality. Reliable. Faithful loyal unwavering committed trustworthy and true blue. Not exactly a short or trivial. Compliment to pay somebody. In fact. To be constant to be steadfast. Is such a modest unassuming trait. We barely notice it. Glad is the stability of our buildings and the trustworthiness of our relationships. We cannot lead a secure life without constancy. And it is only when things go wrong in a major way that we realize how essential constancy is to our well-being. Yes. His wife had experienced hardship and loss in the past. So she knew firsthand the value of her trustworthy reliable and loving husband. He was her bridge over troubled water. And helped her to heal from past difficulties. Because she could trust him i could count on him she was secure about her life. And she could direct her attention to the many activities that she enjoyed and excelled at. The author cynthia ozick some discs are perfectly when she said. When something does not insist upon being noticed. When we aren't grabbed by the collar or struck on the skull by a present or an event. We take for granted the very thing that most deserve our gratitude. Unquote. I could not agree more. Unitarian universalist minister from the nashua new hampshire church. Which is our church for 38 years. After a 24-year ministry there and they're just finished his first year as an interim minister. In a nearby city. Steve is a very modest man. To me that he was surprised and flattered. For the many positive comment. From the congregation the interim. Position when he left. He said. But he hadn't done anything differently from what he had done in the nashua church for all those years. I was surprised at how much the members appreciated. He's part of his participation in the events for church. Apparently the former minister. And the congregation recognized the difference and valued his involvement. The key characteristic of steve ministry. And has been his dedication to the members of his congregation. Inherit unselfishness. He is there to serve others. His commitment is to something much greater than himself. As an example of his dedication. This occurred during his teaching semester at meadville lombard theological school in chicago. 2002. He's got a phone call from the nashwood church informing him that the wife of a parishioner had died suddenly. Without delay. He flew back to new hampshire. Conducted the funeral. Visited with the family. To chicago. He was gone less than 24 hours and back in time to teach his classes. He could have waited. He could have gone at a more convenient time for him. Free agent. He went when he was needed. What i found. Was it ever talked about this trip. As anything more than just his job. Doing his job. Certainly was his professional application. An obligation that he is always wanted to fulfill that he's always been totally committed to. Has accepted. His job would cut into his personal life. The virtue of constancy is always on selfish. As it is about something greater and more important than oneself. I came across a short quote by aristotle that says it well. Quote. It's no easy task to be good. Anyone can act. Getting angry. Give money. Speak to friends. I'm so on. What to do something right person. To the right extend. At the right time. With the right motive. And in the right way. It's not easy. Unquote. An older member of our extended family earned our respect in this regard. He had grown up pampered and protected. Hairspray older sisters. And later by his wife and daughters. He was a nice enough person. Who had led a very very comfortable life. When his wife became ill. His life changed forever. Suddenly he was cast in the role. Caregiver. I've never done anything like this before. He learned how to cook. To clean the house. Under care for all his wife's personal needs. This was the first and he was not a young man when he learned a sayings. He did whatever was required without complaint. Until the time of her death. Knowing full well that his up his effort. Could not change the inevitable outcome and that he would lose her in the end. Even in this hopeless situation he carried on. It was the right thing to do. And he was committed to doing it. Commitments of this kind are not based on positive outcomes or just hopeful causes. Often we cannot avoid our lives. We are forced to deal with circumstances we did not choose. That are beyond our control. We are challenged to cope with situations we have never faced. Sometimes an indefinite period of time. Can we meet these challenges head-on. Remain strong and stable. Long-term commitment. Committed relationship. We do not get to choose. Just the things we like about the other person. Just the attractive appearance or the engagement rates that originally captured our attention. This commitment is based on the whole person. And a time to downright unattractive. Kurt personal characteristics. We make a commitment. To another person we get as they say the whole enchilada. Sound like i'm lecturing a young couple on marital fidelity. And certainly it would apply to marriage. But it applies to all interpersonal relationships. Other commitments that we make. To honor our commitments. To be constant. Steadfast. Untrustworthy maybe quiet modest qualities. So very easy to miss until they're absent. Nothing have to be incredibly strong to endure. Whatever comes along. The author robert johnson sums it up by saying quote. Stirring the oatmeal. Exciting or thrilling. What it symbolizes a relatedness that brings love. Down to earth. Love is content to do many things the ego is bored with. Love is willing to work with the other person's and unreasonableness. Is willing to fix breakfast and balance the checkbook. Love is willing to do these oatmeal things. Because it is related to a person. Inaka projection. Unquote. I often ask myself whether this modest virtue is in. Are some people just born this way. Or is the personality. Trait of steadfastness and constancy a learned behavior that we take with us into adulthood. There is no question that we are born with innate psychological and emotional traits. And the thieves are shaped. Throughout our lives by environmental factors. For trustworthiness consistency and constancy. Are learned behaviors. Acquiring higher-functioning cognition. Include personal discipline. Determination and decision-making. Either we were taught by adults. Or learn by example. The importance and desirability of these virtues. Somewhere in our youth development. Of course. We have to admit. That would be so much more fun to everything and everyone but ourselves. Maybe a little while. Let's not deny that we struggle with tampa. With temptations. That's exactly what makes constancies. How does someone hang in there for the long haul especially under very trying circumstances. Can i trust myself to fulfill my commitment so faithfully. What can i do. These qualities in myself. To make sure that i am all that i can be in my relationships. I know one thing. I know i can't do it alone. I cannot do it in isolation from other people. The task is too big. The burden is too heavy. Supportive friends. And family during very tough times. Here at union with vb. We are very fortunate to have a compassionate and loving congregation. Members who reach out to one another whenever there is a need. I think that this is one of the greatest strength of our church family. I also believe we receive from others. We have to respect around character traits. And have the self-confidence whatever challenges come our way. Each of us has been around for many years. And we have racked up a lot of successes. In past endeavors. There is no reason that we can't do it again. Constancy. The quiet virtue. Is one of the values that motivates our lives. And defines who we are. May we offer this gift of ourselves. To all our relationships. I may we receive. This gift. In equal measure. Throughout our lives. May the love which overcomes all differences. Which heals all wounds. And puts to flight. All fears. Vienna's. And among us. No. And always.

uufvb_org

2013Sep08Sermon128.mp3

Good morning well it's the sunday after labor day and you know what that means. Requires that the nfl starts again and we begin maybe in the next few weeks to begin to see some of our seasonal numbers all of which we welcome back good morning welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so please. Come to be with us this morning we are at congregation. Standing on the side of love. Seeking to become our best selves even as we work for a better world and please know that you are welcome this morning just as you come to wasn't. 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. What do you suffered a trauma this week or have had an easy week. We are delighted to see you just as you are. We hope you will find our service meaningful and enriching and then we'll find something here this morning to take with you. Keeping your heart will make your life better in the days and weeks ahead. Mary oliver's poem why i wake early. Hello sun in my face. Hello you who make the morning and spread it over the fields and into the faces of the tulips and i'm not a morning glories and even into the windows of the miserable in that crotchety. Best creature that ever was a star that just happens to be where you are in the universe to keep us from ever darkness to ease us with warm touching to hold us in the great hands of light good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Watch know how i start the day. And happy. Alright my reading of this program woman named virginia to weasel pot half a century ago at her little church in cedar rapids iowa wrote this about why she was a unitarian universalist. Because of this church had a steeple it would be shaped like a? because here the minister make me think you feel like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle instead of an ingredient for a blender. Because it m the people backbone things like saving the whale housing the homeless in combating global warming. Because the atmosphere isn't polluted with piety. Because they leave me alone when i don't feel particularly churchy because every hello is not the preface to a request. Cuz when i contribute they don't act surprised. Because i can laugh out loud in this church. And i can cry because people will genuinely care. Because sermons here have real questions. that oracle won. Cuz if i interrupted a sermon with a comment there would be dialogue not chaos. Does hear discussion group really are. Finally. Is here at last i can look forward. Just sunday. You know if there's one thing i've learned since moving to vero beach three-and-a-half years ago now it's in this town there's never a dull religious or philosophical woman what i mean by this isn't for a liberal cleric such as myself was a decidedly progressive thinker whether you were talking about religion or politics or economics. Then a radically different from my own in this did not happen to me in washington dc take for example the huge city council brouhaha that developed last spring over it was hard to miss the noisy public controversy which i played a role most noticeably. Want me to share tales of this philosophical and religious dust-up for you if you somehow missed it. In early june at the regularly scheduled weekly meeting of the vero beach city council. Craig fletcher mayor in tracy carroll the vice mayor refused to join the other council members and signing a routine proclamation. The council signed such proclamations all the time at a request of a wide variety of religious civic and charitable the local humanist group. The mayor who attends a conservative church in town who serves all of us as mayor angrily declared i refuse to support any organization that does not believe that jesus christ is their savior. And the vice mayor immediately chime and saying she would have also refused to sign because not knowing anything about human isn't she went online and she found some references to atheism which one contrary to her personal leaf. What resulted of course. Was a public outcry about religious intolerance. The wind fire. And was reported in the national media and on many progressive blogs on the internet. Those are fair little city. Got put on the map sadly as a place of religious tolerance and bigotry wella. After several days of widespread public outcry including a strongly-worded letter that the clergy of the town including me drafted. The mayor publicly apologized for what he called his quote on quote horrific behavior. Followed a few days later by a very weak and very reluctant pieology. A recall petition drive was sought to have them removed from their office. For this intolerance an unwise word just fell short of success and since them well the whole controversy is marlys clyde at down i would say mercifully. Not before i was made aware once again my ministry. Is there a whole lot of earnest religious people out there mostly yes conservative christian who passionately believe. The people who do not believe in god. I knew your dad believe there is such a thing as gods through a law that these people are inclined to immorality. As exhibit one i reach you now from an opinion piece written for red palmer's publication heroes voice by john bono. The local conservative businessman who sponsors that huge celebrity christian prayer breakfast every february down in riverside park. Mr. bono gets perfect voice to the usual and i will soon make it clear totally unjustified criticism. Which humanism cat from conservative christian i call you. Humanism is a religion very intolerant of the expression of christian faith. It replaces god was bad. And it's old ideas become the new ethics and morality. Pizzaman see one another there is no god who can command a moral standard for mankind. It is declared an absolute full-scale war on christianity. Humanists are trying to push the christianity under the bus. And replace it with the new religion of humanism that gives way to its agenda of death. And its absence of any sense of right or wrong. And then he goes on to make further incredible accusations. Against humanity. For humanistic rights. Pornography is okay consenting sex with anybody not even necessarily adult is okay and abortion is fine and dandy. And then yeah. Today drugs abortion murder alcoholism vandalism a list of other crimes prevailed because we remove god and put in humanism end of quotation. Now let me pause here and stay for the record and for mr bono's that offended i will send this to invite internet. The humanism as both a long-standing an honorable philosophic tradition and religious perspective. In no way condolence or validate. Pornography. Promiscuity. Out-of-wedlock births gay murder vandalism alcoholism drug use robbery tattoos or texting while driving and also supernatural. Transcendent god to be an ethical caring and responsible for. Let me read to you i went up for checking up on local actually land to protect it up for me from humanist manifesto 3. So you can read along this is the latest. Manifesto adopted by the american humanist association in 2003 and it is the most i think particulate understanding with humanism is. Humanism. Is a progressive philosophy of life that without supernaturalism. Affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical life of personal fulfillment. Those fires of the greater good of humanity. Ethical values are derived. Pre-human need an interest as testify experience and this underlining is mine. Knowledge of the world is derived by observation. Experimentation and rational analysis. Humanists brown values in human welfare shaved by human circumstances interest and concern. Add extended to the global ecosystem indiana. We are committed to treating each person. And to making informed choices. In a context of freedom. Responsibility. Life of filament emerges from individual participation in the service of huvane ideals. Reaffirm. R4r fullest possible development at animated our lives with a deep sense of purpose. Find a wonder and i in the joys and beauties of human existence. It's challenges and tragedies and even. In the inevitability and finality of death. Humanist laurel forest drive tour the world mutual care and concern. Free of cruelty and its consequences. We're differences are resolved cooperatively without resorting to violence. The joining of individuality with the interdependence with dependents. Enriches our lives and courage is us to enrich the lives of others. Humanist are concerned for the well-being of all. Are committed to diversity. And respect those of different human use. We work to a pool to equal enjoyment of human rights and civil liberties and open secular society. And maintain it is a civic duty. To participate in the democratic process at a planetary duty to protect nature's integrity. Diversity and beauty in the secure sustainable manner. Engaged in the flow of life. Fire. With the in-form condition to humanity has the ability. Florida's highest ideals. The responsibility for our lives and the kind of world in which we live is ours. Hours alone. That is a summary. Ecumenism. And what did you leave today. So as you can clearly see. Humanism rather than being some sort of unethical and immoral anything goes narcissistic worldview that john bono. It is rather a serious and purposeful philosophical and religious tradition. With high human standing. Passionately concerned about responsible and ethical uncompassionate living. And yet somehow in this i always find personally hard to understand. Some how many many social and religious conservatives and you see it all the time and fox news or i'm in the press conservative president. They love to blame humanism. Are all of the ethical and moral weaknesses of our society humanism had more reason i do not understand it. Has become a scapegoat or a whipping boy if you will. Many conservatives blame for all of our society wheels. And their core assertion and their core accusation here. Is it because humanism does not have eternal absolute's. The comfort transcendent god the humanism is responsible for all moral decline. Knowing deep at the meeting of our local clergy group are a it was called in response to the mets on the vice mayor and their intolerance. One of the christian ministers in town there's no need to name him but i'm going to email this sermon to him as well. He do is download. The wall he had no use for the blatant religious bigotry of the day or the vice mayor. He just flipped understand how humanism claimed to be a valid ethical or moral tradition without a belief in god and god's eternal law. Ineffective said without the northstar without the ever fixed point of god's eternal world word and law. Humanity is lost for no real ethics or morality is possible without such absolute and unchanging divine guidance. As someone who takes his own ethics and morality seriously. And yes, someone who does primarily regard himself as a religious human this when it comes to my ethical beliefs i'm so comfortable with that stick. I find this assertion that without god there can be no goodness preposterous. And unfair and incredibly disrespectful. Do the seriousness with which i as a religious person at all humanist. Take their moral responsibilities in the world. And i want to spend the next few minutes articulating for you. And any of those who like the smiths or disrespect ethical humanism. Who might be listening. The while i do believe that in fact one does not need us by sermon title suggests. You do not need god to be good. And why i believe the situational morality and the contextual ethics. Humanists and others who do not believe in any sort of external transcendent father. Are as good as valid as worthy as those who follow absolute or traditional religious teaching not trying to replace either of the absolutist thinking or situational just. Again the key argument that religious traditions make when they attack humanism. Is the without moral and ethical absolute passed down to us once and for all from heaven. Humanity is lost in a sea of situational choices that will inevitably lead to a loss of moral standards and decent. I believe this to be absolute knowledge. I believe the blower called situational ethics. Guided by human reason and freedom are just as valid as absolutist ethics if not more so much. And let me explain. It is a clear and concise 1966 classic situation ethics and morality. American ethicist joseph fletcher pictured here and for years the professor of christian social ethics at the episcopal theology school in cambridge massachusetts. He makes a clear case in that quote. That any of the legalistic or absolutist approaches to ethical and moral decision-making with their quote prefabricated rules and regulations. Necessity he wrote payless. In the face of all the very real complexities and contradictions. That exist in the real world. Stating that only the principle of law. Combined with our kind of reason reason and are human freedom. The principle of reason and freedom can we really count on. When the ethical and moral chips are down. As humanists to fletcher makes his case for relativistic or situational moral and ethical decision-making do i call him at subway. Unlike the legalist an absolutist you write do answer into every decision-making situation. Encumbered with a whole apparatus of prefabricated rules and regulation. The situation list. Enters into every decision-making situation fully armed with all of the ethical maxims of the community and its heritage that's the old law stuff. And treat them with respect. Illuminators. Of the ethical problem. Just the same situation wasn't lunchables on to right is prepared in any situation. Compromise. Some of the ethical maxims of the community or set them aside situation. Love seems better served by automax. Four other principles. In situational ethics. Luxury bazaar. Even the most dear principal. Maybe thrown aside if they can flick with any concrete case of love. Too many people peoples on longhorn ethical system of prefabricated pre tailored morality. They cannot apparently trust themselves. To use their own freedom to decide what is right. They want to see non strong unyielding rule. The situation list however. Cunningham of herself loose from the dead hand of unyielding law with at 12, soak relief from the anguish as decision can only determine that is a person of good will he or she will live freely with wally ambiguities that go along with that freedom. And then yeah. Immoral life. Takes on the shape of adventure. And ceases to pretending to be. Fallible blueprint. What's fletcher is saying. You you wholeheartedly agrees. Is that all wise ethical and moral decision-making in the real world is of necessity. Situation over milton distance. Because life on this earth by very nature is situation. And it is. We are always back to fletcher. We are always commanded to act lovingly. But how to do that depends on a rolling responsible estimation of each situation. And then again only love is constant. Everything else is variable. I know it might seem to some of you that doctor fletcher himself is trapped in a bit of absolute thinking. Again and again love. Is the first principle and proposition that sounds pretty absolutist to me. He wants love to become the universal law of the human heart. But doesn't precisely define flatter what love is. Or what it looks like in each situation which i guess is why you called from situation 11. Because love yourself lyrics. Absolute he proposes for ethical decision making. Look what makes this affirmation of the privacy of love the morality of love. Relativistic and not absolutist is his insistence. That because life is forever situational. Jeans with agency. With the freedom to choose we must both use our reason and our freedom. As the how that great primary principle of love. When we say the love is always good right. What we mean is that whatever is loving. In any particular situation. Is. Now fletcher's point is that when it comes to doing what is right input in human affairs. Legalistic absolutist laws no matter where they come from. Almost invariably payless because life is so situational. Some new ones. No matter how much we might like to fall back on simple legalistic absolute. In real life there is no avoiding using our reason and our freedom. And this situation will approach to ethics does not mean i hasten to point out to those who believed in absolute. The situation more humanistic ethics. Isn't anything goes kind of narcissistic proposition well i i just felt like doing them. No. It simply means that as human beings we know that we must wisely loving that use our reason and our conscience. Any particular difficult situation let me give you. First example that came to my mind as i wrote the sermon for you. Regularly and evil isis occurs. The first person to make it for real. Your beloved spousal benefit years is dying slowly of a horrible painful and humiliating death date of cancer that has spread all throughout the body. No amount of pain management is able to alleviate the suffering of the one you love. You're dying spouse now terminal and incapacitated. To the point where they can the wrong light ask you thank you. The night and day in reggie heart-wrenching ways for you to help them and their life now. I say helping them in chesterfield overdose of painkillers. When's our misery and bring them please. You supposed to help them. No the law here in florida and then most other states absolutely and unequivocally to claire's and if you decide to honor this request. You were technically guilty of manslaughter or murder. Legal wrong and punishable as a heinous felony. But you was a loving spouse living in the actual situation. Unlike the state legislature. Is watching your partner's horriblesubs. You are the one facing. The impossible ethical situation. And because to return joseph fletcher's ethel maximus maxim. You want to do the most loving thing you want to do what is right and good for the suffering of the one that you love and care for because you want to serve the dignity of that life. You are considering breaking the law. And ignoring the absolute and inflexible florida law. Does not allow you to consider what is right and what is loving and what is good in your house. What do you do well. Very brave and loving spouses who find themselves in the situation after struggling with their freedom and their responsibilities make that heart-wrenching decision to waive their loved one to die and it gives them that dope. Over. Conversely. Other people be brave and loving spouse has similarly using their reasoning freedom. Decide not to cause any other time loved one and thereby struggle as best they can within the law to find other ways of reducing suffering. Spouse. Thereby serving love. And the sanctity of life especially understand when you tell me. Which has done the right thing. Which has done the absolute right thing. This is the kind of person. But i would like to ask my vocals howie when he insisted. They're all human being all they need to be unemployed good as to follow the absolute. Codified. Eternal laws of god. Really. What is that. I will search you than the real world. What is right. Good moral is often and possibly delusive and new one situational. And there's no way to avoid our existential decision-making and yes. Lifetime he will. Just like absolutist. Maybe. Let me give you a couple of other quick classic examples that. The latest tension between situational ethics an absolutist was the first disciple that if we've all heard it. Terrorist. The authorities know has planted a nuclear device. Global killed countless thousands of innocent people now. International and american law in many religions. Have an absolute prohibition against torture on the moral basis. But after much discussion the authorities using the rational methodology of situational ethics. Decide to torture. The single terrorist. In order to save countless lives. Is this a moral or immoral decision. And further what would the so-called moral absolutist do. Another example. There are several places in christian scripture where is unequivocally proclaimed. It is wrong to kill us. But there are several exceptions to this absolute prohibition against purposefully causing the death of another. Which are commonly recognized in christian ethics. Even conservative. That being just war theory. Which postulate is acceptable to proactively kill the soldiers of other nation. Play destruction oppression and evil is being perpetrated by those nations. And there are few people who question the morality of are going to war in world war two when we deem germany to be that kind of evil. Similarly. If an armed criminal breaks into your home at night is about to kill or kidnap your children. Most passes ephesus would say you have the absolute right. If not the duty to shoot that criminal dead. On and on with examples real life in this complex world apart a moral decisions were absolutist principles. Will they come from religious scripture or secular moral codes cannot always guide us to make the right decision. That is why those will actually attack. Humanism in situation ephesus for causing the moral decline of society. By not having absolute moral principles are not being fair or thoughtful. The point i'm making this morning is it both absolutely and situational ethics. Seek what is good and true in the main and both will make mistakes. Many who claim to be moral absolutes bible i believe it. Rn practice actually quite situational. In terms of their actual application with god's law. Let's take an example of one of the ten commandment thou shalt honor thy mother and thy father. This is presented as a moral absolutist god demands. People want these listed at the courthouse. What does it has a general rule for sadistic good thing to respect and cherish your parents. But what if your father is unrepentant pedophile who repeatedly raped he was a child or your mother looks cool person. Are emotionally abused you when you were young. To honor such a parent not only violates common sense and decency it also violates your own word as a human being and the worth of all society. My point here is that even people who like to fancy themselves. As principled absolutist to know exactly what to do in every situation are in fact situation list. Everybody cherry-picks in the bible okay everybody does unitarians do and southern baptists do they carry pick what they like and then leave the rest there is no such thing as a biblical literally. I can assure you that. So. Let me wrap up what i've been saying you this morning by summarizing it just a few sentences. What i want to say to my burst while colleague. 001 allegedly can imagine people being good or ethical less they have god's word once and for all who are there yet. In my moral universe you do not need god to be good you may have god in your life and he made directly with arc and that's fine. But you don't need them. What you do need your goodness of the person. What do you wear a christian. Or muslim. Humanist were a jew or totally second. What you do need is a commitment to a clear ethical principle and process that transcends your own selfish needs and wild. I have no problem with anyone telling me that as a religious believer they strive to follow the moral geico's. They believe god has eternal establishing a my honor that approach. But i ask in return but they do not dishonor and dismiss me and others who follow a humanist. Situational ethicist pad. By suggesting that because we followed a different ethical methodology we are somehow a moral narcissist. Responsible for the collapse and degradation. Siding and subway unfair. What are you doing for in the public discourse about complicated issues in american life. And i'm going to be focusing on a whole bunch of those this year the death penalty portion. Poverty we're going to be going through all these dilemmas. American ethical life this year you're going to have time going to have current conversations about them. After coffee hour each of these days. What are your four in the discourse about such dilemmas. Is more sophistication. Apartable absolutism and situation list. About the integrity and the value of both approaches really. Maybe i hope for too much but i yearn for genuine ethical understanding and respect open this community and in all of america. And a growing and humble appreciation on everyone's part. About how complicated in this human life is. Do what is ethically right. It is not some. Harold. Lynn austin. Does unitarian universalist do all we can. Further disrespectful hopefully. Conversation. We're neither of those who believe in god or those who don't feel judged or condemned by the other for taking them. Lowe's wall safe to build together. Good. Immoral. An ethical. And loving. And i say to you and me this hour. Amen. I found this benediction years ago i don't know who she is or name is wendy number. We are stronger together. That apart. There is no more pain and suffering in this world than anyone faith. And rizal. It is only by overcoming our divisions. By reaching out our hands and hearts to all persons of good will the beacon truly bring healing to our communities. It is only when we stand together shoulder-to-shoulder christian. And jews. And muslims. And pulis's and hindus and humanists and unitarian universalist. Only when we stand together shoulder-to-shoulder. Can we answer the cries. Going to messages.

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16Aug2009sermon32kbs.mp3

uufvb_org

2014Jul06Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. Shoprite in beautiful day today. Fourth of july weekend. My name is pete kersey. Hi serve this congregation as president of your board and as chairman of the worship committee in a few various and sundry other things. Like to welcome you to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we're so glad that you have chosen to be with us here this morning. Wiara congregation of open minds. Loving hearts. Helping hands. Working together. Seeking to become our best selves. 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. Weather visitor this morning. Or have been a member here for decades. And whether you're feeling down in the dumps. Her way up here somewhere. Or maybe in the middle. We're delighted to see you. Just as you come to us. And all your particular a t. We hope you'll find a service meaningful and enriching and that you'll find something here this morning. But nourishes your spirit. And feed your soul. And gives your renewed energy and joy for living of life. In the days and the weeks ahead of us. Opening words on this july 4th weekend i give you a quote from abraham lincoln. Our reliance is in our love for liberty. Our defense is in the spirit which prizes liberty has the heritage of all people in all lands everywhere. Destroy the spirit. And we have planted the seeds of despotism. In our own doors. Those who deny freedom to others. Deserve it not for themselves. And cannot log. Retainer. Why should there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people. Is there any better or equal hope in the world. Let us have faith. That right. Make smite. And then that face. Let us to the end. Dare to do our duty. As we understand it. Are reading this morning is cold sore and zane. And it comes from a song by the musical group the monkees you may recall the. Rock and roll days. And it goes like this. The king loves or he called for war. And the king of sam he answered. They fashioned their weapons one upon one. Come the ponton they called for war at the rise of sun. Out with the call to one and all that echoed and rang like the thunder. Trump attend trump. More upon more. War upon. Throughout the night. They fashioned their might. With white on the side of the mighty. They puzzled their minds plan upon plan man upon man. In the dying of dawn the great war. They bet on the battlefield. Banners in hand they looked out across. The bacon. They counted the missing. One upon one. No. Upon none. The war. It was over. Before it had begun. Two little kings playing a game. They gave a war. Nobody can. Nobody. Nobody. I'm going to borrow from the gettysburg address here. It was two centuries of decade one score and 8 years ago. Adam. 238 years. Don't exactly have the same ringing tones as four score and seven years ago does it. But to continue the quote. Our forefathers brought forth on this continent a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men. Are created equal. Something that ruu principals. Echo strongly. It was in the throes of the civil war when abraham lincoln died heard those words at gettysburg and in society today we've alter that last phrase to say all humankind. His creativity. This weekend july 4th weekend independence day weekend we have celebrated the founding of our nation. Patriotism ran rampant through the streets the highways the byways the parks and all around the country. Fireworks exploded in the skies across the nation. As they did in the war of 1812. When francis scott key wrote the words to the national anthem. Oh say can you see. By the dawn's early light. What's so bravely we hail. At the twilight's last gleaming. Whose broad stripes. Brightstar. Through the perilous fight. That same flag that he was looking at. In the dawn's early light by the way. Is in the american museum of natural history now it was restored in 1914 and again in 1998. Mr key at the time was being held on a british warship offshore from fort mchenry in chesapeake bay. Of course the fireworks that night were the real thing. The bombardment by the cannons from the british ships. The bombs bursting in the air and the rockets red glare. Back then. Or what prompt us today to spend untold thousands of dollars everywhere to shoot off fireworks. On july 4th. Our national anthem is probably the most famous music. To come out of our fight against england. Pinhole wartime for that matter. And of course. In the early years of the civil war. Julia ward howe. Hey you tell unitarian wrote the words to the battle hymn of the republic. Mine eyes have seen the glory. Based on the older song john brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave. Warning. I'm about to launch into a whole lot of memories for many of you. So get ready for your musical memory strings to be yanked. 56 years after julia ward howe wrote the battle hymn in 1917 america became involved in world war i. A lot of music that was not quite so stirring and patriotic it was more like a longing to get out of the trenches and get home. Songs like it's a long long way to tipperary. Became popular among the troops in europe. And extol the virtues of the homeland and the girls back home. But on the other hand there was a rousing song over there. As our nation geared up to join the war hit shouted prepare say a prayer 10 the word send the word to beware will be over we're coming over and we won't come back until it's over. Over there. Have you found out later though. This war to end all wars. Did not do that. In our future were many more military adventures large and small. Each causing pacifist heartache. An ultra patriots heartthrob. When wwii rose up on the horizon we resisted. Essential pearl harbor. It was no-holds-barred and off we went to war again while much of the popular music of the day was infect patriotic. Much more was people-oriented. Songs about lovers being parted. Women back home longing for their men. And men in uniform on the battlefields longing for their women. But there were also songs like spike jones. Making fun of hitler with. Der fuehrer's face. Was featured in a donald duck cartoon movie at the time. And the andrews sisters of course saying the famous. The boogie woogie bugle boy of company b. And another one was. They'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of dover. Made popular during the heights of the air battles over dover england. Featured vera lynn singing about the longing for peace. When the war was over. Here's an interesting fact about that. Bluebirds. Are not native to dover. As a matter of fact they're not native to any place in england. Go figure. The song was written by an american. But never been over there. Probably the most patriotic song coming out of that war was praise the lord and pass the ammunition. How about a chaplain who puts down his bible and man's are shipped turret gun to fire at the approaching enemy at pearl harbor. Well that's based on a real event in a real chaplain but in the real of that because electric power was blown out on the ship the chaplain was keeping the morale up among the men who work and hauling ammunition up out of the holes from below decks to the gun emplacements on the deck of the ship. World war 2 started out. For us. Has a war of defense. And turned into a war of victory. A victory over. The faceless nazis. And the hateful. Japs. The humanity of both sides. Got lost. In the conflict. It was a horrible war. Which we want. The next big war they called the korean conflict. You may not remember this song. The song by jackie dahl and the pickled peppers. Titled. When they drop the atomic bomb. It enthusiastically anticipated the use of the atomic bomb by general douglas macarthur. And the effect it would have on. Evil commies. That was the crux of the firing of macarthur by president truman. Kumon said no to the bomb. Macarthur publicly argued the other way. And lost the argument. Perhaps the most popular song to come out of the korean war was. Dear john. How about the letter received on the battlefront. My soldier. From his girlfriend saying. She was no longer waiting for him. Many songs of that time were. Heart-rending tunes. About the men and women. Longing for one another. Parents heartache silver lost songs. One called a heartsick soldier on heartbreak ridge wondering why he had not heard from his. Years marched on and then came vietnam. The protest years. On the positive side we're such songs as the 1966 ballad of the green beret. Bruce springsteen born in the u.s.a. was written after the war. It was misunderstood by many as a patriotic song. When he was really singing about lost patriotism. And a man feeling lost to his. And his family. And the 60s generation embrace the pole. An anti-war music. In addition to the bob dylan song blowin in the wind heard earlier. Was the grammy award-winning song by pete seeger. Where have all the flowers. Singer wrote the first three verses in 1955. But it became wildly popular. With the 1964 release of the song on a 45 rpm record. Like a pause here a moment. And let you listen to pete seeger. Sing this famous song. And watch a video about. Sing along if you wish. Hey i got no love song baby. Some of you might like help me sing it. I'm going to ask my grandson kyle rodriguez to come up here and help me. Pete seeger passed away. In january of this year. He was 95 years old. And the song continues to ring today. When will we ever. Then there was john lennon's give peace a chance. And even the monkeys got on the bandwagon with the last train to clarksville. About a soldier urging his honey 2. Catch the train to clarksville to join him for one final night. Before he ships off to war. Hubert had his place too. Such as the draft dodger blues. Wikipedia should this. The song is sung from the perspective of a gung-ho young man who's been drafted. When he reports for duty however the young man recites a list of reasons why he cannot serve. Including. Poor vision. Flat feet. Ruptured spleen. Allergies. Asthma. Back pain addiction to multiple drugs his college enrollment is disabled at. Hansel ford. One historian of the draft resistance movement wrote that the song describe nearly every available possible escape from conscription. And then as the song ends. Young man tells the sergeant. He'll be the first to volunteer. For a war without blood and gore. The vietnam war produce more music than any other war in us history. And that were also produced a shameful things is lieutenant calley of the moline massacre. Of 1968. And the negative reaction of way too many americans to war veterans returning home. From the vietnam war. In my opening remarks. Another portion of that sentence i quoted from president lincoln's gettysburg address said. This nation was conceived in liberty. That liberty is. So expensive. Has to allow us. To argue publicly against things our government does with which we disagree. And that's how during the vietnam war era in the early seventies. I could freely stand up on a stage and be the master of ceremonies for anti-war rally in fort pierce. And at the same time urging those emotional folks. Do not denigrate returning veterans assume anywhere doing it. Operation desert storm. When iraq invaded neighboring kuwait and the united states came to their defense. I could find only a few songs that dealt with that war. Rolling stones did one called high-wire and what's the band said this war was due to the world's indiscriminate sale of arms to iraq. Part of the lyrics. Which celebrations we sell them tanks we give them credit. You called the banks. Song by mick jagger. After the follow-up iraqi war of 2003 bruce springsteen recorded devils & dust about the war with won him an award for song of the year later. There were a handful of other songs but like those two not really hit the top level in popular music. The iraqi war was the last in which we put ourselves. Against a standing army of another nation. In the afghan war against terrorism. And i'll cater. Music video. Came. The top. A lot of this music has been celebrating. The spirit of the american soldier. In stark contrast. Do the feelings expressed during the vietnam war by so many. I would like to play now from youtube piece of the song american soldier by toby keith. I'm just trying to be a father raise a daughter and listen to their mother everything. That's pretty much where i'm coming from these days. I don't like war. But i honor the men. Connor behalf. Warsaw's much of anything hardly ever. Even when i fight against our government and its war. My fight just as much. To support the men and the women sent overseas to wage those war. I believe that as a religious organization we as members of the unitarian universalist faith should be supporting diplomatic measures as far as they can go. And only resort to war. Has an unavoidable. Healthcare. The korean war the vietnam war the iraq war the second iraq war they were avoidable. The afghan war. After the 9/11 attack in new york. Ours was more than a knee-jerk reaction. I believe it was necessary. For our country. Strike back. Or the terrorist organizations would have immediately risen up and done much more damage. Door homeland. In my opinion. Where do we stop. In the name of freedom. I don't have an answer. I don't know. Right now. Rihanna on the doorsteps of re-engaging ourselves in iraq for heaven's sake. And in the name of freedom these days we look at the edward snowden case and still wonder is this a case of a free man. Whistleblower declaring our government was wrong and trying to do something about it. Where's your turncoat. Giving vital secrets to the enemy. I'm not sure just helped michael those secrets were to the enemy but they sure as hell we're embarrassing weren't they. And the revealed once again that our government is not above sneaking around behind our backs. Doing things they shouldn't be doing. By the way. He was nominated last january. For the nobel peace prize. Yeah couple of norwegian members of parliament because quote. His actions have an effect led to the reintroduction of trust and transparency as a leading principle in global security policies on quote. The winner of that prize will be announced soon. And snowden continue to release information that shows that our government is doing things that seemed to go well beyond the limits of national security spying by the government on international business. They say they're not listening to our phone conversations. But then they also said they were not collecting information to before the reverse. Was proven. No i believe. Not the nsa people. Honestly believe. If they were at are doing the right thing. But they need to be shown where the line. Is drawn. Just like truman did with a car through over the use of atomic weapons in korea. Macarthur wanted to blast atomic weapons all across the korean peninsula. The creative radioactive barrier. Across that cont. The military that would have been pretty effective. But humanely. That would have been pretty horrible. All in all. This july fourth weekend i have to say. In my opinion. Are american ideals have stood the test of time. Sometimes we the people have to stand up and yell at the government. To remind them of these ideals of liberty. Injustice. An equality. And i'm afraid is that is going to be a never-ending battle. As overly ambitious people test the boundaries. Continuously. Freedom. Independence and opportunity. Are the hallmarks. Of the united states. The country of france with the people of the us together financed and created the statue of liberty. Standing in the new york harbor. At liberty island. Originally called. Bedloe's island. The words on the pedestal were set to music by irving berlin in 1949 he called it and miss liberty. How many of you have read the entire poem. Of which only apart his discreet inscribed on the base of the statue of liberty. It's called the new colossus. By emma lazarus. And it goes like this. Not like. Reason giant. A greek fame. With conquering limbs astride from land to land. Here. At our sea washed sunset gates shall stand. A mighty woman. Will the torch whose flame is the imprisoned lightning. And her name. Mother of exile. From her beacon hand glows world-wide welcome. Her mild eyes command of the air bridged harbor that twin cities frame. Keep ancient lands your storied pomp qureshi. With silent lips. Give me. You're tired. You're poor. Your huddled masses. Yearning. To breathe free. The wretched refuse. Have your teeming shore. Send. Please. The homeless. Tempest-tossed. Tempe. I lift my lamp. Beside the golden door. And today. We're seeing. Waves. Put the homeless. Tempest-tost. Children. Fleeing into our country. From central america. Guatemala and honduras for the most part. Literally thousands of them. Creating refugee camps in our country. From what i've seen so far we seem to be doing the right thing for these kids. And being careful that. When and if we do send them back it's not back to a hellhole. What are the principles of unitarian universalism. Sums it up pretty well. We affirm and promote. The goal of world community. With peace. Liberty. And justice for all. Including. The children. Hey man. And namaste. I'd like to leave you with a question today. Are we still lifting our lamp. Beside the golden door. How much control should we be exerting in the face. Of all that crying wretched refuse of teeming shores. Balancing compassion and practicality is not easy. But it is. Necessary. How is far is patriotism is concerned. I'm pleased and proud to say to anyone around me at anytime of the year that. Yes. Unpatriotic. I honor and revere. The ideals for which my country stands. I fly the flag every day out in front of my house. I have a stylized american flag on the back. Of my car. I salute my flag. I salute my country. And i salute you. And i bid you. Namaste.

uufvb_org

2015Jan04Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. Aren't you glad you're in a place where it's going to be 84 and not 14 as a high today. Welcome to vero beach florida and the unitarian universalist fellowship we are so pleased you've chosen to begin this new year with us. Wiara congregation of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands people seeking to become our best selves. Even this together is a current gation we worked to make this world a kinder in better place for all. And please know you are welcome precisely as you come to us in this new year whether you are young or old gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Whether you're struggling with longtime illness or feeling on top of the world physically this morning. What do you have a ged or a phd whether you're a visitor this morning. Or been coming for decades we welcome you. We are delighted to see you. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. I think you'll find something here this morning some perhaps small nuggets. Take with you. Double feed your spirit and nourish your soul and give you renewed energy and purpose. For the living of life ahead. Italian ken sawyer recently retired from wayland massachusetts wrote one new year's sunday. Year upon year the seasons come and go. Decades upon decades in years arrive and escape century upon century millenia upon millenia time plots is cyclist. Thoughtless way. Earthly mortals mark and parse block out and measure. Making lines across a neutral. Naked spinning space. Hoping to hitch an imprint deep enough. To remind eternity. That we were here. My hopes more mundane remain not that this year she'll play a glorious role in x grand procession. Nor even that this year she'll be different to me than others before but that i shall be different to it. To life to the months that now begin more open to the truths that persist. The we shall not. Do human feelings of. Kindness and duty to the holy things of life on this planet that maybe if i yell it loud enough. It's a whole new year. My struggling face. Show more fully capture my soul's attention and wake me. From the dreamless sleep. And lead my feet upon new pads. Dangerous. Promising. And fresh. It's a whole new year. Let it be like an alarm clock. Good morning world. I have forgotten. How bright and warm and wonderful. The sun can be. How the smell of hibiscus or how the deep pain and loneliness of those. Beloved. Around me. Though the whole grade halo universe mocks our little game. The lines we draw. May this one be for the occasion may this one before us the occasion. For real wakening. For faith reborn each of us shouting to ourselves and our cells together. It's a whole new world. Westerra. Cake art. Let us be one in the spirit of meditation. It's a whole new year. There is nothing holding you back from becoming the kind of person you wish to be. There is nothing holding you back. From being the kind of person you want to be. This year. You are free. To break free of the past. To live in fresh pathways. Aw. And wonder. Calm. And love and service. There is nothing holding you back. From being the kind of person you wish to be. It's a whole new year don't make silly resolutions. But there is nothing holding you back. From becoming the kind of person. You want. Welder friends at tappan once again hasn't that while we were hardly noticing another whole year has flown by and here we are already four days. In the 2015 it's amazing no matter how old we are how quickly. Time. Passes. Because time is so fleeting as my colleague can sawyer observe. I wanted to pause on this first sunday of the brand new year and reflect. As i said i would in the congregational record on what i believe to be the. Single most important spiritual practice that any of us as human beings. Can place at the center of our lives. And the curiosity about the spiritual practice is it in all likelihood. Your fourth grade teacher probably tried to regularly remind you of this when you were nine years old at least. Minded. I went to the fourth grade way back in 1958 at pratt elementary school in racine wisconsin. And i can hardly believe it but i actually found a picture from the local newspaper of that time of me and some of my 4th grade classmates. There i am on my hands and knees in the front right with some of my other and that is my 4th grade classrooms all that's not my fourth grade teacher. It was the drama person we brought in. My teacher that year was mrs. daily. A young attractive no-nonsense that we bought we were acting out some sort of. Pantomime think it was supposed to be very clever and important i don't know what it was. Anyway. Mrs. daily had several admonishments to this day which i remember for example i remember that whenever one of the students read one of the boys. Bail out the world worth head. As in like it's snowing outside. Misses daily would immediately say to the offender mr. miller. Hey is for horses. I also remember and that made a great impression on me by the way i never begin a sentence with hay. Well maybe i do but when i do i think of her. I also remember that mrs daly was very good at reminding the students including me about the spiritual practice i want to lift up today now i i asked you on the current gation record of any of you had any guesses and no one called me but. Can somebody guess what the most important spiritual practice it misses daily taught me what is it. Come on you've got to have a guess. Listen to that's close. Saying thank you that's also very good. Play fair another great when what what it really was. Is she would say. Mr. alexander. Pay attention. Mr. alexander. That's like listen. And so what i want to reflect on this morning. Is on this all-important first sunday of the fresh new year is the incredibly important spiritual practice of paying attention in your life. If you're not purposely paying attention. And paying attention to your life in the present moment. To the important lessons and realities and relationships that are at hand. Then you will miss most of what you were put on earth. To notice. No i will admit this is not the first time i've addressed this topic. Here at your uscb nor will it be the last. At least once a year i remind you about paying attention to being mindful. I'm reminded of the my colleague carl scoville the great minister of kings chapel. Who wants pizza it was put up list together of the 10 things you should never say to a minister in the reception line. One of them is. I enjoyed the guest minister you invited to preach last sunday how soon can you have her back. Another was reverend i really enjoyed your sermon this morning just like i do every time you preach it. But i will admit. Don't like all the ministers. I returned time and time again hopefully in fresh a novel and entertaining ways but i return. Time and again to what i believe are the most important themes of our living. Reservoir tia firm this morning i believe that paying attention to your life being. Truly mine. In the present moment. Is crucial. If we are to make the most of the lives we have on this earth. I believe the most important spiritual practice is being fully awake. In life you find yourselves. And not. Generally vague. Right now. So what exactly do i mean when i say that for a spiritual. An emotional well-being we made we need to pay purposeful attention and cultivate more daily mindfulness well. As i've said before i think it undeniable. And the children story. Alluded to. That most of us living in this high-tech. High-speed twenty-first-century culture filled with electronic media and computerized gadget. Lead lives most of us of significant distraction. And as a result. Regular intertan of dust to the present moment. It's not of course that we're all stumbling through our lives each day and some sort of fog or stupor. Most of us managed to wake up reasonably rested in the morning. Kirk ourselves up with a cup or two of good strong coffee and whole. How does how does that ever make a day. Fuel our bodies with a bit of nutritious breakfast. Peruse the morning papers or television news shows to catch up on what happened in the world overnight. And then we most of us confidently dive into a full day. Of activity engagement we're not stumblebums. We modern americans are a busy and purposeful lot. What what most of us call a busy or purposeful day cannot truth be told. Be acquainted with really paying attention. At least not in the focused mindful spiritual way that has the power. The singular power to really bless your life. If we're to reach our full human potential most of us need to regularly and purposely work. A cultivating. A much greater mindfulness in our daily routines. Know what do i mean by mindfulness. The word is thrown around a lot in common culture. But what is it i want to try again with some water here. But what does it really mean. In his wonderful book wherever you go. There you are. American buddhist and mindfulness guru jonathan kabat-zinn. Offers this helpful definition there he is. Mindfulness is an ancient buddhist practice which has profound relevance. To our present-day live. It has everything to do with waking up. And living in harmony with oneself and the world. And cultivating some appreciation. For the fullness of each moment we are alive. And it has to do with being in touch with where we already are. No matter where that is. Achieve mindfulness kiko's on. We have to pause in our experience long enough. Pause. In our experience long enough. To let the present moment sink in. Long enough to actually feel the present moment to see it in its fullness to hold it in awareness and thereby to come to know and understand it better. Mindfulness he goes on. Means paying attention in a particular way. On purpose. To the present moment and in the keyword and non-judgmentally. And then he ends. This kind of attention nourishes greater awareness clarity and acceptance of present moment reality. It wakes us up to the fact. That our lives unfold only. In moments. If we are not fully present for many of those moments. We may not only miss what is most valuable in our lives but also failed to realize. The richness and the depth of our possibilities for growth and transformation. Anthony and. I'd like to think of mindfulness simply as. The art. Of conscious. Living. In my book everyday spiritual practice which i put together several years ago to help people in our denomination cultivate everyday spiritual practices. My buddhist friend and colleague james austin. Similarly affirms that through everyday simple mindfulness which is really. Just. Intentional focused and keen noticing of the present moment. We can deepen our relationship with everything in life. I called him. Mindfulness is a kind of remembering. Remembering to be here. To be present to pay attention to this moment of life it is characterized. But i want you to remember this phrase it is characterized by. A spacious knowing. Of what is happening. Auspicious. Knowing. What is happening. But so much of the time in our lives austin points out. We sacrifice what is right in front of us we sacrifice. This present moment by dwelling. On the past or imagining or worrying about the future. If we do this repeatedly our minds become very places to live. Running back and forth. From the past to the future while i work experience of the present moment become shallow and i'm fulfilling. Much of the time gym goes on. Our mind has a mind of its own. Easily wanders off into some fantasy of the future or some evaluation. Or judgment or remembrance of the past. But when we bring full awareness to the present. We end we know what we're doing and we know we are alive. Till the first aspect of mindfulness practice in daily life you can close. Is to just find everyday simple ways to remind yourself to show up. In the present moment. By being in a deeper and richer way. We connect directly. To that inherent self-worth. That is our birthright. Unquote. You know one rather simple and sterling way of thinking about life is to realize. That it is nothing more than the past where we just were. Being constantly interrupted. Buy a new moment of the now. The fleeting place we now and have it. Before i move on to the future which i cannot inhabit. Not even a little bit until it arrives. You can worry about it. But you can't inhabit it. Life is always interrupting itself with newness. And the trick is to move yourself mindfully along. To what is actually unfolding otherwise your living everywhere except where you are. The great trick of mindfulness which all the mindfulness teachers teach. Is to focus your attentions on the present moment. So as to not let the past. With its inevitable memories and complication nor the future. What is inevitable plans and worries and anticipation. Crowd out the present moment. The trick for mindfulness is to refuse to allow the past in the future to crowd out. The present. Moment. Way back in the 70s rom dass. Famously said. The trick to mindfulness is to be here now. To push the future in the past back away from the present moment. To create that spacious knowing of what's right in front of you which games austin talked about. And this is difficult because there are so many ready and seductive distractions from the present moment. Pressing in on us. Let me give a concrete example for my own life. Witches i confess. This is something i struggle with constantly. As a minister every single day many diverse and important and interesting things of vie for my human attention. All day long no matter what any given moment i am focused on. I'm seemingly bombarded by many competing stimuli. Stuff that was to intrude on the present moment. It seems like there's always a dozen or so thanks clamoring for me to pay attention to. And this makes mindfulness paying attention to what's right in front of me. A real challenge. Everyday get to the office i have books and articles to read. Sermons to write services to organize ideas to ponder meetings to attend meetings to attend and did i mention meetings to attend. Phone calls to make emails to answer. Toys facebook post to look at and respond to visitors degreed staff to interact with just a name. Some of the seemingly endless task than stimulation. The preston upon the few hours i have each day to work. What is really difficult for me personally especially given the fact that just as i had in 4th grade. I have a short attention span you know i'm grateful that they didn't know what add was cuz i surely would have been diagnosed with that but i wasn't like i got through that whole thing without any real trouble. But i have trouble focusing on what's right at hand it's often hard for me when i'm at my desk. On the phone with someone. Not to look at the 47 unanswered emails in my inbox. Do you recognize that problem do you. And it's often hard for me when i'm focused on writing a sermon not to pick up my smartphone when it beeps indicating i've just gotten a text. And it's sometimes hard for me when someone comes to my door and knocks a do you have a moment. For me too and i always could gladly do this. To totally set aside. What i'm working on so that i can fully. Attend to what is in front of me. A guest. In front of me. The very morning i was writing this portion of the sermon my office phone rang. I turned away from my computer. And i was talking with one of you who just learned that there was a fatal illness in your family that was going to take a loved one. When the phone it's very important. Pay attention. Teknon honda famous. A buddhist vietnamese meditator. Does it when the phone rang he treats it like a meditation bell calling him back so he says the phone rings and instead of being irritated uses. A phone call. Something important to talk to the phone call. But just try that next time you're in the office or at home. When the phone rings. Damn telemarketers. Phone call. Anyway that's that's on the side. You know the truth is dear friends i am preaching as much to myself this morning about mindfulness as i'm preaching to any of you. As i've already confessed in my busy complicated and fast-paced life with my office and smartphones my email accounts facebook page is internet connection. I constantly have to remind myself. Can really only do one thing at. Once and that's the present mom. And pay attention. To what is directly in front of me. Humanely and naturally. So i need really to practice what rhonda said in be here now if i'm going to be an effective minister shutting out the past. Shutting out the future shutting out all the things i have to do i know i have to do my list. Put all that back so i spacious leak and experience spacious lino. What is right in front of me. You know. I know i'm not the only one who struggles with this i suspect that all of you are least most of you. As creatures in a distracting and distracted culture. Can relate to this struggle about pushing back the past and the present and all the stimuli. They're constantly. Seductively saying. One modern-day enemy of mindfulness. Is a relatively new cultural american habit of thinking as many of us do that we can successfully multitask. Several things at once. Many busy americans maybe some of you. Proudly proclaim that i'm in my last church outside in the inside the beltway in washington i had all kinds of sophisticated federal people who signs in a big-shot attorneys and. Ambassadors who thought the multi-tasker they regularly bragged about. You know like. Driving a car down the interstate while talking on the cell phone and eating lunch. Or checking both the nasdaq and s&p 500 on the split screen computer terminal while typing email to your sister. They think they can do all that with clarity and excellent well i've got news for you. We homo sapiens were not wired. For multitasking. While we like to think of ourselves as neurologically quite sophisticated it wasn't so long that our ancestors jumped out of the trees. On the savannah. And the truth is. And science tells us this. Our brains are not really capable of paying attention to more than one thing at a time. I know you're the exception but most of us. Numerous recent studies on multitasking. Show that except for a meager 2% of the population people called super tasker's and i really don't want to spend much time with any of them. Rare people. Can handle focusing on more than one thing at a time. Every study indicates that human performance and productivity suffers when we divide our attentions. Let me speak personally here. I know full well that if i try to read email from a committee chair. While talking to someone on the phone about an upcoming community event i do neither task well. So one simple thing. We can do to enhance. Our experience of the fullness of the present moment. Is to remind ourselves in this is not that hard. Just do one. Thing. At a time. It doesn't mean. You're stupid. It means your focus. And here's another important thing to remember about mindfulness. Mindfulness is not just paying attention. To the wonderful and easy moments of like like when you're taking a sunlit walk in the park with a dear old friend. Or playing with your two-year-old grandson. On the living room floor. Or enjoying a wonderful sloppy delicious meal with old friends. Or attending a great classical music concert. Mindfulness and again mindfulness is always done non-judgmentally. Is often. Also needs to be done in the hard demanding moments of life. You need to be mindful for example when you're facing heart-wrenching grief. When you lose someone you love. Or coping with an illness or a disability that makes life a painful challenge. You need mindfulness when you're dealing with a strained or failed relationship. Or managing some major obstacle or loss or. Don't lie into alcohol or. Or get that the internet when you're when you're suffering mindfulness means. Non-judgmentally being with whatever really is in front of you. Paying attention means paying attention to all of life. Not. Be just a happy parts but the unwelcomed. Parts as well. Alright. So assuming. I have convinced you. Of the spiritual and emotional importance of mindfully paying attention to the present moment. The question becomes yeah but precisely how do we do this. What are some simple practical techniques we can employ in our day-to-day life. That will help us to heighten awareness of the moment we're in. Well. I have several. First of course there's a tried-and-true discipline of regularly sitting meditation. Many people find that taking as little as 10 or 20 minutes a day for meditation. Clausing say at the beginning of the day or at lunch hour at your desk. Or even before you go to bed and some special place in your home. To quiet your mind and pay attention to what's at hand. Can greatly enhance. Your day. I find that even shorter periods of meditation 2 minutes 3 minutes at my desk. Ir get up from my desk and go to one of my chairs in my office and. Close my eyes and concentrate even just several moments of relaxation technique. Does a long does a great deal for my mindfulness. I also have a personal of practice i called meditation. Of the senses where i say i'm out walking in riverside park. I will say to myself. Now i'm going to listen. A moment a minute or two i will just listen to the birds in the sound of the trees in the wind. I will just listen to the sound of the distant train. And then i'll stay to myself after i've done listening now i'm going to look. And i will just look keenly look at what's right in front of me really seeing what's in front of me. And then i will smell my world for another couple of minutes and then i'll find some object tackle object like a smooth leave for us. Hora en orange or something and i will feel that world. That that that object. Just by going through my senses and taking i can i do this on the bike sometime. I do it walking you can do it as you're going to sleep at night. The many many things you can do. Meditation of the senses. Just to remind yourself the only way you have to take the world in. Is through your ears and your eyes and your nose and your tongue in your fingertip. Illumi finally share. 3rd and i think tumi most useful meditative technique. Again despite its incredible simplicity i believe it has the. Power to greatly enhance our presence in the present moment. For the last couple of months i've only been doing this the last couple of months i've personally paused it pretty much. Random moments in my day. I take a deep breath and then i quietly and slowly ask myself a series. A simple question. And those questions are. Where am i. What am i doing. Who is here. And what matters. What do i truly love. I just simply asked myself those questions. There are of course many other techniques and practices that can help us achieve greater mindfulness. In our daily routines. Find some some of you find focus through yoga or tai chi. Others of you use prayer or meditation guided meditation some of you use of classical music listening to classical music or reading poetry. I and others as i use repetitive exercise swimming or cycling or walking. Lol a very much a mindfulness meditative technique to bring you back fully to the present. The point is it is terribly important that we had all have waze. In are distracting and busy life. To call ourselves back purposely call ourselves back. Not to the past not to the present not the future but to the present moment call ourselves back. And i invite you again let's try this practice. Right now i asking these five questions of ourselves. Right now we'll pause between each of them. Bring this into your life. Where. Am i. What am i doing. Who is here. What matters. What do i love. What do i love. Right here. Right now. I'm at. 32 years ago i found this afternoon years in a unitarian letter. Herman iowa uu fellowship. I've waited 32 33 years to read this. It's my wishes for you and 1982. May your tea kettle. Whistle. Your bird sing. Your clock chime. Your doorbell ring. Your grass grow. Your star. Wink. Your cake. Rise. Your pot. Sync. Your bills. Diminish. Your time. Increase. Your lamb. Come home. And your heart have peace. God bless.

uufvb_org

2011May15Sermon128.mp3

Welcome. To this quiet morning when life restoring rain has returned to the treasure coast. All the world seems at reston. May we be as well. We welcome you this morning and we. So delighted all of you have chosen to be here. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wondershade 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. And we welcome you just as you come this. Can all of your pee. We hope you will find the service meaningful 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. Coming week. My topic. Morning so you. Had a bad day. Is unashamedly inspired by one of my favorite popular songs of the same title by the singer-songwriter daniel powter. So that you can follow along with the words as we play this now they've been included. On the pink insert. In your order of service but i also have arranged a special slideshow. So that you don't miss the point. So. You had a bad day. I want to thank all of you who gave me a bad day face. I just love that song. Simple. Melodic toe-tapping melody i love the lyrics. Every time it comes on the radio especially if i'm driving alone i belted out of the top of my lungs by myself inner drivers may think i'm about to go off the road but i'm having. Find find type. And by the way isn't that the best part of driving or showering alone. You can sing along and nobody will ever tell you how badly you're singing. It's just great. In any case after repeatedly enjoying the song on the car radio i began as a minister which is an occupational hazard. Begin thinking you know there's a sermon. This experience we have called bad day and. I wondered if this common phenomenon something wouldn't be something we benefit by reflecting on briefly. I mean everybody knows about having bad days they're universal experience. And maybe these out of sync and irritating days. Have something to teach us. Spiritually. And maybe it spiritually matters maybe really matters. How we deal with them so let's take a little time right now. I'm about to have a bad day it's just one of those little things. Let's spend a few. Minutes on this subject. This morning i have seven. Things. Tell you about bad days now i got to tell you that 40 years ago back in seminary mike homiletics professor the reverend dr. joseph barth. Wisely in phatic lee said to me one day and class kid. A good sermon has three points. No more. Mls. But you don't you folks and vero beach like the clever smart folks of lake wobegon are above average. And i am sure. You can go with me with seven points this morning. And just so you don't listen john is going to project them up one at a time the first. Observation i want to make about a bad day. Is there really is objectively something in life called a bad day and like it or not we all occasionally have them. Every person in this room knows what a bad day looks and feels and smells like. Because. Daybreak over us. Tamia bad day is like alexander one in one single 24-hour. a sequel. Little irritating complications difficulties strokes of bad luck. None of which are in enough themselves earth-shattering or devastating. Occur one after the other or simultaneously. Often exacerbated by you're feeling physically or emotionally down or out-of-sorts are just not. Mobilized. The person. And these kinds of days then. Steadily nibbles away at your normal sense of enjoyment. Fluidity annies. Let me just take a quick stab at. Describing such a day or a bad day starts when you wake up in the morning not having. Slept all that way because you're worried about one of your kids or grandkids. And you can only find one of the slippers at the foot of your bed what gremlin is it the hides those. So you stumbled barefoot in the shower wake yourself up to wake yourself up. And the hot water knob comes off in your hand while it's scalding hot. After you get in your bathrobe you step outside to get one of your most treasured little possessions of the day your morning newspaper would you love to read first thing. Only to discover the delivery guy didn't get it to. Funtime once. Now thoroughly in a grumpy mood. You sit down for breakfast you empty the last of your favorite cereal into a bowl at a wonderful slice banana and sugar for milk. From the refrigerator karnal over only to discover in your first sentence. With your first anticipatory spoonful. But the milk has. You settle them for breakfast of orange juice decide to get on the computer for a couple do a couple things before you go to your doctor's appointment. Everything goes bad on the computer until you try to complete the complicated order and the site through no fault of your own x you out and will not let your visa number work. Forcing you to start all over again now you're running late for your doctor's appointment you tried to quickly get dressed only discover the shirt you've chosen is missing a critical button. The flight of the car back up and hit the overloaded trash can you put out. Overnight. You heard lee pick up most of the trash put it back in the can. And head to your doctor. Every light. You catch every light or every light catches you. Finally you arrived the doctor more less on time you open the waiting room door to see a room full of sullen looking for. Sure enough. 89 minutes later you're ushered in. An examination room where you cool your heels for another 70. Your doctor isn't sure what's going on with you so she orders more test two of which involve long sharp. You finally get home in the afternoon to find your morning paper waiting for you you want to go into. Studying read it finally but. Spouse. Wants you to help with the grocery trip a common task you've secret. The dinner cooked for you that night isn't exactly a favor. What you put on it. Faith only to have your beloved. Beg you to watch a movie with her you know one of those. Movies of slow-paced movies about. Enterprising and empowered women. You just loved one. By the time. You're ready for the data and you're feeling totally put upon you go to the bathroom to brush your teeth and the peppermint to breaks. Filling the stuff all over your hands finally you've had enough and you go. In a way that your spouse hears. You had a bad day. Friend of mine describes a day like this as getting nibbled. To death. That's what a bad. Deus. Each nipple each irritation each difficulty. Isn't monumental. By the end of your day you. They've added up and you. Deflated. If any of you had a date when you felt nibbled to death by ducks. And to imagine you can skate through life without such days. Is simply to ask existentially. Bartimus. That's my first. Point number two. When you find yourself in the midst of a bad day don't take it personally because it's really not about you. It's really the how can i say that. A bad day of course in one sense is a very personal thing it's your bad day and no one else is and that in fact is one of the most. Frustrating part of having one. All kinds of little things are for no reason going wrong and out-of-sync in your life. But almost everybody else around you seems to be sailing through the day just fine. On such days it feels like the it feels like the universe has purposefully singled you out for a hard time but this of course. If not. The case. Ideologically i went to theology school i will tell you it's not. The universe has not singled you out don't flatter yourself. Bad days happen. because god or fate or the president of the united states even has ordained them. They simply happen because they happen. This universe in case you haven't noticed is paying no particular or cosmic attention to you. The grand scheme of all that is doesn't really care or notice about your little needs wants desires or demand. Life just roll the head in one big as one big complicated mystery. And one a day doesn't go particularly smooth for you it really doesn't need a whole lot to anyone or anything other. Then yourself so when you're having a bad day. You can if you accidentally want to. Wallow in self-pity or feel sorry for your poor old little put-upon self but. Don't spiritually imagine. That this is all about you because it's not. The universe isn't particularly picking. You anymore. Send it ever. Looks out. And the real and that realization. Should. Make the complicated dago. Third point. When you find yourself in the midst of a bad day acknowledge this reality first yourself and then is appropriate to others in your immediate circle you really don't have to carry the burden of the bad day completely alone. I am passionately persuaded that when a bad day is in the process of as my mother used to say declaring itself. In wisconsin when it started to rain in the morning my mother said today is. Clarinets. What a bad day is in process of declaring itself. For example and by lunchtime several unrelated things have already gone bad for. It is spiritually and emotionally important to acknowledge to yourself. Today at least so far isn't working out so. Speaking personally. I when i feel out of sorts with one of those days. Just nothing's working. I find that help. Say psychic. To myself. Steven a little ironic. Well well looky here through no fault of my own i'm having a bad one. I guess it's just going to be one of those exasperatingly days i must. Just as well gird my loins. And lower my expectations. Such internal acknowledgement. Help me to cope with. A less than. And i also find it helpful matter-of-factly without excessive drama or self-pity and that's the key. To share my emotional and spiritual state of being with trusted people who are close to. My spouse. My co-workers life. Winter example i'm having a bad day here at the office and yes they happen. I find it helpful to walk into deb's office usually without my shoes. You notice i don't wear my shoes in your essay. Yikes tab. It's only a little after 11 a.m. and i'm already having a bad day i had a flat tire on my bike on the way to work. The arthritis in my knees is killing me my sermon is not coming together. My printer cartridge just ran out of ink. And the phone won't stop ringing if he's parishioners would just leave me alone i can get my work done. And deb bless her heart always looks at me sympathetically and says. They're they're all my yes i've had a day like that. And sometimes we even laugh about just the. Accumulation of it. And that puts my bad day back in for. Kind. And sympathetic people around you probably can't all by themselves turn a bad day around. Sympathy isn't enough. But allowing good folks around you to share in the knowledge of what you're going through and express their sympathy and under. Lightens your burden helps you feel less alone. And helps you feel like you're not the only one in creation. Bearing. 4share. 4. When you find yourself in the midst of a bad of what is shaping up to be a bad. Trust that you may. May be able to turn things around by sunset. Now i must admit that sometimes when i'm personally in the midst of a bad day. Try the way my time unable to steer. The thing about it's her life trying to steer the titanic around an iceberg. In my life sometimes bad days to clear themselves early. And are insistent and hang me on emotionally hang on my psychic ankle. Until i crawl into bed. Defeated and the. Some bad days are mean. Strong and tenacious. And simply in my experience these days must be tolerated must be endured must be gotten through. What other bad days again in my experience can be turned around. They can be turned around by me making the right emotional and spiritual decision. Specifically by my refusing to sit in the soup. That i seem to be. Sometimes i have broken the spell. Of a bad day by taking a restorative power nap. Or by calling an old strand and going out to lunch. Sometimes i broken the spell the bad day by putting down the sermon that does not want to be written. Briefly take a walk around the building. Get out. Beautiful sunshine. Or ride my bike hard on a1a for an hour. Comeback. Play doing or going home. Instead of feeling bad cooking. My world famous. Meatloaf. Mashed potatoes. I'm sure the fridge one of us different decisions different activities and techniques. Help us to. To turn a bad day around to break out of that stupor of a bad day the point is. The one we find ourselves in the midst of a hard day. We are often quite capable if we'll just get up the gumption to try. To take positive action. They're b slipping ourselves. Flipping ourselves out of the pan. And transforming. What was going to be a bad day in the one that turns out to be altogether. 5. Remember that when you're in a bad day it can only last 24 hours. By definition it's a bad day it's not a bad week it's not a bad month it's not a bad year it's a bad. Is probably the most obvious observation i can make. Also maybe the month among them. Important. A bad day doesn't have to shape the red. Nor does it even have to set the pattern. Your next week. Or month. Four season. A bad day doesn't have that. All bad days come to an end. At the end of the day. And just as i affirm. Bad days can even an earlier if. Succeeding. Composite decisions. Help you.. But a bad day by definition in my experience. Nnn reality. Disappears entirely. When you fall asleep. In the embrace of sleep that night. And just a quick. Important word hear about the. Restorative power of sleep. No matter how complicated or irritating a day you have had. Sleep. The simple bomb. Unconscious rest. Were you can't go over. Over it. Once you fall into sleep. Has the power to set all the pieces of your life back. To order & co. The next day how many times have i. Irritated and upset. Only to have eight hours of. That's what they now say uni. Not sick. I-5. No matter what your age. 8 hours of good. Can help put. Everything back in. Perhaps the most merciful thing about it. Days inn. Has no real staying. Far beyond its. It's 24 hour. Unless of course. Decide to fixate or focus on it. Immediately when you wake up. Erasing the benefit. Of the fresh start. You have. The very substance. So next time. You're having a bad day remember that it is trapped. It is very existential. This to. 6. When you find yourself having a bad day. When you find yourself having a bad day. It's really important. Irritation. Unpleasantness. Trooper spec. Trooper. This idea of course is related to the last. About bad days only being. The irritations and complications and difficulties. Have a bad day are by definition small. Being a little. But if you blow them up in your mind as big and pervasive. Permanent. And even more spiritually.. Used to hold on to them. Nursing. Nursing them in a kit bag. Complaints. You've given the bad day much more power over your life than. Ever have dreams. Of having. Its own. I also help. Profoundly helps. Keep a sense of self-deprecate. During the course of a. They about how things aren't working. Some of the aspects of a bad they aren't all that fun. But others are. For example. Back when i was at. Maryland live. One day i had three flat tires. 18 minutes. As i was trying to get up to a meeting at work. At 9. 3 flat. Boom boom boom. And one of the first one happened because i was saying chi i haven't had a flat. In a long time. It was very irritating as i was feeling my blood pressure. Rising i finally learned. This in perspective. What is the chance of my fine fine. Three bits of glass. 15 minutes. And then i laughed again saying. The bicycle slabgod. Through his best at me. And is perhaps laughing and having right now but by god i fixed each one of them in 7 minutes flat. Come on. I'm ready for you. I was late. But i was not bent out of spiritual. Please don't. All that a bad day really has to throw at you was a lot of little stuff. And as dr. richard carlson reminds us. In his famous book. The same title. Don't sweat the small stuff. It's all. Ballston. I called him. Often we allow ourselves to get all worked up about things. But upon closer examination. Aren't really that big a deal. Most of the little irritations and complications notices me. That make a bad day. Are not in fact all that big a deal. One glorious early spring day when i live back in boston. I saw a guy in revere massachusetts he was in a great big yellow cadillac with those fins that go for days like 1958 cadillac. Yeah. Light yellow color yellow. What they call a wife-beater t-shirt on with all this gold on it. Bananas bumper sticker. I loved it said. Everyday above ground. Is it good day. Play a great big cigar to spell everyday above ground is a good day. Now that puts a prospective doesn't it. So perhaps one of the most important strategies for spiritual emotionally surviving a bad day. Is to keep it in perspective and realize that each component of a bad day is not in and of itself. That big a deal. Certainly not that big a deal to make you miserable unless of. That is the. Then it. My 7th. I guess i'm getting close. I would remind you that occasional bad days cert served her spiritually remind us. How generally good and pleasant and congenial normal everyday life is. Look this maybe an example of me. And i admit to being a ready optimus. Trying to make a spiritual purse out of a sow's ear. But i really do believe. The fact that we all occasionally have bad days cancer. 2 wisley remind our hearts. How generally speaking. Life. Dan and day out as we are giving it. In the normal. An exciting unsexy flow of thing. Life is pretty darn good. Gracious. I mean for one thing mosquitoes. The size. Think of that. I think it can be fairly said that all of us make the spiritual mistake. Falling out of the hat. Being grateful. They get raped. Adjust. 1. More. Normal. Ordinary. Pedestrian. In her wonderful essay the riddle of the ordinary. Cynthia ozick. Reminds us how easy it is to take. The ordinary. She writes. By making itself so noticeable. Has gotten itself in a bad fix. We hardly ever notice it. The ordinary simply by being so ordinary temp to make us ignorant and neglectful. What's something does not insist she right. I'm being noticed when we are grabbed by the collar or struck on the side of the head or skull buy a present sort of it. We take for granted. The things which most deserve our gratitude. And this is the deepest point. Concerning. The ordinary. That it does. Deserve. Our gratitude. And then she concludes the ordinary. Is aboveall what is. And what is expected. Is not off. Let me give an example.. Every time. Every time. I got a miserable chest cold. With all the aches and the pains you know for 45 days everytime i get swept into one of these damn viruses. I say to myself. If i can only just feel normal again. I will never take. Feeling for. And as soon as i get over the cold i forget my promise to life. I start griping and groaning about all the little things. I forget my promise to the ordinary that i'll just be grateful i forget my promise. God that i'm not going to. So. Look. No one enjoys having. Or even afford a lousy chesko. And i'm certainly not suggesting.. This morning that such. Unpleasantry. Are some sort of. Necessary. Spiritual correct. In our lives it somehow we're dealt this stuff. But i will say to you too. That having a bad day every once in awhile. Cancer. To remind our stubborn. Aloft. Ungrateful. What else. A simple blessed gif. Is an ordinary day. For example just. Cake stock. The day. Find ourselves. We awoke this morning. In a beauty. Apart. The world. Inotropic. Play something. The rain we so desperately need was. We digested breakfast. Maybe even some of the sunday paper. And now we're comfortably sitting here. In a pleasant air. In good company. Family and. Like mine. And when we leave here we have much of the data. Like dr. seuss says. Brain in her head and shoes on her feet. Go wherever. I pray you dear. Each and every. Take spiritual. Of the holy ordinary blessing. Ordinary. Everyday. For it is is that guy in revere mass. Everyday above ground. That's all. I really know. Life. Is basically. With its bad days. Life.

uufvb_org

2012Aug19Sermon128.mp3

Reverence. Compels me to confess that i do not know exactly what reverence 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 but which we scarcely seem to know how 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 then uua president. Bill 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 her history and in our maturity when we needed a conversation about a language of reverence. In a series of sermons and talks in articles. Synchronicity was struck by the fact. That the association's purposes and principles our mission statement contained no traditional religious language. I noticed your 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 essick referencing for said. But does not do much to capture our individual searches for truth and meaning. In an interview reverend sinkford said he was not formally proposing 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 reverence. The name the holy. To talk about human agency in theological terms. He said the explicit religious language would better acquaint people with life's religious deaths moreover it would help religious liberals rest religious language back. From the religious right. Well. Given our penchant for discussion. Many unitarian universalist evidently responded to president sinkford call for conversation the unitarian universalist association office receive more emails. Letters and phone calls. That on any other issue and its history. 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 in a massachusetts congregation said i was like for you used to be able to express in spiritual language what it is that moves us and guides us through the world. Well as an active parish minister at the time i gave a sermon response to river and sing ford's call. And then these many years later. I was spurred by another contact conversation as so often happens bill moyers was talking with somebody and he was talking with an authentic barry lopez. And they were talking about justice and reverence. And so that combined with my own experiences in recent years. Has call me back to the topic to 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 that it's a mistake to think that reverence belongs to religion or 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. Of all. Respect and shane. Wendy's are the right feelings to have. Which means it's not always the appropriate response okay. By this definition woodruff maintains reverence crosses all religions and belongs and fat to community. Reverence you write lies behind civility. Ceremony and all 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. The boss is not a leader. Instructors not a teacher. Without reverence we would not even know how to learn reference. Paul 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 is 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 book reason. And reverence. Wreath. Few of us and i can remember the first day i walked into uu church many years ago few of us would have walk through the door. Wu fellowship or church or remained. Where it not for the ideal of freedom of thought 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 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 or 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. Yet 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 souls. For me this requires a language of reference. So today is i did years ago i think you'll stanford ask the right questions and pointed to significant challenges we face as a face community. I believe we you use have talked to ourselves for too long we spend some of the congregations i've been it. Often 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 understandings. My colleague david bumble i'm some of you know. Has written the 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. Add cereal. In such a world. Once powerful religious images and metaphors that enable religion to stand in critical opposition. To unexamined then 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. With it 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 we can't reclaim. 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. Why which has power. When it reflects the vision. To which it must give voice. The humanist 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. And so i think now we're the time when we're challenged. Define 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 and theater parker. It has roots in the naturalistic mysticism of can patent 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 to tell. 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. A cold. After about 3 minutes. The world is no longer had 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 first stars 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 now conditions of chemical composition and temperature and radiation. Permitting through the interplay of chance and necessity. The coming into being of replicating molecules. And life. Dust evolution began on the planet earth. Eventually it led to you and me. We are all made of the ashes of dead stars. John polkinghorne. Now i'm not a scientist. So let us imagine. Then our society other societies you and i. Understood this story as our common creation story. A 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 15 billion years ago on i know some would say that's not true. 15 billion years ago. And how would evolve into some hundred billion galaxies of which the milky way is one. Does everything exist. The most 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's related everything else. We are distant relatives to the stars. And kissing cousins. With the oceans. Plants. 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 venom 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 individual. It staggers the imagination. It is fact as well as poetry to declare. Out of the stars have we come. This is a story. Of radical non separate. And this is a story for our time. Story based on science. Yet infused with sacred meaning and all. It is a religious story. A vision of reality. That contains within it. The sources of moral ethical. Transcendent. 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 evolved here we belong here as solidly as do all its other life-forms. 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. One implication. Our lady of our arrival suggests the whole show was not put on. For our benefit. This does bring us back to reverence. The central message of ancient greek reverence 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 greek 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 of our 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 inarticulate. 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. To 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 our common story. Which one embraced. Celebrated and acted out of. Is a story of hope.

uufvb_org

2012Nov25Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday this week and we're glad that so many of you are with us this morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach florida. I know that you're welcome just as you come to us and all of your particularity and charm whether you are young or old. Gay or straight. Black or white or some other wonderful state of humanity. Whether you are feeling on top of the world this morning or somewhat down in the dumps or in between. Know that you are welcome just as you come to a. We hope you'll find our service meaningful and enriching this morning you'll find something here. The nurse is your spirit. And feed your soul and gives you renewed energy and. Zephyr. For living. Life in the days and weeks ahead. Good morning. Good morning. We are gathered here to share this our together. 4 mi opening words. I would like to share with you something we used to recite almost every sunday morning. Our bond of union. Innocence it is are coming to and with each other. And covenants. Should be set on loud. 2 and wiz. Each other. I'm asking you to join me in saying this morning's opening words. Some of you may know it by heart. But i suspect that most of you dumb. I do. George's printed in your order service. Or maybe projected. On the screens behind me. But speaking is not all i ask of you this morning. I also asked you. To listen. Union is what holds us together. Despite all our differences. That is what reassures us. It was mutual trust. Mutual commitment. Our mutual faith. We can be stronger when we are together. Then we can ever be. Bayar so. If you are a visitor please do not feel you should recite our bond of union with us. Although i hope. You will at least. Listen. Our bond of union please join me. Reunite. To dedicate ourselves. Individual and social life. Through our religion. We believe in reason and conscience. End of the neverending search. Truth. We believe in the ethical application of our religion. And the motivation of love. Expecting the worst. Dignity. Of others. A little over 10 years ago. I presented a sermon still on 43rd avenue. Entitled. Go to church. I'm are aware that while some of you heard that presentation. None of you. Remember what i said. Neither do i. This morning. I am asking that same question again. Only this time. I'm providing an answer for you to ponder. As you try to provide your own answer. To my question. As i get older i find myself slowing down physically. Which means i have more. Used to. For low energy. Like reading. But because i'm also getting lazier. I find that most of the stuff i read is pure. Escapism. Junk. I find it. Waxes me. Because my mind. Doesn't have to work. But it also means. When i read some words that make sense. I am unlikely to remember where i read them. Or who wrote. One such phrase struck me this past summer. The unknown authors stated. And i quote. A man cannot learn much. While his mouth is open. As i listen to all the pre-election battle. I've come to realize how profoundly right he or she. Was. Does anyone ever listen critically to anyone else. Anymore. It is obvious to me that politicians don't. And i'm dubious about most broadcaster. But how about the rest of us. Do we. Henley. Really. Listen. To what someone else. Is saying. Too often this fall different listeners to the same speaker would report that he had said totally different. Sing. Not here. What the speaker said. They heard what they wanted. To hear him say. Which indicates that most of the listeners. Had previously established a political bias. Did they wanted the speaker. To support. Not. Is what they hurt. Almost nothing in our american culture or educational experience. Demands us to listen carefully. And critically. Because people heard different things. There was unnecessary albeit understandable. Confusion. Misunderstanding. Country. Let's face it. Listen carefully is not. Easy. And almost every mode of our modern communication. Places a premium. Unspeaking glibly. And listening. Distracted. And yet. The ability to hear what is spoken or read what has been written. Is fundamental. The learning process. It was part of what we used to call critical thinking. But i fear that that concept. Is rather past say. These days. To listen. Or not to listen. That should not be a question. Nearly 70 years and education if convinced me that you cannot confirm or refine your own ideas effective. Unless you share them with others. And then. Are willing to listen carefully. So their responses. Especially. To their criticism. This i am sure is part of my scientific training. Because this kind of peer review. Which is what it is. Is that the very basics. Of the extraordinary strength. Of the scientific process. But of course sharing means taking a risk. Because others may disagree with you. But it is precisely from such disagreement. That your ideas. Can be refined. So as you defend your own points of view. Remember. Did your critics deserve your respect. Were they to have dignity and work. So listen to them. With care. They may be out of touch with the reality you are professing. But maybe. Just maybe. They are seeing a reality that is a little deeper. Then was your own. And when that is so. You have that wonderful opportunity. To learn something new. Unhinged to grow. And here is where this fellowship. Becomes part of my question. Where is this this congregation. Not just the church. That provides us all with something very special. A community of thoughtful. But diverse people. Or not just willing but possibly eager. Bashar. To share ideas and experiences and yes concerns and. Conclusion. Sahara change my question little bit. Play go to church. Is why become part of this community. 4 uus bb is not a place or a building it is a community. A wonderful human being. So let me restart my argument. But this time with a presumption. Someone once said. You can't learn very much from people. Or just like yourself. It must be true. Because i said. I throw that in here because it's suggested being part of just any group. Is not enough. It must be a diverse group. And while that fits nicely into our fundamental concepts of democracy. It is proven overtime to post serious question. I'm just how. To ensure diversity. In groups like student bodies. Town subdivisions. Agencies. And yes. Congregation. Let me explain. But giving an example. I never attended the episcopal church. And i joined the episcopal church in exeter new hampshire. I attended it. For many years. Because i love the music. And i my wife and my three children. We're half the choir. But conversations. Elastic congregation was all just to homogeneous. Which means that they spotted with predictable emphasis. On all the same interpretation. Of the religious message of the service. For the prospects of the patriots. Red sox. What a sad state. Contemporary. Human morality. I seldom heard. Passionate disagreements. About much of anything. And as a consequence almost the only thing i learned at church those years. Where is fuel transfer from the book of common prayer. And impatience. Know if you want to learn it's almost imperative. Did you exchange ideas with those different from yourself. And then listen. Really listen. Do what they have to say. In response. But listening is not always easy. Because first you have to put yourself in a frame of mine that can expect and then accept. Criticism. Disagreement. If you accept our worth and dignity of every person principal. Even negative responses. Could stimulate you to further thought. And that in itself. Is a prerequisite fart. The learning process. And that my friend is really hot guy. Come to this fellowship. I come to be part of this group of people. It is the baskin this community of thoughtful. Loving giving friends. All seeking to learn and to grow. And to put their beliefs to work. Ford major societal goals. And the future. So now my question is no longer just about this church is also about this entire. Close. Community. I said close. Not close. And that expands. The picture. Considerably. Because now i'm talkin about all of the ways. In which we as individuals. Indirect. Our services park. Well that interaction. It's the formal part. But there is so much more. Coffee hours. Fourth fridays covenant group. Committees. Intone hole. Speaker series and yes. For some of us. There is even a choir. So now i've expanded my focus significantly because now i am asking you about why you come to events many of which don't even take place. Here in this church complex. And some of which may not even be directly related. Do our own religious. Observation. Like northeast cluster seminar. Choir festival. And let's not leave out circle dinners. Where some of the most personal conversations take place. Accompanied by some of the best food to be found. On the treasure coast. So i'm no longer asking you why you or i come to church i am asking yuri should immerse ourselves. In the whole on-going life. Of this entire fellowship. Community. And my answer is still. T'learn. So you might ask just what did i learn this month. If anything. Here's one example. Has nothing to do with a wonderfully challenging sermons. Or the stories for all ages or our liturgy. But surprise surprise if you know me at all. It does have to do. With our music. As you know i sing a lot. I also hummel. As you know i sing a lot. I do not apologize because so much of my religious life with you is in the music. We share here together. And if you have listened to my. Any of my past presentation. You should already know that what i hear when we sing. Is not just. What is printed on a page. In a handle. Insa. It is the sum total. Of my experience. But i associate. With the music. I'm singing. Case in point. Hymn number 118. To me that is not just a bunch of notes. Called finlandia. I mean know that our accompanist is playing a piano. But what i hear. Is the whole boston symphony orchestra under serge koussevitzky. Because that's where i first heard. And fell in love. With this glorious feast of music. And the setting is. Vero beach. But the russian finnish war when an army of thousands of army of minions. Dewey standoff. The shores of lake. The gold-bug. Finland. Show for me. M318 covers a vast age. David major events that have nothing to do. With what is in our hymnal. And which may mean nothing. Anyone. Other than myself. Was a him i've heard many many times over many many years but i've never heard it sung in quite the way. Our new director of music. Had a singing. That first rehearsal. With him here. It was the first time i was witness. The metamorphosis of a hymn. Into an anthem. So that sunday experience made 318 a whole new experience for me. For one thing. As i said it was our first anthem under tom's direction. So i was excited to hear how he might ask us. Just sing it. And i was right. He did not simply let us sing. What was wrong. The printed page. He pushed us and crescendos here or decrescendo was there and had his repeat a b at the end. Which added a compelling finale. So that beautiful melody. And if you know finlandia well enough you may recall that sebelius did not end with that lovely melody either. At least. Not quite. Tone poem with a fanfare creep rise of some dozen-or-so notes. Taken from that dreadful melody. But appended. With triumph. Power. And that. Is how tom ask. Choir just singing. In short he lifted that him right off. Sterile pee. No. I doubt tom ever heard boston symphony orchestra. Undershirts. Viski. And i doubt. Derek chair. The underdog. Besides lake ladoga. He'd been born yet. So he never heard. What i did. But i may not have heard everything. He did. And my point is that what tom and i heard was different. Because our experiences. I've been different. And that's what made that and some significant. For me. He made me hear something new. And that change what i heard when we sang it again. A few weeks ago. The point of this example is it had i not made a snap decision. Delete my wife at home resting. And come to church that sunday. I would never have heard that anthem some that way. And for me that means that i would have missed. Eric tribble opportunity. To learn something new. Thank you tom. For having given that opportunity. And thank you choir. For sharing it with me. Between the two of them. They've helped me prove my own point. To myself. I come to this fellowship. To learn. Alchemy maximize our opportunity to learn through our presence in this community of friends. Or simply coming to the farm weekly services. Isn't enough. The given take from sharing must come from other parts. Of our life together. And one obvious. Other park. Is our coffee. That's a wonderful opportunity. To open doors meet new faces. And become comfortable. With each other. It's a wonderful. Social time. But the real exchange of ideas and dreams. Will probably come at other time. The town hall. Committees first fridays. And so on. Yep. Your calendar is beginning to fill up. With opportunities. But wait. Let's take a closer look. Consider town hall. My recollection is that every time i've attended a town hall. It has been pretty much the same two dozen or so people. In attendance. No i know that sunday lunches important. But town halls are or should be. Used almost exclusively. Four issues of major general concern. To the fellowship as a whole. Conflict may keep many of us from attending. But i am reasonably confident that more of us could to tendon. Then currently do. Why don't. Think on this the next time you are asked. Your opinion on some issue. And you start to safe but i did. Pause and ask yourself. Why didn't i know. About. What answer is. It's somewhat rhetorical question is to place the blame on floor. Communication. And we've been doing that. 4 year. But. When communication fails. Is it the sender. It is always at fault. Or is it the fault. Of the receiver. Communication can only work. If you and i. Help. And one way to help it. Is to listen. Careful. Committee structure. All congregations have committees. And we are no exception. Believe me. In our case both the minister and the president. Are explicitly ex-officio members. Almost committed. But with general approval all members are friends are invited to sit in. On committee meeting. If they wish. So why is it. That in all my settings. I have almost always been. The only sit in present. Except for those. Invited specifically. Do attend. To provide special. Information. For the committee. No i don't expect too many of you to sit in on a lot of committees believe me. That's fun. But keep in mind. That you have that right. It is part of our effort for an openness. And accountability. Reluctantly learned about this organization and its members. By sitting in. And witnessing the give-and-take. And our committee meeting. And this is. Where's the listening part of my thesis. This morning. Fits in. You are free to sit in and listen as much or as little as you want. Or feel you can. But there is such a wealth of opportunities here that you will have to pick and choose as fits your personal. And that means going a little out of your own private ways. If you want to make the most. What this fellowship. Offers. Let me give another example of something i've learned. Well. Preparing this. Presentation. A few weeks ago. I walked out. In the middle of a choir rehearsal. It wasn't the first time i'd wanted to. And it probably won't be the last. And no i did not walk out. Buy stock. I've been sitting singing in coral group for over 70 years. But as some of you know i do not read music. Those little black and white notes on the page try to tell me what to sing. But i do not understand. Their language. Don't know what they are telling me i must first hear. The music. Then. After i've heard it. Those little notes are enough to remind me. So i can sing but they want me. Just sing. Oh i get them wrong it's time that's my choir neighbor. Tell you. At least what i sing is almost always. In the proper harmony. All of which means that i have to hear what our director is saying or playing. If i am to learn the music. And that is not easy. When others around me during rehearsals. Humming. Work parking. Or telling jokes. As a result sometimes i lose my patience. And that wants a few weeks back. I simply blew up. And stalked out. And yes. It's happened before another choral groups. And yes will probably happen here again. As well. But these past weeks. I've had the skip choir. To the point that i have occasionally sat where you are now sitting. And to my surprise. The choir sounded fine. How could that be. Despite all the distracting chatter at rehearsals that's. So upsets me. They all seem to know the right notes. Just sing. Apparently the distractions that so bothered me over the years. Did not bother them. And that means. Did my impatience over our noisy rehearsal. Has been misplaced. Is. Choirs problem. It's mine. Problem. Instead of blowing up at them i should have been blowing up at myself all these years. Because i have been unable or unwilling. To learn enough about reading music. So that i like the rest of the choir. Could understand the language. Those little black and white notes. On the peak. Will this new understanding. But myself. Make me less likely to stalk out again. I hope so. But frankly i doubt it. I'm pretty old. Inset my ways. In conclusion. There are still asked you. Why do you. Come to this fellowship. Yes i dare. But i do not ask for your answer. Immediately. I ask you please to ponder the question. And try to answer. For yourself. Now if you asked me why i come to this fellowship my answer is simple. Like come to learn. I come to learn how to be a whole. More responsible loving and effective. Human being. The services are part of it. Weather liturgy. The passionate words of our minister and yes the music. But mostly. I come here to learn about myself. And then to be. Myself. And these are things i learned mostly. From you. Mall. Love you. Here i have no opportunities to learn every time any of you and i gather together to talk. And hence. To share. And yes. As you must have noticed. I tend to listen. Far more than i speak. All of you have far more to give me. But i could possibly give. To you. So i listen. Those opportunities to learn are your gift to me. And i hope that by listening and occasionally speaking. Those opportunities can also be part of my gift. Do you. Soulmate. For all.. May god go with you. Embrace life. Met life. Return your affection. May away be found. And the courage to take it. Step. By step. Our service this morning has ended. That are greater service.

uufvb_org

2015Jun14Sermon32.mp3

Yes it's flag day. Found it in wauzeka wisconsin my brother often place. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship 40 beach on this flag day june 14th 2015. We are so pleased that all of you have gathered on this warm summer day to be with us. We are congregation of the graphics loving hearts and helping hands. Our best individual cells together as a religious community. What are you gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful state of humanity. What do you have a ged or a phd whether you're a visitor for the first time this morning or 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 in all of your particularity and charm. We hope you will find our service this morning meaning for this morning. To take with you in the days ahead. To make your life a finer and more joyful. We are privileged to have with us this morning. There he sits. He helped the board do some strategic planning yesterday. All of the southeast district of. Is that what you are. Southern raised. Very very long time. And i'm most pleased to be sharing our pulpit with him. We come together this morning. On the forming edge. Of our lives. To resist. To resist the headline. So we claim for ourselves. Awareness. Ingratitude. Take me to spaces. And see their communion. The reflection. Varona. And silence. Memory. And hoe. Is haliwud this day by our presents together. Two lessons for this day. Unitarian universalist clergy. Victoria safford. Describing. The purpose of faith. Our mission. Our mission is to plant ourselves. Not. Northern. Boring. Common sense. No more. Lower the gate. Self-righteousness. Creek trail and angry hinges. But a different and sometimes lonely play. Hibachi. And it's condition. Who is this i sold this morning. Place of resistance and defiance. From which you see the world. Is. And is it yet. Could be. Is it. Will be. Not only the struggle. The struggle. Faith communities are always dealing with the fact that we do not live. In paradise. For the land of promise. Somewhere still in exile. In deserts of despair and loneliness. Victoria stafford when she says hope. Is a thing with feathers. That perches in the soul. Who sings the tune without the words. And never. Stop it off. And sweet. Sweetest is the game. In the game. A little bird that kept. I've heard. In the chillest land and i'm. Grainger. Never in extremity. Plastic rum. Hope is the thing with feathers. Deptford. In the soul. Here is lessons for this morning. As an occasional guest. And with our associations general assembly. About a week and a half away. And in my role of the executive. Southern region 200. And 15 congregation. 31000. Universalist comprising what. Used to be the deep south. I am tempted. Talk to you about the nomination. And if you're really curious. That'll be glad to chat with you about. I'd rather be. Reflections. It is good to be with you. Uark. I'm not supposed to have favorites. It's always a delight to come back to you. William wordsworth. In the early part of the nineteenth century. Said. The world. Cinemax with us. Late. The world is too much with us getting and spending. Little we see in nature that is. Even in england.. His palm was a protest against. The industrial era and what it was doing. To society. Belay weight. To our power. Who is about 18 years ago. Wednesday afternoon. Late march. I had to. Working on a long essay. Call the loss of faith. Little did i realize i was doing. I took a day off to go work with a spiritual director. Confusions i was having about my call. Trying to understand what. Going in for me was spiritually. And that afternoon as i. The restaurant. Plain old boring restaurant. Everything. Everything that i knew. Jason at hope about. Busted went away. It's as though my soul. I don't want to be overly dramatic. I still knew the difference between. And when he said how are you i cried for an hour. Everything. What about myself. And the gifts that i had. All the work. All the people. Everything. I felt like that. And it was tempting to think i was going to be stuck there. I like that story. How much dirty. The too much until the world throws upon you. You can always climb above it. It is perfectly possible to go to bed one night. Or wake up one morning. Add to discover between inhaling and exhaling. Is all dirty rags. Is gone. And out of what material. Subway deals. My. Deo. Disappearing everything. It's not unique. And i don't want to be a grand eyes. In my ministry. Who would come to me and tell me of a time in their life. When everything. Cell. Career of great import disappear because of the economy and through no fault. Of his own. My father was rendered redundant. No place to go. I've had pressure cry in my office over a divorce that they did not see coming after 37 years. Commitment. To their partner. I've counseled. Young adults. To say i can't take it anymore i'm going to leave. People are going to take their life. How about you how is it with your soul. I pray it's filled with joy. Prairie. But it's not i want you to hear. The parable of the mule that no matter how bad it is you can rise up above it. I knew it. I got out of that. Empty spot. Goodcare. Someone who listen to my story. And two other school walk with me while i try to figure out how in the world. And preach the truth the gospel of love. When i had nothing in me. How could i do that. Colleagues and friends. Richner. Who accepted me in that state of. Sandlot. And walk with me in hell. Hopefully. Everything. They said it. It's pretty awesome. But you're not alone. You are never alone. Well i grew up in a typical first born male of a first born son of a first born son. In the midwest where is your email the last thing you do is whine and moan. Or think you're anything special. And you should pull yourself up by your bootstraps. I don't know what to do. And have somebody say neither do i. But i'll walk with you. I didn't need anyone to fix my problem with much as i would have been grateful everything's going to be alright. I would have welcomed that. But i wandered. Self. What. To help me recreate myself. Took a lot of friends. That i couldn't believe in. Supposed to said that's not the end of the story. There's more. Be patient. It was that in my. Eventually the fog lifted. And i was humbled by. The many times i started the gates of self-righteousness. Caught her that i knew what the. Wife and i joke all the time while we know what the answer to life. I need to know more than that. I need have a reason to get up in the morning. Sending as a minister to come and stand with you and. Can i help you find the gates. And together we find them. Ground in the reality of our. Bothered. Bothers me. Reviewing an episode of the newsroom. Cable serious thing with andrew sorkin. At any headache. Where. The station. Equivalent of walter cronkite. Is interviewing a deputy director of the epa. About climate change. Reddit. It just basically went like this. It's pretty bad isn't it. Do we do anything. Commentator. 20 years ago. Maybe even 10 years ago. I walked around. Contemplating the possibility. And we are already over a threat. Requirements. Parable. Development. Think their only purpose in life is. India and other places in the world. That if you do not sign on to their political agenda you are somehow a pariah no longer worthy of respect in her. The prevailing. If you are saved. Eddie lewis already. And if you are in prosper. That's what calvin said. Until we see increasingly. A movement. Thoroughly undermined and i wonder why. And then the next. Losing control. His discipline and shooting someone. Choking them to death. How is the weather. He's my friend. Is it possible for a whole society. After the first world war. William butler yeats irish poet. Only coming soon to come back. Things fall apart in the center cannot hold. Everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned. Blackhawk conviction. Surely some revelation. Surely a second coming. Set han. If we get to see the history of this era. Live long enough to be. I really don't understand. Slipping into hatred at every opportunity. Vilification polarizing. Migrants against. People with and without. The richest. Core. Cover. How is this happening. And i we. Not to despair that there is no hope. Well that would be a realistic. Way to look at that. 3 g. We have each other. We can learn together we can witness together we can. Deal with hunger this community with. Occasional gifts. We can be engaged. Working on the climates. We find ourselves. Never the end of the story as long as we have each other. To work to bring love and justice into the world. Michaela. Even in your moments of wanting to give up. Is that love calls you to love more. You get out of your stuff. I reaching out to love and care for others and with. Broken. I love the society into. Had to be present. And did you all you can even if it's not everything that new. Unitarian edward everett hale. I am only one. I cannot do everything. But. Don't let that. Stop. The one thing. We find. Hope. Challenges. Opportunities. Ask each other to hold hands and hearts. And the step boldly. Do the one thing week. To my request of your my admonition to you this week. One thing you can do. Either in this community. For your neighborhood. Little more sunshine. Consider live. And so that we will not. Is the voice of despair. Utility. And giving up. Blessings on your man. Rain with an unrelenting. Hope. Is the thing with feathers. The purchase. Places to telling about your own hole first. Play struggle. Repeat worthy of our calling.

uufvb_org

2013Feb03Sermon128.mp3

Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach florida we are so pleased that you've chosen to be here with us. This is a congregation standing on the side of love. Where we work to build our best selves at the help save our world. Nothing less. And 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 were feeling on top of the world this morning. Or down in the dumps or somewhere in between you are welcome just as you come to us. In all of your particularity in need. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching and that they'll be something here for you that will make the living of life and the days and weeks ahead. I'm more rich and full experience for you. Maybe be reminded. Here. About highest aspirations. And inspired to bring our gifts of love and service. To the altar of humanity. Maybe know once again. We are not isolated beings. But connected in mystery and miracle. To the universe. And to this community. And. To each other. Is truly an honor for me to be here this morning. I can well remember. Some. C13 and 316 years ago. When i was. Has selected to become the president of meadville lombard theological school. And i announce my resignation at the river road unitarian church in. In bethesda maryland. It wasn't late may and the two weeks later at the general assembly i i saw scott who i knew was. Was looking for a congregation and i said to him. Scott i have a congregation for you. And sure enough the search committee agreed. And he was. Selective course to be the. Minister of that wonderful congregation. We were sorry to lose him there but i can see why. He wanted to come here. Many reasons including this magnificent building. And i predict since you now have one of the most outstanding ministers in our association. I predict that this. Sanctuary auditorium will be filled on sunday mornings. Within a few years. We'll see if next time i'm back. Happy diction will come true. Don't so great to be here with lee paige leave is a student in meadville lombard theological school and i was there. And then. She is. Amazing person. I think you have two amazing ministers so congratulations. And then. I think your future. Is going to be great. The red knot. Is the sandpaper that every year travels more than 18,000 miles. From the arctic islands of northern canada. To tierra del fuego at the southern tip of south america and back again. Stopping along the way on several atlantic beaches. During their stay in the southern hemisphere. They replace their tattered feathers in a long molt. Ensuring their flight equipment to be in top condition when. In february. They begin their journey north in flocks. 1000. They stop on their way for food. Always at the same beaches or marshes where they have fed for centuries. From the northern tip of south america they embark on a week-long non-stop flight. It takes them to delaware bay. Justice horseshoe crabs are laying eggs by the millions. There they gorge themselves in order to be prepared to engage the next leg of their long journey non-stop. To the islands north of hudson bay. They're in the long summer they mate and breed. And by mid-july the female knotts abandon their offspring. And head self. And a few weeks later. The mills follow. The babies fend for themselves. Until late august when they two. Commence their 9000 my journey. Now here to me. Is the absolutely amazing thing. The young nuts. By the thousands. And without adult guides or prior experience. Find their way along the very same migration route of their parents. Stop at precisely the same beaches and marshes for food. And join the others at precisely the same place. In tierra del fuego. How do they do it. How do they know where to go along the route they have never traveled. To a destination where they have never been. Scientists can only surmise. Ethelred nots genetic inheritance. Includes a map for the journey. And the instrumental knowledge to follow it. But saying that is simply to emphasize. Mystery. And the amazing nature of life. Love of nature and feelings of reverence and amazement toward it. Is a long tradition in america in general. And then unitarianism in particular. Beginning with ralph waldo emerson. The name familiar to this congregation. As i discovered last night. Emerson first major publication which is great essay on nature and early in that essay he wrote. If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years. Elwood men believe and adore. And preserved for many generations the remembrance of that city of god which had been shown. But every night. Come out these invoice of beauty. And light the universe with their admonishing smile. Because on. Stars awaken a certain reverence. Because they're always present. They're inaccessible. But all natural objects make a kindred impression. When the mind is open. To their insolence. Like emerson i love to go out on a clear night and gaze at the sky glittering with the lights of thousands of stars. Most of them larger than our sun. As i pondered the unimaginable vastness of what i'm seeing. An incredible distances between the stars. I'm overcome with awe and amazement. And with a sense of how tiny the earth is. And how infinitesimally small am i. And i am cleansed of pride. And huracan. In recent years. A religious perspective called religious naturalism has been experiencing a revival. Religious naturalism says two things. First. It holds that the natural universe is all there is. Super supernatural. Does not exist. Second. It maintains that there is religious meaning and value in nature. What i have done in the book that's got referred to entitled reason and reverence. Subtitled religious humanism for the 21st century. But i've done that book is to combine humanism and religious naturalism. Humanism of course has always been a naturalistic in the sense that it didn't eyes the existence of a supernatural realm. But until now it has not emphasize the religious or spiritual nature. Four aspects brother of nature. According to recent surveys. About 45% of unitarian universalist. Identify as humanist. But that is down from about 75%. Only 25 or 30 years ago. Why the decline. At least one reason is because of the criticisms that have been levelled at humanism. The book and this sermon respond to those criticisms and describe humanism that is vital and open and free of the weaknesses. It has been accused of. Most religious humanism and religious naturalism. Maintain that human beings are products of nature and natural causes. We are simply one of a prolific nature's multitudinous creations. Each unique and special. And all part of one interdependent web. Both naturalism and humanism also maintained that we human beings do not consist of a separate entity called mind or soul. Horse spirit. Temporarily dwelling in the physical body. But that human beings are a psychosomatic unity. This acceptance of human mortality and transience. Leeds humanists and naturalist. To feel gratitude for life. And the commitment to make the one life that we know we have. As meaningful. And as joyful. If possible. Religious humanism and religious naturalism go together very well. Because from humanism comes the emphatic conviction of the value of every human being. I believe in the importance of reason and intellectual honesty. An ethics that emphasizes love. And social justice. And opposes oppression. In all its forms. From naturalism. Come to central oil and wonder and reverence. And mystery in the face of life and the universe. It provides a deep spiritual dimension. Does humanism by itself. Lacks. Moreover. Humanism has been to human-centered. And needed a deeper more inclusive foundation. From which naturalism. Which which naturalism provides. And humanism has been accused of being too cold. And rationalistic. And that too is remedy. By naturalism. Every religious perspective needs a story. And religious naturalism gives us a meaningful story. The epic of cosmic and biological evolution. That's religious naturalism provides a foundation. For a new and more open and more inclusive humanism. Twin a word. Humanism provides the humanistic values of naturalism blacks. And religious naturalism provides the religious and spiritual aspect. The humanism. Has lacked. As you know humanism is often divided into religious and secular humanism. But religious and secular humanism agree on the basic beliefs of humanism. The major difference is not so much in what they believe. But in the way they practice humanism. Religious humanist emphasized the importance of belonging to a community. A community where our beliefs and values are supported and encouraged. Where we find friends who have similar. Fuse. Where they where we can work together with other human is for social justice. And where we can celebrate life's passages together. Getting greater meaning. A passages of life such as birth and marriage and. Religious humanists tend to be more open than secular humanist to feeling all and wonder at the natural world. And many fine spiritual or religious meaning in nature. And religious even this place more value on the emotions. And on personal experience. I like to say that religious humanism. Is humanism. With a heart. I have a friend. And who would disagree to some extent. Because in his words. Religious human in our secular humanism brother is my religion. So he said. The word religion of course comes from latin root meaning to bind together. And humanism is religious because it binds people together. And helps people reconnect. With the things that are most important in life. Human beings. And human values. So as you know most people think religion or religious beliefs refers to a supernatural being. Many scholars disagree one of my favorite philosophers has an excellent book entitled religion is not about god. That's a surprise to. People. In 400 pages he tells you that religion is about personal wholeness. And social cohesion. So i use the word religion to refer to those experiences that give direction and meaning to a person's life experiences. And that helped to unify the self. Listening to handel's messiah. May not necessarily become a religious experience but listening to a beethoven symphony might. Going to a religious service may not be a religious experience with walking in the woods. Might be. In a word. The religious dimension is not a separate compartment of our lives. Better quality of life. That and that which gives meaning and direction. To our lives. Element turns a religious naturalism. Religious naturalism not only insist that the natural universe is ultimate. It also finds as i said religious meaning or spiritual meaning in nature. For many people myself included. Nature evokes some of the same feelings of supernatural deity evokes. Indian hearings of traditional religion. The unimaginable vastness of the universe. The incredible complexity of life. Evo call and reference greater than anything i experienced. As a southern baptist theist. As a religious naturalist i feel wonder and amazement in nature's at nature's majesty and beauty. Its complexity and its power. I feel joy and comfort among its trees. Bye-bye atwater's. And refreshed and rejuvenated from walking in his woods. I feel reverence when i ponder the incomprehensible vastness of the universe. And equally mind-boggling smallness. Of the submicroscopic world. That the universe is in the title of a book by physicist freeman dyson. Infinite in all directions. Is far beyond my ability. Even imagine. I find it the more i learn about the world from modern science the more i am at all. The stars i can see with my naked eye are as far away is 10000 light years leaves me speechless. Well almost. But the dna in a single cell is in my body is so small i cannot see it. But it's stretched out would reach from fingertip-to-fingertip of my outstretched arms. And if there are trillions of cells in my body and enough dna in those cells to reach. To the sun and back. These facts feel me. With wonder. And the fact that the milky way galaxy has a trillion stars and the universe contains at least 50 billion wish i could say that like carl sagan used to say. 50 billion galaxies. And us thousands of trillions of stars similar to our sun. Fills me with an amazement far beyond my poor power to disc. I'm overcome with astonishment. It's a thought that my body. Consists of 10 trillion cells. Did my brain consists of 100 billion neurons are least it used to. + 100 trillion. Synapsis. I'm on. By the ability of non-human creatures such as a red knot. Even the immense power of nature has exemplified in earthquakes hurricanes tsunamis and tornadoes is a source of all. The nature's power can destroy human beings and human creation. Is reason for great sorrow. But it is not the result of malice. And certainly not. Will of god. As we sometimes here. We can use our ingenuity and our creativity to do all we can to protect ourselves from nature's destructive power. But we will never be entirely successful. Nature is like the hindu godhead. It consists of the creator drama. The preserver. And the destroyer. For religious naturalist living in a natural environment is a spiritual experience. Freedom supernaturalism the religious naturalist can be devoted. To a nature that nurtures and sustains. It is not accidental that people people speak of mother earth. Or our mother the earth are ties to nature. Rdp. And intimate. What are the values of religious naturalism of course is emphasis on the environment. Religious naturalism has a strong environmental epic. Only because of what. Nature of what environmental pollution and global warming will do to human beings. But also because of the intrinsic value. Of nature itself. Turn out a religious humanism. Brazil's humanism affirms the inherent value of every human being. It maintains it all persons are ends in themselves and not means. To the ends of others. It holds that we humans make our lives meaningful through service. And through personal and spiritual growth. And by optimizing the good. In opposing that which is evil. Religious humanism emphasizes personal freedom. And the application of critical thinking and natural intelligence. And making choices. And inviting one's actions. It emphasizes life in the here and now. And does not expect another life after death. It up holes intellectual honesty. And reject superstition. Santa denies the supernatural it insists that we can rely only on ourselves. To establish a better world. It is optimistic about the future. Although this optimism is tempered. But the understanding that we humans too often pursue our own interests at the expense. Of the common good. And it finds great value in human beings. Coming together in religious community. To deepen our understanding. To support and strengthen our values. To celebrate life's passages. And to work together. For a better world. I love with a friend of mine. A retired engineer. Has written. And i quote. It's taken me the better part of a quarter-of-a-century to sort out what i think humanism is all about. The short answer is. In finding humanism. I've also found my own humanity. My humanism informs me that i am genuinely and fully human. My humanism informs me that i am a worthy. Individual and a worthy member of whatever community i find myself in. By my humanism i know myself to be ethical religious. And civic-minded. My humanism helped me avoid falling into despair. It helps me find a healthy sense of certainty in the face of meaninglessness. Competence. In the face of futility. And self-confidence. In the face of alienation. Or condemnation. And a quote. But religious humanism needed changing. And that's where they just naturalism comes in. To those who have pointed out that humanism is to human-centered. Religious naturalism says it is the natural universe the cosmos. In which we live and move and have our being. And not human beings. To those who feel that religious humanism is not really religious because it lacks a basis for spirituality. Religious humanism religious naturalism excuse me offers our relationship with nature. As a source of a deep and vital. Spiritual experience. The late carl sagan. Who was and identified as a humanist. Put a beautifully when he said. When we recognize our place in an immensity of light-years and in the passage of ages. When he grabs the intricacy busey and steffanie of life. Then that soaring feeling. That sense of elation. And humility combined. It surely. Spiritual. Moreover we humans have been criticized for being too rational to the exclusion of our feelings. We are said to be all head. And no heart. But there's nothing inherent in humanism that says. We have to ignore our emotions. In fact our reason and emotions often work together. Recent studies maintain that our thinking is infused by our feelings. For example i feel outraged of injustice and oppression. I get angry when i think of the millions of people without health insurance. At the debilitating effects of racism in this country. At the injuries of poverty in the richest nation in the world. Every human is dino. Feels that same way and we use our reason to try to resolve those problems our reasoning processes are permeated. With our feelings. Her head. In our heart. Work together. My point is simply that the criticisms that have been leveled against religious humanism. Do not apply. To the humanism that is grounded in religious naturalism. Everybody just vision needs a story. Secret stories. And religious humanism. How would i call humanistic religious naturalism. Has two stories. One from the human side. And one from the natural side and they weave together very well. The sacred story for the religious humanist. Is the story of the long struggle of the human race for freedom. The story of the struggle for political. As well as religious freedom. It is a story of the struggle to abolish slavery in the ancient world. As well as in the modern world. It is a story of the hebrew prophets. Basaltic transformed judaism from religion of laws and rituals. To an ethical faith. It is a story of jesus. Who sought to free judaism from being a religion of laws and ritual. And make it into a religion of the heart. It is the story of the protestant reformation. Which soccer free religion from priestley and ecclesiastical authority. It is a story of the buddha's reform of hinduism and of liberalizing movements in islam. It is a story of the early unitarians in europe and america. Who insisted on freedom of belief. And the use of reason in interpreting religious meaning. End of the universalists. Who freed people from a god of wrath and punishment. Took out of love. It is a story of all those. Who has sought to purge religion. From authoritarianism. And who have fought for greater political freedom over the ages. It is the story of the liberation of the mind from superstition. And from religious dogmas that foster bigotry and hate. It is a story of the men and women who have worked for equal rights for people of color. And for women. A people of all sexual orientation. The humanist story is a story of all those who have worked to make human life more truly free. And therefore. More fully. Human. And it is a story without an end. As long as there are people who are not free. Be there because of political tyranny. Or because of poverty and ignorance and superstition. And any other form. Depression. And it is a story that you and i not only can tell. But we can continue to make. Every religious story or every religious vision needs a story that provides an account of how the world came into being the place of human beings and the meaning and direction of human life. The traditional stories that have sustained western culture for several millennia. Are no longer efficacious for many of us. But modern science has given us a new story. With multiple layers of rich meaning. That the story is the epic. Of cosmic. And biological evolution. That story is a religious story. Because it calls us out of our little self-centered world. An able just to see ourselves as part of the great living system. Recall the cosmos. The story gives a larger meaning and a broader ethic. To our lives. The epic of cosmic evolution is a narrative that underlies humanistic religious naturalism. And it provides the individual with a meaningful worldview. And a sense of belonging to a larger process. The epic of cosmic evolution that begins with the big bang. Provides us with a vision of the universe as a single reality. 1 long spectacular process of change. And development. An unfolding drama. A universal story for humankind our story. Like no other story. It humbles us as we contemplate the complexity. Other cosmic process. It amazes us. Let me try to imagine its magnitude. Like no other story. It evokes rev says we feel its power. At all and wonder. As we visualized its beauty. Like no other story. He gives us a scientifically-based cosmology. The tells us how we came to be. And what we are made of. As we read in the responsive reading the basic elements of our bodies. Carbon calcium iron. Reforged inside supernovas. Dying stars. And are billions of years old we are in fact. Made of stars. How did the stars. Have we come. We are intimately related. To the universe. Like no other story. It teaches us that we are all members of one family. Sharing the same genetic code. And a similar history. Energy v gratitude in astonishment at the gift of life itself. And inspiration for responsible living. Like no other story. It gives meaning and purpose to human beings as the agents responsible for their current and future stage evolution. Only my call. Social or cultural evolution. The things that you and i do. To make the world. The epic of evolution is everybody story but it is uniquely the story the religious naturalist claims. Is the story of the creative powers of matter-energy and of the changing an adaptive powers. Have living cells. Is the story of the growth and transformation. A living being. It is our secret story. And is this to me. The most miraculous thing. I can imagine. To quote the late carl sagan again. He wrote. A religion old or new. Distressed the magnificence of the universe as revealed by modern science. Might be able to draw force reserves of reverence and all. Hardly tap. By the conventional face. Sooner or later. Such a religion will emerge. I wish you were alive today to see it merging because it is i believe emerging among religious liberals today. And it is a religion. 4. Today's world. Through countless centuries we have descended from other forms of life to become what we are today. Human beings of great worth and dignity. With the ability to build giant cities. To create beautiful art and music. To circle the earth. And fly to the moon. Nevertheless we have much to learn about how to get along with one another. And about justice and equity. In fairness. Maisy's be our goals and values. It may h b lives. That enhance and enrich life. In the time we have. On this earth. Extinguisher chalice. But not the light of truth. The fire of commitment. The warmth.

uufvb_org

2015Jun07Sermon128.mp3

My name is paul lamoureux. I serve today as the pulpit hose. To this wonderful congregation. We are the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach and we're very happy that you decided to come. Spend a sunday morning. With us. Where are friendly congregation. We are delighted to see you. And to welcome you just as you come to us. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful. Enriching. Thought-provoking. And that you will take away with you an experience that you will remember. And that adds value to your life. And to your well-being. Please join with me. In the reading. As we kendall the chalice flame. When all the people. Of the world love. Then the strong will not overpower the week. The many will not oppress the few. The wealthy will not mock the poor. Be honored will not disdain the humble. The cunning. Will not deceive. The simple. I am. A die-hard. New york. Mets. Fan. I even moved to port st lucie in 2007. So that i could attend spring training games. Curtis granderson. A black baseball player. Is presently a second-year. New york mets. Having spent some time some years with. The yankees and some other teams. He continues to be engaged with kids from his hometown in chicago. Giving money for. Baseball fields and teams and so on. He continues his philanthropy. By being engaged in education and baseball issues. With kids. In new york city. When he sponsored a trip. In 2013. 4 students from lincoln high school. To see the documentary about the life of jackie robinson. You know jackie robinson is was right. The purse. Black. Major league baseball player. When he took. His kids. The kids from the high school to see this documentary called 42. 42 is his robinson's number. Which has been retired and. Worn by every baseball player on the anniversary of his. Being admitted into the major leagues. Granderson hurd. That one kid went home and told her mother. I didn't know. That's what the n-word meant. I'll think about that for a second. So little things like that granderson said. Show there needs to be a reminder. Of where we are. Where we were. And where we still. Need. To get to. I concur although this is now hot. I concur that we need to continue to hear each other's stories. About our lives. So that others. Met live. Someone to tell you my story. About have a past 45 years. Of the lesbian gay bisexual transgender. Queer. Movement. Has influenced my life. For 45 years ago. We never would have used the word queer. So this month lesbian gay bisexual transgender queer. Has been celebrated in june since about 1970. One year after. The stonewall riots. Will never know. Why patrons at the stonewall inn in new york city. Finally fought back. During yet another police raid. On june 28th 1969. But they fought hard for three days and nights. And many consider these demonstrations. To be the birth. Of the modern gay-rights movement. Soon pride marches were taking place in cities all over the country. To commemorate the stonewall riots. And today more and more people take to the streets all over the world. To celebrate. Pride month. And ireland. The catholic country that it is. Celebrating their countrywide vote two weeks ago. To legalize same-sex marriages. Yes. Now being from the northeast as i am new jersey. New york. I marched in many parade in new york city in june. The name used to be the gay pride parade. Then it became the lesbian and gay pride parade. Then it became. The lesbian gay bisexual pride parade. And then. Lesbian gay bisexual transgender. Pride and now add queer to that. All. Now. Pride month. Groups. From. All kinds of organizations in a church or two. Marched in this parade. In varying stages of dress. There were bands. Playing. This parade could equal the macy's day parade. There were float so it was some. Parade. Our chance. Went from. What do you want. Equal rights. When do you want it now. 2. What do you want. Brunch. When do you want it about 2 ish. There's still so much work to do. Especially since we have the congress that we do today. Given the makeup of that body that has no intention of acknowledging rights. But all of us deserve. Whether you're a retail clerk. Imechanic or a surgeon. If you're gay lesbian bisexual or transgender. You shouldn't be forced to stay in the closet. For fear of losing your job. Put in 29 states including florida. Lesbian gay bisexual and transgender people can be fired. Only because. They are lesbian gay or bisexual. And in 34 states. People can be fired just because they're transgender. All reasons completely unrelated to their work. And even though marriage is now legal same-sex marriage is now legal in florida other laws leave a lot. To be changed. Housing discrimination continues. Employment discrimination. Hate and bias crimes. Legislation. Harassment and bullying of students. We used to make a joke. Which wasn't really funny. Since. Lesbianism is considered to be an illness i think i'll call in lesbian today since i don't feel well. He got it. For more than three years probably closer to 5. Congress has stalled all action. On endor. The employment non-discrimination act. Which would ban this workplace discrimination. And there would ensure that employees are treated based on the quality of their work and nothing else. And then there's. The north. Carolina pastor. Charles. Worley who gave a sermon not all that long ago. Suggesting. That gays and lesbians. Should be fenced in and left to die off. What is it with. Pastors in north carolina. There's another one who says that. You should beat your child if he or she shows signs of being gay. This to. We're almost peed joke if it wasn't so terrifying. And of course all the stories we hear about teenagers facing bullying and worse. Worries about the future the pressure school and stress of peer relationships. Alway on the minds of millions of teenagers everyday. But lesbian gay bisexual and transgender teens. Carry the added burden. Of being twice as likely as their peers. To be verbally and physically harassed according to. The human right. Camp the human rights campaign's. Latest survey of lesbian and gay youth. For decades. Lesbians and gays have created. Our own communities where we can be safe. Where we can be proud. And recently. There is ben. A bigger recognition of how important it is to share. Our stories. So that teens can hopefully feel that there is hope. That things will get better for them. Stories from lesbian and gay and bisexual adults. Abound on youtube. And you know that teenagers know about youtube. 41 years ago. 1974. I was a member of the national organization for women of new jersey. At the first. New jersey conference of in that year there was a workshop. Held called. Lesbianism 101. Or something like that. It was sort of like the stealth bomber. No one could really tell where it was. There were no signs. Saying. This workshop over here. Yeah.. Find it on your own. Lesbianism had been called the albatross around the neck of the women's movement how many of you remember that. By betty ford an. So god forbid we feminists should even talk about it. That workshop by the way. Was a hit. I remember hearing stories. From women. Who would come out as lesbians. And losing their children in divorce court. As unfit mothers. I remember well the double lives all of us had to lead. To prevent the loss of jobs. For having sex i was a teacher in those days. It was no way i was going to come out. There there. In 1976. The first. Michigan. Women's music festival. Happened. In michigan. 3000 women that first you're growing to 10,000 at its peak. And an ongoing event this year although this year will be the last. But it was an entire community. Created by and for women. In michigan. The festival published community guidelines listen to some of them. One of the beauties and challenges are. Of our community is its diversity. We create a village each year made up of women from other countries. Different cultures. Classes. Religious heritage's. Physical abilities. Lifestyles. And ages. Each and everyone of us creates the community feeling that we all value so much. It's not something that the festival provides. It does provide a fertile ground for community to grow. Probably the most important thing we each bring. To michigan. Is a commitment to help and create a caring and loving. Women's community. That common commitment combined with our diverse mixture of life experience. Background culture. Ability age and race is what. Creates this community. Bringing women together from around the world. I attended this festival once. I will never forget it. I do remember however people. Questioning and even do riding the. Women's community stuff. But listen. Playwright. Carolyn gage. Would later give voice to another key appeal. Motivating women to return to this festival. At michigan fest. She can experience a degree of safety. That is not available. To any woman. Anytime anywhere. Except. At the festival. And what is that mean she says. It means that she achieves a level of relaxation. Physical. Psychic. Cellular. That she had never experienced before. She is free. She is. Free. Often for the first time in her life. That was written back in the late 70s. But i daresay. It continues. Tubi. True. So even though this is the last year the festival the organizers sighting. Life cycles of things like this and change and so on. For thousands and thousands of women. Over 40 years. Michigan music festival. Was a life. Shaver and a life-giver. 40 years ago. No one was certain how to come out to their families and friends. The family might disown them. The friends might turn their backs. Churches. Would throw them out. And all of that. Still happens. Although. Younger generations tend to say. So. What's the big deal you're gay you're a lesbian. Good for you. Some of my best friends are. There has been. Generational. Change. I grew up in a baptist church. American baptist. In the northeast. Batman liberal. But baptist nonetheless. And they wanted no part of any conversation 40 years ago about. Sexual identity infect. That national organization i believe it's still. Having arguments about it whether to ordain lesbians and gays as ministers whether to hire them you know whether to accept them and so on and so on. 40 years later. The same 40 years ago. The unitarian universalist association. At the general assembly. In 1974. Directed to you you a board. To fund in full. An office for gay concerns. Because dressed in 1970. A resolution had been passed at general assembly. Urging the end of discrimination. Against homosexuals. And it was not until 1980. That member churches were urged to help settle. Those lesbian and gay ministers. Who were searching for. Full-time. Settlement. All of this took place before. The first national coming out day. In the beginning there was a march. I think they want to change the first verse in genesis. From in the beginning. There was. Darkness. 2 in the beginning there was a march. On october 11th 1987. Half a million people participated in the march on washington. For lesbian and gay rights. This was the second such demonstration in the capital. And the first display. Of the names project quilt. You remember that. Remember the names project quilt. With the names of people who have died from aids. Honest. Huge. Huge quilt. That people from all over the country had made. One measure of the marches success was the number of organizations that were founded as a result. That momentum continued for months after the march is more than 100. Activists from around the country came up with the idea. Of a national day to celebrate coming out. And chose the anniversary of that second march on washington to market. 28 years. 28 years after that first. Coming out day we still here. Story after story. About gay teens. Committing suicide. Or being brutally attacked. And tortured. For being gay. Heartbreaking stories that make me wonder. Who is standing up for these kids. From the new york times. A few years ago. It does get better. Just the message that the columnist dan savage has reinforced. Amid the heartbreaking rash. A recent suicides by gay teenagers. With his recent youtube campaign. Which invites those gay adults. To tell stories about having. Transcended the tortures of youth. In countless videos lesbians and gay men bare their souls. Share their triumphs. And make that simple promise. It. Gets better. You'll feel better when you're not hiding an aspect of who you are. Just listen to. Bruce now. Kaitlyn. Jenner. About what it was like. To hide. Where does this come from. Why so much continued. Hatred. So much evil. Directed toward the lives of those of us. Whose sexual orientation is lesbian or gay or bisexual. Or transgender. I continued to lay this at the feet. Of the mostly. Conservative christian. Churches. Preachers. Ministers who refuse to move away from a literal reading of the bible. Who continue to abuse. The bible. .. They foster hatred. And a responsible. For the deaths of the teenagers who and others who have taken. Their lives over time. Because the bullies. Young and older. Have heard and absorbed the message that gays can be targets because god hates them. Boyd packer. Once. The second-highest leader in the mormon church. Shed in a sermon broadcast to millions not so long ago. That same-sex attraction. Is impure. And unnatural. And can be overcome. Annette same-sex unions. Are morally wrong. Do we need more proof. Then the suicides of teens as young as 13. That words like these can do unimaginable damage. We cannot stay silent. The mormon church hierarchy and others. Have literally risked the lives of children by inciting their tormentors. Speaking before all those people in broadcasting to millions more. Packer said. Same-sex unions are against. God's law and nature. And that the church hierarchy would continue. To support. Marriage bands. Like proposition 8 remember that california that was declared unconstitutional but. Funded. Largely by mormons. It makes me physically sick. To think about how many young lesbian gay bisexual and transgender kids. Had to sit in those pews. And listen. To that venom. Obviously. It has changed. And i continue to look at ireland. Forgot change. People who brushed aside. The catholic church. To vote what was in their hearts and in the hearts of their friends and families and. So on. Comments. Like packers. Are exactly what makes young lesbian gay bisexual and transgender kids think there's no way out. But suicide. But their parents will reject them and many do. That their communities will shun them. And that living openly will bring. Pain or violence. But even god looks on their very identity as a sin. To be overcome. These lies fuel the bullying. The harassment the violence. That plague our schools. Thank god yes the guy that i believed in for unitarian universalism. Cuu message. Saved my life. Packers lies have been disproven over and over again by science and by the spiritual experience of americans who know that. They're lesbian gay bisexual transgender. Transgender neighbors and care about them. We know that sexual orientation cannot and should not. Be changed. And that two people falling in love. Is beautiful. Not evil. You can't convince convince. Rick santorum. Republican presidential candidate. Who said last sunday that if the supreme court legalizes same-sex marriage. He would dispute the decision and continue to fight it. The same way that he continues to fight roe v wade because the court got it wrong. Oh i can't wait. I was in college in the late 60s. I had a roommate. My senior year with whom i fell in love. Despite my being engaged to. David. My roommate's name was. Karen. Uh-oh. What in the world was going on. It was not for a couple more years that i was able to get. Through the struggle of identifying myself to myself. It was after all 1971 the whole. Cultural and universal difference. And everywhere i turned. The literature called. Gay. Unnatural. And then illness. Song behold i found a book. In the drew university library thank goodness for those methodist. It was called gay is good. Is a collection of essays positive essays. I'm being gay. That along with the women's movement. Was my first salvation. My second salvation most unitarian universalist. Church welcome back to that. I mentioned the national organization for women. We had a lesbian rights task force of which i was chair for about 8 years give or take. My word might award from the new jersey lesbian gay coalition is something which makes me very proud. Politically i was successful. Was instrumental in getting the first assemblyman in new jersey to co-sponsor the bill. That eventually put. Sexual orientation. In new jersey civil rights bill. With my family however i was much. Less so. Successful. When i first came out to them in the early 70s my sister was studying. Psychology. With text books that were printed before. The american psychological and psychiatric association. Had removed homosexuality from their illness. Lists. Can you see it. Kid sister running to mom with the textbook. Mother offered money for a psychiatrist. I whipped. The women's movement was the only support i had. I hadn't discovered unitarian-universalism yet but. By 1985 i had. In plainfield new jersey. I know that sounds familiar to you. Because guess who was the minister in plainfield. In 1985. Your friend and mine. Scott alexander. Beers between the 70s and into the 90s with my family were full of arguments. Angry silences on both sides. With my father being the only one. Venture to say that. I am who i am and let's let her live. By the time i met someone who i treated as my thought to be life partner my mother had begun to come around. Not far enough not fast enough. But indeed. Had begun. To come around. In 1989. My home church is where i. Discovered unitarian-universalism. And joined it because it had a wonderful choir. But in 1989 that church began the work of becoming a welcoming congregation. And guess who wrote that curriculum. Once again. Scott alexander. She even though the unitarian universalist association had begun working. For lesbian and gay rights many. Lesbian gay bisexual transgender folks did not feel welcome. In their own congregations. The welcoming congregation program. Was a long process of workshops. Which undertook the difficult task. Of changing people's attitudes. And perspectives. On homosexuality and homophobia. Trying to change things that our culture has instilled in all of us. By the time the process of the welcoming congregation was ended. People in congregations express feelings of exhilaration. Lesbian gay bisexual transgender and straight people alike. For what they had learned about each other by telling our stories. I had a t-shirt at the time. It said. I am a lesbian but nobody knows it. My congregation laughed with me. This congregation is welcoming. Congregation. You know it was not perfect. This program. We unitarian-universalist have not obliterated. Homophobia. In our congregations. But it is something to honor and be proud of. And it has saved the lives. Of countless. Lesbian gay bisexual transgender people by providing them with a church. Where we can all grow together. Spiritually. The existence of unitarian universalist churches. Is something we cannot take for granted. And by the time i got to seminary andover newton to a logical school in 1994. Much change has taken place. But more needed to be done. The work of changing that campus fell to us. Youyou students. And change it we did. But that's for another sermon. Have we inherited. Courage. That inspires us from the stories that we do here. Daily. We face situations every day. That demand courage from us. Do. Do we know that we too. We'll have capacious reserves of courage. And steadfastness. The war against sexism. Racism. Homophobia. Economic justice. All insidious destroyers. Of human life. Continues. Sometimes without our even being aware or clear about the nature of the battlegrounds. What might still be required of us. You. And me. Right here and now. In the way of doing just more justly. Loving mercy more fully. Walking more humbly. Together. Will we do what has to be done. If you haven't thought about it before. I submit to you. That unitarian-universalism. Offers us a chance to save the world. We can do what has to be done. In the world day after day. There is a pressing need. For a faith that aspires to diminish if not quench the fires of hell. During its existence. Because he'll exist you know. Right here. Bridge and everyone of us it's a little different. But we each have our own. Hell. To come out of. Whether that is on the streets and baltimore in st louis. Orange schools were gay teens continue to be bullied. Or in the churches all over this country or within the spirit of. Each individual life. Unitarian universalism has never invited the easy path. Rather we declare that. Holiness and health. Are only a chiva bowl through facing the worst. Two facing that he'll. That's in here. Dealing. Directly with the despair. That threatens to surround our lives. We stand for love. We stand on the side of love. We stand against hatred that is preached by people who call themselves preachers of god and christ. I agree with scott. That you are on the right place. Joining this tenacious faith. The promise is to hang in there with the complexities and the cruelties of the human existence. It is the promise not to give up on people. Lesbians gays transcender gendered folks tend to experience health. Straight. People. But you keep struggling. In our broken world for the inclusion of all. To keep struggling in our broken world to find peaceful solutions. That will prevail over hatred. And depression. In all of its forms. Unitarian universalism refuses to give up on people. Refuses to give up on the world. Rather our principles from affirming in promoting. The inherent worth and dignity of every person to the interdependent web. Of which we are all a part our guides. In our quest. 4 piece. And for dignity. For all. We will need every ounce of courage. Bequeathed to us. By our fathers. Our mothers. Our forebears. Lettuce. Be grateful. For them. I'm in. When we can truly celebrate. The diversity of contributions and talents. Offered by all people. We shall overcome hatred. And prejudice. And depression. When we can truly extend our hands to one another. In loving acceptance. We shall overcome the past. That haunts us. Living in peace and freedom. We shall overcome the wrongs that have happened. And the debts left unpaid. Let us join together. And that commitment to overcome. Let us join together in that commitment. To be courageous. And lettuce. Say together. Amen.

uufvb_org

2010Apr18sermon128.mp3

uufvb_org

2014Nov09Sermon32.mp3

Well good morning welcome in this cool and wet morning you know everyday has a charm to it even this one yes indeed. You're welcome. The unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so please. You have chosen to begin your day with us this morning we are congregation as the slide said. Open minds loving hearts and helping hands together we work to make our world a better place. Please know that you are welcome this rainy morning just as you come to us or white or some other wonderful shade of humanity visitor this morning. I have a ged or a phd. Whether you're feeling on top of the world or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. Just as you come to us this morning. 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. To make the days that had more choices purposeful. This is not a good morning. For walking on the beach. Or fishing in the lagoon. Or biking though of course that didn't stop me from this morning. Good morning for coming to church. For being with others in this warm and dry place. To reflect on our lives. To challenge our hearts and vine. To grow our souls. And become better person than we were yesterday. Spreading our love. And care. Unconcerned. To the whole world. The rain this morning is cold. It's not much of a day. For outdoors. So come in here. To this place of work. And hope. Enjoy. As a meditation this morning i want to share a poem. I've never shared it before. By walter mcdonald he's describing a pena's wife rented a cabin in the california mountains. It's called the middle years. Listen to this poem in the silence that we will allow following it i will ring a bell. When the periods of meditation. Is over. This relates i think to my. Sermon topic about worrying. The middle years. These are the nights we dreamed. Drifting over a cabin roof in the mountains. To last a week alone last. In a rented a frame. Isolated. Without power. San juan. Our children are as safe as i'll ever be. Seeking their fortune in cities. Howard eskin calendar clear our debts paid until summer. The smoke. Seats back under almost invisible cracks the better to smell it. All day we take turns holding hands. I'm counting the years we never believed. The hours of skins names. Pleading. Diapers. And teenage rage. And fever. In the middle of the night and parents dying. In saigon. The endless kill. Of surviving. Knight's touching 4 hours and listen to silent woods so close we can hear the owls. Diving. These woods are not our woods. Do we hold a key to dead pine planks. Laid side-by-side shiplap. Like a dream. That last. A double bed that fits us. After all these years. A blunt. Front feeding stove. The gives back temporary heat. For all the logs. We are on. Fellowship. Work truly love by the way and i realized it. Being a minister means i'm called upon to worry a lot. The bottom line is if you pay me a verbal salary i would report. To worry about all kinds of stuff. And i do. Let me mention just. I worry about the spiritual emotional and physical well-being of every last person who was a part of this congregation. The between our members and friends and our children i have more than 300 complicated and sometimes quirky people. To worry about. That i worry about you uscb. In all of its institutional dimensions i worry about this congregations assets. And finances i worry about this building and its upkeep. I worry about our programs and offerings i worry about the quality of our sunday morning.. How we treat newcomers. I worry about the staff. And the many hard-working volunteers i worry about the vitality of the emerson center. And our wonderful nursery school. Bridges early learning center. And i worry ever and always about my sermons. And everything i say and do publicly and privately. I further worry about ours and nomination. Tough times ahead for all-american denomination i worry about 1,000 of my colleague. Despite its wealth. I worry about its people and its politics of the many social environmental problems we have here in the treasure coast. A big fish die-off in the paper this morning did you read it. I worry about florida our so-called sunshine state. Which as wonderful a place as it is to live. Has a whole host of serious social. Economic political and again environmental problems that i have to pay attention to. And i worry about america the precious land of my birth. Vast an imperfect an angry right now troubled nation was so many problems. An injustice has and sorrows and so much work for us to do together. And as if all this isn't enough to worry about i worry about the entire world and humanity in future. Is beautiful. Fragile vulnerable planet with its wars. It's terrorists its diseases it's upheaval it's changing climate it's endangered biosphere. I professionally worried about all these things. As a professional in this worrying. Teachers worry about their students. Doctors worry about their patients. Lawyers the good ones worry about their clients. Business owners worried about their workers engineer's worry about their products rod and others. Artist worry about what they create. Scientist worry about the research anybody who works worth his or her salt is a worrier. And then there are our personal worries. We worry about our own individual health and happiness we worry about the health and happiness. Of our family and friends our neighbors in our co-workers we worry about our children. And our grandchildren. In our great-grandchildren no matter how old or young. We worry about unexpected accidents in illness is an unpleasant surprises. We worry about our hairline. And our waste lines in our teeth we worry about outliving. Our money in retirement. We worry about getting old and sick and disabled we worry about pain and death. We worried you and i at the drop of a hat. All kinds of. It is often wise leave instead of course that man and by that i mean both the male and female models. Man is worrying animal. Well it can probably be argued. Certain. Animal species. Dogs and horses and dolphins for have. Worried about their mates and offspring and their human companions. Worried on the face of a dog heaven. If your dog loves you. Surely they're worried never rises to the complicated cognitive level. At which we worry about. I am sure we homo sapiens are unique in the animal kingdom in the terms. In terms of the level frequency and sophistication of our worrying. And this of course is not a bad thing. A psychologist dr. jim taylor of the university of san francisco points out. Worried plays a key role in our success as a species i called him. Worried. Is a natural part of the human condition. It has historically played a vital role in our survival. And it helps us to cope with many of the challenges we face today. Worrying is obviously not a pleasant emotion. But it is actually an essential normal and instinct emotions. Hardwired. To help us survive out of the primordial soup. We worried about something. Because we perceive it as a threat. To our existence and worry causes us. To focus on it and protect ourselves. That threat that's face it. Real and present dangers to our health. Wellbeing livelihood do exist. And you want to be aware of them. And take the necessary steps to protect yourself from harm. And then he ends. You want to take reasonable precautions against illness injury and accident. So clearly some forms of worrying. Adaptive value. Unquote. If you want to stop and think about it just a little bit cancion understand. The positive role with worry. 1/2 and keeping us safe and well. Different example when you're the behind the wheel of a car and you're not worrying. About keeping your eyes on the road and obeying the safety rules you are a hazard. Not only to yourself but to everyone who might cross your path. And similarly if while walking in the adjustable you are not worried about stepping on a poisonous snake. You might do precisely that. And we all know that good parents are those adults who were irregularly. About the dangers that are out there for our children and therefore. Ensure that every reasonable precaution is taken. As opposed to being a helicopter parent reasonable precaution. To keep our little ones safe so appropriate. And notice i say appropriate. Is a very good. Obviously. Worry is one of those positive necessary and useful things in life. Which is taken to an extreme or if is out of proportion to reality. Quickly becomes destructive and negative. If we worry too much and worry about the wrong stuff. Then we can consume our psychic attention. Cloud our emotions and diminish our lives. Perhaps you've known someone in your life. Tragically applies you know somebody who moves through their days. Constantly worrying about all kinds of stuff. Did any reasonable healthy person would not see as cause. For concern. A worrywart according to the great big dictionary i have in my office. Is quote someone who was inclined to worry unduly. To sweat about things of kathy health that's in my dictionary to sweat about things that can't be helped. Or have it happen or probably never shall happen. Interesting lee. The ancestor word of worry in the old english is the word wagon which means. To strangle. And in the 17th century. The word took on the meaning to bother to distress to persecute. Surely all of us can see. How excessive inappropriate habitual worry. Chronic worrying can fill our hearts and minds with negative emotions. Keep us from enjoying life as it was meant to be enjoyed. This is why a lot of people you meet these days despite the positive role of worried we've already talked about. Blame given up on worrying. When i first told some people in my personal circle i was going to preach on the spirituality of worrying. The first reaction of a few was immediately negative. Because worrying take so much precious time and energy and never really helps or changes the situation were concerned about. The only thing i know about worrying is i want to do a whole lot less of it. As philip third person said to me this. I don't know how in the world you're going to say something positive about worrying. My daughter has literally ruined her life. By her constant and unnecessary worrying. As the old expression goes borrow trouble. Her whole life. Has literally been consumed. This friend told me by useless and unproductive worry is a scoring on the human psyche. So many people these days seem to think worrying. Is at best a useless activity of spinning are emotional wheel. Edit worst something monumentally destructive. Diminishes our lives in very real ways. I would call this kind of destructive worrying. Brother. Reading. Obsessive. Repetitive unrealistic undifferentiated unproductive. Worrying worrying yourself. Wrapped up in itself can't lead anywhere. What does traps us in a little pointless whirlwind of circular upset and bother. Is there anyone here who is not at some time or another. Fallen. Destructive exhaustive spirit robbing trap of fretting. We fret when we allow ourselves to get stuck in a repetitive immobilizing pattern of unfocused worry. It just rolls around inside of us consuming. It's like a magnet just consuming everything it can. When i fall victim to the useless whirlwind if reading is usually about 3 a.m.. In the morning do any of you recognize this. Turning over and over in my mind. Until something until the sleep i so cherish. Is impossible somewhere or some little detail in my life. I hate. Dr. taylor wright. Healthy worry. The practical form of concern us with protection from real and present danger. Can morph into unhealthy worry. A preoccupation with perceived threats. Obsessed. Low consequence occurrences that can interfere. With your worrying about the high probability. Unhealthy worry. Comes from the emotional baggage required as a child. In a deep offer unconscious belief that you won't be able to protect yourself. Unhealthy worry. 10% can prevent you from enjoying your life and just a quick. Practical aside here. Iphone online this very helpful guide. To self-help strategies. For anxiety relief i have about 30 of these on the newcomers table the welcome table outside so if you. Or someone you know is particularly vulnerable to worrying this self-help guide about ways to kind of. Flip yourselves out of worrying is available and if you have any trouble finding it. Just go online how to stop worrying. Maybe type in help guide and you will find it. On the way i thought it was a very helpful guide so i had some printed for. So where was i. While i'm convinced even discussing that exaggerated necrotic wearing is not beneficial to. I want to know offer for your spiritual and emotional consideration the idea that worrying. Regular focused worrying about the right things in the right way in our lives. Is not necessary. What is also spiritually and emotionally beneficial to us. Let me begin. Case for the positive spirituality of worried with the wonderful words of american buddhist teacher lewis richmond. Who writes compellingly and positively. About the positive role where he can play i called him at some length. What am i going to do. What will i say. Why is she out so late why hasn't he called what am i what did i do wrong what if i fail suppose she died. These are examples richmond right. Awari compelling questions that no. At our heart. Verbalize it define it and organize it. The fear is not so shapeless and menacing. Exhausted and destructive. Creative. Which attitudes. And how we use our worry. In the same sense that fear is his courage in the making. Worried. Is wisdom. In the making. Worry is wisdom in the making. It seems to threaten us but it is also trying to help us. In daily life we worry a lot. Does this mean that anxiety and worry are somehow unspiritual. Sufficiently developed spiritual life. I hope not. Where he goes on is not a sign of spiritual weakness. It is an essential part of human being. While some kinds of worry are caused by pettiness and vanity. Most worried.. Most worry comes from care. Care for our livelihood. Care for our family our coworkers are responsibilities as a mature adult. And then it goes on worry itself then can be a spiritual practice. To worry is to be consumed. Find important and pressing question in your life. To work on it over and over. Is not unlike a certain kind of spiritual practice. That is the gift. Glory brings. It lets us know what the question is. Worried let us know what is important. Worry is a spiritual prayer as a spiritual practice. Means reason. The big questions in your life. Walking the question eating and sleeping the question not obsessively. Attentively. With mindfulness. And then he concludes about the positive proactive spiritual roll. That worry can plan our lives. When we worry or are afraid we think we are we. But when we were er deeper resources are engaged. And part of the energy of worry is to mobilize and strength mobilize our strength and our power. Worried. Gives us power. He concludes. If we are willing to trust it. Oregon. Power. If we are willing to. I am persuaded with mr. richmond. That are worries rather than be viewed as destructive nagging pests. Should be understood can be understood many times as helpful. Constructive harbingers. Life guides if you. The points away if we're paying attention. What we care about. What we should care about. Point the way that what is truly important to us. Questions we need to grapple. And concerns we need to attend to. I agree with the buddhist teacher that are worries even though in the short-term they've accent trouble us. With their complexity. Ultimately help us to bring to our consciousness. Vital and pressing questions and concerns. That we need to live through and work through. So that we can be better person. All this is my way of saying i guess that have late i have personally. In my own complex and yet quite ordinary life. I've been trying not. To resist. Or deny or ignore or repress my worries but have rather than trying to calmly and thoughtfully. And mindfully welcome my worries at least the appropriate ones. Welcome my worries into my life. Not as pests. But as teachers. As well-meaning tutors. They're trying to help me positively deal with what's really going on with me. I am learning to welcome my worries as everyday agents. Of my own maturation. My own growth. My own transformation. I know it's a bit counterintuitive this idea that we should welcome. Worries. The trouble us like vegetation is troubled when the wind blows. But i'm quite sure that paying attention to them. In the right ways. Can help each of us to become better more effective and yes ultimately happier person. One concrete example about how worried. Can help us. Express from this pulpit over the last 5 years. I am deeply worried about global climate change is happening both here in florida and around the world i'm really really troubled and worried about the future. Of our ecological earth. But this worry isn't just. Pasta pasta pasta me that's driving me crazy. It has led me to do something about. The environmental crisis is breaking over me as a citizen as a voter. As a minister in this town i'm making an effort. Do something about it. The worry has led to action and i know for many of you. Your worries about so many things. Poverty hunger. A homelessness the environment. Education has led you the worries lead you. Do something. And do something good. And similarly worry works it's positive magic and other places in my life. In my work here at the fellowship. Hit me up in my activities in this local community on behalf of what is compassionate and just. And worry helps me in all of my treasured relationships. With family and friends. Let me again return. To the buddhist teacher lewis richmond. Worried is an essential part. Of being human. Worry is wisdom in the making. Most worry comes from. Care for our livelihood our family our coworkers. Our responsibilities as a mature adult. Worried lets us know what is important to us. Worried at the spiritual practice means breathing the questions. When we worry our deepest resources are engaged. And part of the energy of worried. Helps us to mobilize. Our strength. And our power. So i hope i've persuaded you with the buddhist. Of the positive and empowering role that worried can and should play in your life. Again worried by alerting you to what really matters in your life can they do to a fuller & finer human place. And yet we must always acknowledge in the same breath. The chronic and excessive and compulsive worried about the wrong thing. Can clearly be destructive and distracting and a disempowering have it in your life. If you're a worrywart or a fretter. You need to kick yourself out of that pattern. Some kinds of worrying obviously are utterly pernicious. But with all that said i want to return at last in the sermon. To my car at formation today. Our worry is if properly acknowledged can the allies. In our purposeful unfolding as person. I fully acknowledge it's something of a spiritual and emotional trip. To manage worry in your life just write it sort of like the goldilocks is porridge not too hot not too cold it's just finding that. But equilibrium and sometimes it's 3 at 3 a.m.. As i have said i fall into the unproductive reading in spite of all my spiritual maturity to not do that. Enjoy your life. Your vero beach friends. And as you do welcome. Constructive worry. Worry appropriately. About the right things. About the things you love. About the things you know deserve your highest. And always keep your eye on your truest and fullest. Folding. Then your worries will. Fighter ever curious hand. Lead you to a life. A greater purpose. Greater hope. Greater contentment. And it lasts. Greater love. And i saying mean on man. Can i send you on your way this week with this anonymous reading some wishes for you. I wish for you a troubled heart at times. As well as of world and friend come close beside and keep you sleepless. I wish for you the thrill of knowing who you are. Where you stand and why. Especially why. Not prosperity but dreams i wish for you. I wish for you. However proud. We'd be to have it. But life. Put is crammed with living. Hour-by-hour. And love. I wish for you love. May you get frequently. Heather wish4u solitude. In the midst of company. And a mind full of company. Within your quiet times. I wish for you. And full tomorrow. Be of good heart. As you go back to life.

uufvb_org

2012Jan22Sermon128.mp3

Although i may not. Look at at first glance i am nearly an expert on the art of falling. How so. Was most of you know i'm an erstwhile avid cyclist icycle something like 12,000 miles a year especially this year as i prepare for my. Ride to beat hunger across america which begins this april. My annual cycling distance equals halfway around the circumference of our earth and so i know a lot about biking. They're all kinds of positive outcomes that come from this addiction of mine. My doctors tell i have. Great cardiovascular fitness my weight stays down i benefit. From the intellectual energy those little endorphins give me. I stay in touch with the natural world isolove. And i regularly meditate and relax while riding which calms my spirit and nourishes my soul. But there's really one big downside to cycle. Do this much cycling means i necessarily periodically fall right off my bike and say hello suddenly. Taylor pavement. Just like. Mister simmons dead. An average it's only way i can mention i fall couple three times a year i miss curbs or wet leaves. I sometimes i have mechanical failure 3 years ago i missed a branch in the trail outside of washington with over my handlebars and broke two ribs right back here that was not much fun my last fall. Was here in august. August approach to the lasso bridge i had an equipment failure went over the handlebars and severely in. Distressed. For the third time. 2 bike. Means to fall. Two-cycle means to fall but. The larger and more universal point which philip simmons so pointedly made is much more important for us to all understand spiritually and that is. Nevermind cycling. To live. Is the fall. I called him again. We have all suffered and will suffer our own falls the fall from youthful ideals. The waning of physical strength. The failure of a cherished hope the loss of our near and dear the fall into injury or sickness. And sooner or later the fall to our certain and we have no choice but. Fall. And little to say. To the time. Or the means. I want to explore this powerful truth. About falling in our lives and i first want to do it at the most literal and concrete. We americans slip. All alot. Homework sidewalks. Restaurants parking lots churches and schools. Tragic. Painful regular. Did you know that it is estimated that each year 8 million people injured themselves significantly. In slip and fall accident. 540000 of which require hospital. And did you further know and this statistic shocked me. 20 more than 20,000 americans die each year that's 55 americans each day. From falling. It is the second. Leading cause of death. By accident. Beyond automobile. Let me bring these statistics closer to home as the minister of this particular corrugation which has a lot of retired. Like vero beach does. I have become in the last 18 months. Hint. Aware of the prevalence. And danger of people falling and hurting themselves. Just since i've been here. A painfully high number of. People in this room. Have fallen. Indoors and out. Falling is not just an inconvenience. It complicates and shortens our lives. As many of you know from. Brown family. Now i know this may sound a little too practical for church but. Please be careful. To prevent falling at home and when you move about be as mindful as you can about slipping and falling hazards in your environment. That's why i put this little blue thing in your orders of service this morning while you take it home and study it and read it and think about. Your environment and how. I'm medications can affect you in just pay attention. To the facts about falling you know. Whenever we look back on a fall we always feel stupid and foolish how did i do that why did i fall. Is your dominant on the pavement or or down the bottom of your stairs we always. Feel like we could have prevented it how we just paid. More attention. Yes. Falling is inevitable part of life. And we sooner will fall but let's. Keep them to a minimum or at least have spiritual ones not physical. But before i move on. To what yeah and i want to really encourage you to take these home andre. What is important as it is making our homes environment a bit safer that of course is not the grist for a sermon. As i've already said what i want to talk to you about. In the spiritual setting is the inevitable inevitability of falling in the larger spiritual sense of the word. As this morning's reading talked about. I do not have course wanted to scratch any of you about the hazardous. Nature of life this morning. It is always important to remember especially talk about lice dangers and diminishment. Good life on this planet is. Is also filled with so much wonder and blessing and convenience and safety. Grace. You know. I mean day in and day out. So much goes. Safely and well and we don't pay attention to the. The ease of that. Indeed. One of the most foremost spiritual. Reasons we come together every sunday here's to give thanks. Add reminder cells of all the many ways we are quietly blessed. My life's manifold gifts and graces everyday faithfully. The sun comes up. And babies are born. And children found. Happily and safely off to school and friends. Fill starbucks with. Excited caring chattering. Coworkers laugh sharing lunch. Everyday mozart is enjoy them books are saver. And perhaps. Even after enjoying a bit of jay leno's humor lovers snuggle their way into a good night sleep. Every day were showered with countless ordinary bliss. But it is also true. We can never forget this for long that life also regularly trips us up. Again to live in a creation as open. And as fluid and random as ours is to fall sooner or later we all fall. We fall into some measure of. Sorrow or pain or tragedy we fall into diminishment disability and loss. Has there ever been anyone. Who's lived more than a few decades who hasn't. Follow no. Even the luckiest. Abbas. Ball. It's universal. It's built right into the structure of things. It's the law of nature. And we would do well that i think the spiritually prepare ourselves for the necessity of falling. Tell the spiritual quest in the me. It's not that we fall of course we fall. The question is. How do we respond. Physically emotionally and most important spiritually when we suddenly find ourselves. Face down in life. How do we respond. How do we learn. As a matter of the human heart. To pick ourselves up. And dust ourselves off and get back. To the game as best we can. The game of our own. Improv. Challenging. Complicated life especially when. The fall we take. You know. One of the central themes of my ministry. 4. Almost 40 years. Is what is on. My heart and mind this morning and you'll see it in my newspaper columns here in town. It's just a theme that i. Theological theme i can never get away from. And because it's so important i've included in this sermon series on the 12 gates. To the holy city of your own life. The spiritual key it seems to me. And successfully moving through life. Through the falls that. Any kind. Is to possess stoical. Yet supple. Heart. If you're able to have a stoical yet supple heart. You will. After the inevitable. of emotional and spiritual adjustment you'll be able. What that supple heart. To begin moving again. To ask okay what's next. To move with creativity purpose joy and strength proper do human being even with the new diminishment in law. Now what do i mean by having. Au apple. It means that we must and logical spiritual sequence first. Except. Being system truth. Of the folly of suffern. And second to adapt mostly to adapt in here yes sometimes with our feet in our hands and our habits but. Mostly in the heart. To get our lives. Moving again in light of the new information we have about what. The life. New. The ancient greeks of course understood all this and they had a philosophic word for it's called stoicism. No stoicism as the greeks originally meant it is not what the word means in common parlance today. The quality often described. To the general unflappable people of the british isles we simply have an unemotional. Stiff upper lip in the face of adversity i got a friend named dr. edward frost to use the sabbatical in england. He tells a story in one of his sabbatical he's met this very unfortunate brit. It seems a man had suffered an unbelievable string of hard knocks in his life. In a matter of few months his wife developed cancer and died. The factory where he worked closed. His son went to jail. And he himself develop shingles. After listening to some fortunate man story edward said is sympathetically as he could oh dear man that's terrible how are you coping with all this. The brit look back in a min said while it's not so bad actually i'm riding the crest of the trough. Now that's what we mean by stoicism in common parlance i'm riding the crest i thought so bad actually i'm crying. But to be a stoic in the original philosophic greed sense does not mean to be absurdly brave like that. It's simply means. As you face the inevitable setbacks and falls of your life you find the spiritual wisdom and maturity. To accept the laws of nature. That's what stoicism means to accept. The laws of nature to accept life the way it is. And as they will play themselves out in your life even when you don't want them to. It really comes down to a spiritual choice that you are always free to make you can either accept. The laws of nature in the laws of fate or you can resist them and fight them. And you'll still have to face them but. Women refuse them. The. Happy. You know there's that old saying why should i be happy when there's so many of. All about. Having a stoical heart means then when you fall. Or when you experience any of those unwelcome ways in which we stumble or are heard in life. That you accepted as natural. As part of life. Let me put this all another way being stoical in the greek sense. Means that you do not take difficulties when they come your way personally. You don't take. Person. Why did god do this to me why is life treating me this way. The wise stoic knows that life isn't out to get anyone in particular this stuff just happens. We're all. Get a fall. It's part of nature so it's not about you mary don't flatter yourself. I mean basically is the point don't flatter yourself that about you. What's my life is get over it. The question is the one that. Simmons ass. How can i live richly in well in space of this loss how can i fall toward grace. Fall toward life as well as fault or death how can i. Fall gracefully. Being truly stoical and accepting of the new information about your life. And then moving on with a new life giving suppleness of heart and being. Can be really hard spiritual work. When we take a hard fall of any sort at work. At home in a relationship in a marriage. Or off a ladder. The first thing we do is we deny we refuse we complain that's what human beings do when they fall. But eventually. If we're to succeed in our lives emotionally and spiritually. 46 seed we have to say things like. Now i'm a person. Who's going to live with cancer. Now i'm a person. Who will never achieve my once dreamed. Career goal i guess. Now i'm a parent with a child is going to struggle with mental illness. For his whole life. Now i'm a person confined to a walker. Now i'm someone who has. Has had a loss and must live without. Love of my life. Now twenty years out i'm in a marriage which i will not leave but which cannot satisfy me. At some basic level. Now i must live with more limitation and pain that i ever dreamt would be required of me. And to all these. To all these now statement. You must add. Knowing and accepting this how can i still live richly in. How can i live richly in well. These are examples of what it means to have a stork. Supple. We accepted our heads the imperfect laws of life and nature and we adapt. Adapt. In our heart. Adapt. To the new information. Go with the flow. And. Learn. Deterrent word life. What is easier after a fault. Turn away from. Over recent study has there been a number of exhaustive studies by psychologists and. Social scientists and those who study aging. About what makes for strong happy and successful human beings over lifetime. And the one universal. A characteristic. All these studies point. Is adaptable. Adaptable. Are you willing. 2. Make adjustments and face the new facts of your les. It's adaptable. Having a supple. Heart. One image that. Meemic. A concrete sense of affirming what i'm saying is to think about. Think about a mountain stream a clear beautiful mountain stream that might be like your life has suddenly. Has a log jam in. What does the stream do. The stream doesn't stay damn forever it's finds a new pathway around the log jam. So that it can achieve its fulfillment. Stream which is. To eventually wind is. Play to the sea. This is the way we must adapt when we have a logjam in our life a lot. We don't let the water dam up forever. Sinkhole. We find a new way. The flow new fresh channels. So that our lives. Can flow on. In purpose. And it helped. I think i've told you about this guy once before in the last dates but i didn't really go back and look but i. I think i've told you the story. When i looked back in washington d.c. everyday i commuted 11 miles up the capital crescent trail from where i live near the white house up to my church. Bethesda. And i would pass lots of of of. Of commuters and others. With regularity i'd see this one guy. Who was. Remarkable in a couple of ways one he had this remarkable smile and we know that the bike path. His smile is so big as we've been going so fast with the bugs on his teeth you know. He was always smiling he was always a happy guy we always exchange the greeting the second remarkable thing about him. Was his bike. It was not a typical by. It was it unique custom-built bike which like all bikes had gears and wheels that would take it forward. But he has had a curious custom built horizontal machinery. But allowed him to pedal not with his feet but with his hands in front of him. Like this bike. He had to pedal that way because. He was a paraplegic he could not. Use his legs. I can't say i know exactly. Why he always had that special. Smile but i know why he had the special bike. It's the only way he could bike. You had to adapt. Dubai. To exercise. So he had to accept the fact that hey now i'm a guy without working legs. I don't want that. But now i'm a guy. But has to. Exercise. Without legs. So he powered his life. And his smile. Powered. His bike with his hands. And his heart. With an open smile. Again. The words of philip. Simmons. This book is for everyone. Who has live long enough to discover that life is both more and less than we hoped for. We have no north pleasures. Sunlight on a freshly mowed lawn leaves trembling with a rain a child. Laughter the site. Of a lover stepping out of a bat. We also. I've seen marriages sour. And careers crash we have seen children. Lost to illness and accident but beyond the dualities of feast and famine. We glimpse something else. The blessings shaking out of an imperfect life. Route. From a blighted tree. And then he goes on. And this is i think is epic. Because of my als. I can no longer hike the high mountain ridges that's around my new hampshire home. But i can take my wheelchair. Up on the mountain road and smell the balsam fir. It's all matter of. What does the snail say when riding on the turtles back. And then he hands. Am i dying. I am learning to accept the world. It's madness and mayhem. Also it's. Right now with my weekend arms i can barely lift a kleenex to blow my nose. But i can still sit with my son. As he identifies the broad-winged hawk circling over our field. I have been learning to live richly in the face. This is the world. I choose. To remain. This is what it means. To learn how to. To be stoic. You keep your heart open. You keep your life. You choose to remain in the world. As best you can. With whatever. You've got less. No matter what diminishment. Or disappointment. Comes your way you keep living and loving. You accept new information you keep choosing to be. Fully. And finally human. You can be. Is that is what you. You are destined. To be fully. And richly. It is purposeful a life as. Can yes. Doors. Close. All the time. They are slammed shut. Our faces. And we find ourselves faced down. To live is to fall. But no matter what doors are closed today. We are free to move always to the. Gracious arch. Historical. And supple heart we are always free to say to ourselves into our hearts what's next. What's next. What's next. Is abundant and holy life.

uufvb_org

2013Aug18Sermon128.mp3

Good morning and welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. Why do you speak kersey navigation in the role of member of the board and the chairman of the worship committee. Republication of open minds. Loving hearts. Seeking to become our best selves even as we work. Please know that you are welcome. Just as you come to watch this morning. What are your younger roll. Gaylord street black or white or some other wonderful shaved humanity. On top of the world or maybe down in the dumps or somewhere in between. All your particular. We hope that you'll find a service meaningful in richmond today. And that you will find something here this morning. Your soul living of life the days and the weeks ahead. Let me introduce our speaker for this morning and that is the reverend. What movie. User. Independent. He's born and raised in michigan reverend murphy was ordained a catholic priest in 1967 he joined the uu society of the daytona beach area 1993. Associate membership association he retired from the uu society of the daytona beach in april this year. I didn't recommend that to you haven't done yet. Texas. Volunteer for habitat global village. Alaska wonderful opportunity to see a lot of alaska work with some wonderful people and build a couple of habitat houses. Recently. Holy god we make our homes and broken communities. Voices of violence. Start by streams of wealth and poverty. Places / boundaries of race gender class and culture. Too many among us letica c50 someplace to call home. We know that we have created and sustained these divisions. You think you will lord for your forgiveness. Gracious god we know that no matter how far we distance ourselves from our neighbor and broken your love remains steadfast. We praise you for your faithfulness. These divisions we have witnessed cross boundaries to work side-by-side with their neighbors. We think he will order for lila's of peoples. Create another. Stranger. Show hospitality to those in need. When we answer this call we give witness to your will bring healing to our communities and oversized of old world of despair. We ask you oh lord for greatest strength. Shelter. All will know the safety of home and all divisions will be reconciled. Until that day grandma the brokenness of this world. Envelope to work to transform this brokenness according to your perfect will. We can work together here. Time in space. To celebrate the fundamental religious mystery our profound interdependence. Once again. Culture in belize. Is the healing of our broken relationship. The living bar once. Give me the story about invisible strings never figured i was going to focus on the psychological and social implications of our interdependence. Getting those opening words about our broken communities that language of reverence i use with all those references to god as gracious merciful creator in eternal. Give me my fascination with science if you knew about it. You would have figured i was going to focus on the astrophysical and quantitative locations. I consider myself psychologically. An eclectic. Surprise. Push it together. Gives me ways to talk about interact with people who are attempting to help. In the mixed in psychology rogerian therapy. Theologically i consider myself a reverential agnostic. Explain. I've got lots of questions certainly more questions than answers but what i don't know. I'm on. Philosophically existential humanist. Humanism. I plan. Because of this i'm going to be talking about all those. Because we know that there are two kinds of people in the world there are specialists specialists of somebody who learned more and more about less and less until he knows absolutely everything about nothing. Listen to somebody who knows less and less about more and more until he knows in absolutely nothing but everything. List. And i hope that someday i will know at least something about everything rather than nothing about everything but i think it's too late. I am going to you to accept that life is a mystery. We are stumbling along the path wishing and the wind would blow away the fall. So that we might see where to place our next step. Hermann hesse. Holiday music in the evening in his native german translator. The klonopin brakes. Down from the luminous. Kitty light. Woman by the storm of southwind. Overcast life. Who is only for a moment between tv and the light that lasts forever. A store would be kind enough to share the fall. Overwhelming breakers drive be torn loose far away from my home to this place. Again every time comforting. The world. Comes alive and sisters into 1000 breathing forms. Butterflies tumble in the wind streaming with sunlight swallow sale in the blessing the blue light. Again every time star entry cloud and bird my clothes kindred the stone receipt as brother. The unending see call me. My road that i do not understand lead me toward any bleulost distance. Fear of eating. Meaning nowhere a definite goal. Nevertheless. Every forestbrook speaks to me. Every humming fly of a jeep law. Who's firmament spreads out above me also known as in the pace of the stars beat time in my heart as well. 3 is what the day war. The conscious was aquila conscious will surrenders some power said three reaches up sending something godly following. Blue sky quick soul the summer lightning close. The world in myself. My heart. Would dreams by dream. I'm sitting here telling me the forgotten story of a common childhood. Stream resolve the moon in the face stars by close friends. Who's my mother's face. Kisses be smiling with exhaustible love. And her hair waves for the world and within it the thousand stars. Bumbling along the path together. What do we know about our interdependence e. Michaels in grand rapids mich michigan that was under the sponsorship of 10x. Why we struggled. Look up on google. He says based on the words of gregory bateson. The major problem in our world problems in our world are the results of the difference between the way nature works and the way people think. Then he goes on the quote edward wilson said we live in a world of stone-age emotions. Medieval beliefs and godlike technology. The wonder we fumble along with the path on the path with hermann hesse it searched treated me. Subways. She says. That we do was of our basic anxiety in one of three ways. This takes us back to the broken relationships that we have. What are three ways by moving toward others. The situation as it is it become dependent on them. This strategy entails exaggerated desire for approval or affection. Play moving against others. Assisting the situation becoming aggressive this strategy involves sometimes and exaggerated need for power and recognition or achievement is basic need. The strategy may involve an exaggerated need for self-sufficiency privacy before independence. Nomination. Profile. More often than not. Independence. Against. That's why we've arrived here together. Legal format. Independent dependent dependent codependent. All the ways that we related to other people. The point being that we can trace how we interact with other people and it determines the nature of our relationships and the natures of the community 74. There are wisin we influence other people. What the things that happens is we sometimes confuse critical thinking with being critical. Century 302. About the logical statements. We can be more clinically. We can avoid words such as always never every. You never you always. 4 / 2. Sometimes very often almost always. Lazy. Grazie. Silly. Stupid. Bad. There's probably no useful information. Let's take a journey. Let's pull down the street and see where it goes. I know if you happen to know this gentleman. He's a theoretical physicist. Apparently when he was about 60. He's one of the proponents of string theory. Connection for you between that invisible string we talked about. In string theory. Dad roberts. Another person who tries to make sense out of theoretical physics. Explain something. Is it attempted. What about those flatlanders. But they don't really understand why it happened what it's going to happen again whereas if we live in a three-dimensional world the richer few we would see that there are balls moving pass. Event horizon and we being sense of it. You say that space no different then let's say an atom or a 1/2 of something. Define by some kind of a quanta of energy. That if we take something to break it down to its smallest park. We might have something like pure hydrogen but it would bring it beyond that it's no longer hydrogen. According to this, that these particles of space these units of space if we bring them down dion with her able to be sustained there's no longer space. Stop giving us time and dimension. So this expansion of the universe is filled with these units of space. Gravity force itself. We would think of it again in two dimensions. According to said. Is warp particles. So you would say that in the middle of a black hole. Time space. Only helping you understand where they're going to universe. But there are so many dimensions beyond what were used to see. Are able to comprehend. Explain at least from the purposes of the astrophysicists. This problem in the space defined by the dots you can't do four lines that connected there is and that connect all the dots. Go outside the boundaries of the space that you can solve the problem. That's what these astrophysicists are saying that there are multiple universes. And that down at the quantum level of space many dimensions wrapped into each other. Representation. False idols. Put it down at the smallest level the way they can explain the variety of these early basic wanta by the difference in their vibration. Until they have that define space and time. Synergy. There's something about this matrix even though it's down in the level that we can't even comprehend the smallness of it. Vibrating strings. At least vibrating strings are hard to find. Their uniform shirt nigel's cluster. I just wish you could see what i see. Springs. Connectivity. That's what happened to your these little vibrations. Begin in the biggie bag. Empty. Space. In that space we began to have things cool out. 50s hydrogen particles. Became so concentrated that they became a star nurseries. Eventually done sold in certain spots. Hydrogen and helium getting off huge amounts of energy. Windows. It exploded. Heavy. In the second generation of stars. Work was able to form out of all this heavy. Bubble looking out and he was ready to dismiss it as a cloud of hydrogen nebula that was forming in our galaxy. Maybe it's not in our galaxy. Realize that what he was looking at was not a cloud nebula in our galaxy. You can imagine. Put the universe. So what we find is these planets. The stars that form. Do planets form around. There's part of a galaxy. There's more than one galaxy. We realize that these galaxies. Are out there. More prominent more there more galaxies in the earth's and grains of sand on the beaches. Galaxy. These galaxies just like you or clusters. There's places where there's less. Galaxies. Interdependence. That was quick to say that. Gravity are not the same thing. And it's always nice trip. Forces that cause matter to come together in space eventually produce planets and stars. People. Affinity. Go to the closer. Weather. There is such a thing as physics at something called the whip. Weakly interacting massive particles. That's the thing that they looking for. This is an invitation. Physicists are quite big too. Bbbb dismissive. Religious leaves phaeton. Places where they spend huge amounts of money and theoretical part. So what am i saying that we need to be. Respectful. Language of science or religion. It is still a challenging. We could use appreciative inquiry. When we encounter other people who don't think it's the same way we do. That's the real fundamental meaning of our radical hospitality. By this other person. Appreciate the difference. What to ask you to do something. Story of all ages. To somebody. It didn't have them run a train their string to somebody else. You'll make all the connections you can possibly be like our covenant. Did you make that connection with all those invisible strings in your heart. We are a covenanted community. That says. What's lupus. Is b2 we will live a community life of compassion. And when the act that out in public you will probably be just a sievers. There is a group that tough. And i'm. Sorry i can't remember your name. Universalist justice florida. What's your local representative florida used to be called the. They are away for us to organize to come together and make a difference with our values at the state level with our legislation. There's another group. That operates in volusia county and that works across denominations there's people from every faith that are gathered in the group is called faith. Fighting against injustice towards harbor. Are gathering this day reminds us of our responsibility to work with one another to remain our world into a more hopeful place of peace. We are inspired invited to hear the cry of the poor and oppressed in to respond. We know that alone we are limited in what we can do. But together we are farro. Our strength comes from our unity. Randall's continue to strengthen sustenance. We ask all these things from you lose spirit makes us what. Intricate. Traceable. Leaving interweaving. Literally contrivance. Link.to attract. Lazy boy. Shaving changing. Rivers warming transforming. All praise.

uufvb_org

2012Aug12Sermon128.mp3

Welcome. To this place of possibility. This is love is hard. The home of hope. A refuge for mines in search of truth unfolding. Ever beautiful ever strange. Here compassion is our shelter. Freedom our protection. The storms of bigotry and hate. In this place may we find comfort and courage. Hear me arcite become vision. To see the unseen. To glimpse the good. That is yet to be. Both jewish and christian scriptures are full of allegory and parables. And stories that make a point. About life. One of my favorites. It's a compelling piece. In the 20. Guess. Chapter. It is jesus describing the judgment. An allegory. When the son of man comes in his glory and all the angels with him he will sit in state on his throne. With all the nations gathered before. He will separate men into two groups. As a shepherd separates the sheep. From the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right hand. And the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right hand. You have my father's blessing. Come. Answer and possess the kingdom. That has been ready for you since the world was made. For when i was hungry you gave me food. When thirsty. You gave me drink. What i was a stranger you took me into your home. When they could you close to me. When i was ill you came to my help. And when in prison you visited me. Then the righteous will reply lord when was it that we saw you hungry in february. Are thirsty of gave you drink a stranger and took you are you home or. Naked and close you when did we see you ill or in prison and come to visit you. And the king will answer. I tell you this. Anything you did for one of my brothers. However humble. Then he will say to those on his left hand. The curse is upon you. Go from my sight to the eternal fire that is ready. For the devil and his angels. For when i was hungry you gave me. When thirsty nothing to dry. When i was a stranger you gave me no home. When naked you did not close me. What i was dealing in prison you did not come to my help. And they to reply lord when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty. Or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison and did nothing for. And he will answer i tell you this. Anything you did not do. Or one of these. However humble. You did not. For me. So far in this rather heated and by all accounts closely contested us presidential election which was heated up a little bit yesterday with the vice presidential selection. I don't know if you read some of the pieces in the paper this. So far in this heated election. A lot of hot-button issues confronting the american electorate are being raised. What to do about the struggling american economy. High unemployment and the housing crisis. Taxation rates and taxation policy. Healthcare and welfare reform. Global warming and environmental regulation in foreign policy. Especially in regards to trouble spots in our world like syria. Iran. North korea and china. To name just a few of the contentious issues on the table. 412 me atleast totally unexpected debate. Has arisen over a serious theological issue. Namely whether or not liberation theology. Is a valid expression of christianity. I kid you not some folks are actually seriously arguing about the nuances of christian theology. In this election cycle and i for one thing. Is a great thing. Now what in the world is liberation theology and how did it work its way. Into this presidential election i want to ask by a show of hands first. How many viewing i promise will be no quiz later. How many of you think you have a working understanding of liberation theology. Just raise your hand. I bet some of you went online this weekend and got a working knowledge of it but. Not many hands went up. And that's because liberation theology. Is not something many and either christian or american circles or even you use circles for that matter. Know much about. So how did this come into presidential politics. Will do you all remember the reverend jeremiah wright the firing an influential chicago-based. United church of christ pastor and one time. Pastor of the obama family. Who became such a lightning rod for conservatives during the run-up. Did the 2008 election. Back four years ago reverend wright was accused by some. Social political and religious conservatives. A being a racist. A socialist. A nun american radical. No after president obama publicly renounce some of reverend wright's more controversial. And admittedly unwise. Statements. I am resigned his membership from the congregation that reverie right serves. The controversy over this ministers beliefs. Headed to fade away. But now with president obama's 2012 re-election bid fully underway. Reverend wright. And it's the illogical thinking are once again being dredged up. And attacked by some conservatives. And that's where liberation theology comes in. Recently both jonah goldberg in his blog for the national review. And tv personality and pundit glenn beck. Has stridently attacked liberation theology. Which they say reverend wright promotes. And they've attacked it as an american. Fascist. Racist. And socialist in short. They've attacked it as a hateful perversion. Christianity. And now it's the new york times recently reported. A man by the name of joe ricketts a conservative american billionaire business executives quote. Considering a plan to finance an anti-obama advertising campaign. Focused on mr. right. And the ideas of liberation theology. Believing that most americans will find these ideas. So what precisely is liberation theology. And why do so many political and religious conservatives both fear and condemned it. Well i love wikipedia the online encyclopedia and i went to see what they had to say about great definition. I read it at some length. Liberation theology is a political movement. In christian theology. Which interprets the teachings of jesus christ. In terms of a liberation. From unjust economic political or social conditions. It has been described by its proponents as quote. And interpretation of christian faith. Through the pores suffering. They're struggling hope. And a critique of society and christianity. Through the eyes of the poor. It is described wikipedia goes on by its detractors. As nothing more than christianized. Marxism. And then the definition goes on. Although liberation theology has grown into an international. An interdenominational movement. It began as a movement within the roman catholic church. In latin america in the 50s and 60s. Liberation theology arose principally as a moral reaction. To the poverty caused by the social injustice. In that region. The term was coined in 1971 by the peruvian priest gustavo gutierrez. Who wrote one of the movement's most famous books. Simply entitled. If you ology of liberation it's on my shelf. Been there for 4. Gutierrez popularized the phrase. The preferential option for the poor. Which became the slogan. For liberation theology. Drawing from the biblical motif on the poor gutierrez asserts that god is revealed. In the bible. Is having a preference. For those people. Who are quote insignificant. Marginalized. Unimportant. Needy despised. Or. Defenseless. Preference. Implies the universality of god's love. Which excludes no one. Now gutierrez reading. Wikipedia goes on. Of the biblical prophets. Who condemn oppression and injustice against the poor. Informs his assertion. That to know god. Is to do justice. Unquote. No i would cause her to point out that liberation theology. As theologian run roads points. Strictly speaking. Should be understood not as a theology what is a family of theology. Including. Latin american. Black. And feminist. Varieties. Where is latin american liberation theologians focus on the oppression the poverty-stricken people of that region. Suffer at the hands of capitalism. If you rich. Black liberation theologians argue that their people have suffered depression. At the hands of racist. White. And feminist liberation theologians focus on the status. And liberation of women. Can i still male-dominated society. But those nuances aside. The central concern and focus. A christian. Liberal christian. A liberation theology. Is socioeconomic inequality. And the desire. On the part of liberation theologians. To change the structures of society. Social economic and political structures. To enable greater opportunity justice equity and dignity for all that's the focus of liberation. South greater social. So given. But they clearly articulated goal of liberation theology. Is to critique social and economic inequality wherever it is found. Entertain societal structures in the direction of greater equality and compassion. It should surprise no one. Did economic and social conservatives and laissez-faire. Free market wealth oriented capitalists. Accused liberation theology as being marxist. Fascist. A non-american. As a perversion of christy. What is mark oppenheimer a religious writer for the new york times recently pointed out. Contrary to recent simplifications and attacked by some conservatives. Liberation theology which has become a huge hit which has become. Hugely influential in modern christianity. Teaches not hate. Nor anti-americanism. But each has a renewed focus. On the poor. And the suffering. As embodied by jesus. As found in his teachings. Liberation theology. Oppenheimer goes on. At its most simple is what your sunday school teacher taught you. If you grew up in the church. The sunday school jesus. Who healed the sick. And took care of poor people. It is something oppenheimer concludes. The people should be afraid of should not be afraid of. Unless they are invested in people. Poor people not getting fed. Or sick people. Not getting. But the very articulation. Of liberation theology within christianity. And its passionate moral call. For greater social and economic equality. Drives many american. Economic and religious conservatives crazy. They simply do not want to believe. But the life and teachings of jesus. What i would call his true and original gospel. Require that those who have. Give some to those. Could you have not. But i've got some bad news. As a religious scholar who dillet diligently studied christian scriptures. In seminary honest one who takes. Christian theology and thought seriously. I see no legitimate or rational way for anyone who calls themselves a serious christian. To avoid the social justice and social compassion message. Jesus so clearly conveyed. To the people of his time. Jesus. Was. Profoundly focused. On the social and economic injustice has of his. Now we're leaving the service before the sermon i read to you that powerful story attributed to jesus. Recorded in the book. Of matthew. Which makes crystal clear ice. What jesus believe. Was god's holy vision. For the human family. And that is simply a social order. In which the poor. The hungry. Homeless. Imprisoned. The stranger. Or the sick. Anyone facing hardship aw. Will be cared for. By the rest of us. Christian writer bill mckibben who also want wiley rights on the environment. Listen to his words. Christ was pretty specific. About what he had in mind for his followers. In the days before his crucifixion when jesus summed up his message for his disciples. He said the way you could tell the righteous from the damned. Was by whether they said the hungry. Gave water to the thirsty clothes they could welcome the stranger and visit the prisoner. Edwin on the pharisees ask jesus what the core of the law was jesus replied. You shall love the lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Are these two commandments. Hang all the law and the prophets. And then mckibben goes on. Love your neighbor. As yourself. Although it's rhetorical power has been dimmed by repetition. That. Is a radical notion. Perhaps. The most radical notion possible. Especially since jesus. It all his teachings. Made it clear who the neighbor you were supposed to love was. The poor person. The sick person. The naked person. The hungry person. And then mckibben goes on describing. The gospel. 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. On and on and on jesus called for nothing less. Then a radical. Voluntary and effective reordering of power relationships in society. Bass. On the principle of love. Read that last part of that stuff. A radical voluntary. Effective reordering. A power relationship. In society. Bass. On the printer. I agree. Mr. mckibben. That jesus. As recorded. The four gospel narratives which. Important river. We're written at least a generation or two after. Work that the. The jesus was very clear. About what he expect. Of his followers. What the score part of the message of jesus the. Social justice. An equity part. 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 brand. Christianity. If you attend many big. How many of the big suburban mega churches that are so popular in american christianity today. Or watch some of the most successful television pastors like the charismatic and charming. Joel ornstein. Don't i wish i had 20,000 people sitting in front of me every sunday listen to my words by the way i enjoy him he's a charming. Speaker. They fill vast halls with adoring people. And you will hear a lot in those services. About personal happiness. Personal fulfillment. Personal salvation. And how to ultimately achieve heavenly rewards. For yourself and your family that is the predominating focus of those. But not much. About our shared human responsibility. To build a charitable. Just. Or humane. Society. As mckibben bluntly puts it. Most americans have replaced. The demanding christianity of the bible. With its call for deep sharing and personal sacrifice with a competing creed. A soft focus. Comfortable suburban faith. Focused on the needs and demands. Ab self. Centered. Individual. There is no nice way for me to say this. But i honestly don't understand. I don't. How anyone who calls himself a faithful. Biblical christian. Can ignore. The clear and compelling social justice gospel. Levels two words of glenn beck hates so much. Social justice. Gospel. I'll care for all people found again and again. Again. Again. If you can in the writings. The teachings of. So many other cultures seem to be content to be christian in name only. I'm reminded of the famous one-liner by chicago poet carl sandburg who said. In the whole great city of chicago i know only two christian gentleman. And they are both jews. My point. Is that many in our culture seem to believe that they can be good christian. Without being terribly concerned. About the poor. The downtrodden. And the dis. Enfranchise. Many americans who want to be called the followers of jesus. Seem to resent being asked. As jesus suggested we must do. To sacrifice or share any of their personal wealth or comfort. For the benefit of others. For example. And go online to their website as i did this week if you doubt this. The 2012 agenda of the christian coalition remember them. The conservative christian organization. List right now on their website. Their tools are as two of the most urgent priorities. Justice. Repeal of the affordable healthcare act. Allure designed to ensure that everybody. Has access to healthcare. Or i was sick. And their second. Moral. Christian focus. Making permanent. The 2001-2003. Pax. That's their second. Christian. Agenda. Curious. It seems to me. In our conflicted social x the greatest theological. Struggling christianity. Is the divide. Clear divide. Between those on the liberal and the kristen spectrum. Proceed to embody and serve what i will call the religion of jesus. And thereby strive to serve his message of compassion and care. To the downtrodden the disadvantage that is a religion of jesus. And those on the more conservative end of the christian spectrum who are devoted to what i will call the religion about jesus. They're by focusing most of their spiritual tension. On the gola personally achieving. Personal salvation. An eternal life for themselves and their loved ones. Another way of thinking about this current divide within christianity is to ask. So who and what really was. Jesus of nazareth. Here is what one artist. Who has studied the historical record thinks jesus might actually have looked like that like that. Nordic sword of scandinavian guy we used to see in the sunday school or i grow up. This is probably more like what jesus look. Was he first and foremost a liberation theologian challenging humanity to the hard work of creating a world. Of widespread social justice and greater greater equality. Or was he more a personal savior. Centaurus. With the primary responsibility of helping as many individuals as possible. Achieve comfortable place. In heaven. Whatever that. What does a truly mean than to be a follower of jesus. Is it the one who devote oneself to the care of our fellows. Most especially those in want or need or is it though the one who. Swears allegiance. To jesus as savior. To personally get to heaven. No speaking personally for a moment. Although is a spiritually eclectic and inclusive uu i've never particularly self-identified. Solely as a christian. I have always believed that jesus was one of the great visionary teachers of humanity. And i have always been fundamentally moved and inspired in my religious life. By the call-in the challenge that i like the liberation theologians. She lying at the center of his teaching. Namely. That there is no avoiding. Our moral responsibility. For the poor and the desperate and the downtrodden are brothers and sisters in this world. Kuni dark hair. So as far as i'm concerned and again this is from the perspective of being. Somewhat the theological outsider for i do not self-identify as christian. But as far as i am concerned. The pure and original message of jesus of nazareth. Is primarily the message of liberation theology. The clarion call to love and care for your neighbor as yourself. And to make personal sacrifices so that everyone can live. With greater dignity. And opportunity and hope. No. Let's go back. For just a moment. To the conservative critique of liberation theology and their emphatic. Rejection. Of the side of the christian message. Do we have a moral and economic responsibility to care for those. Less fortunate than ourselves. Their critique. That critique the billionaire business executive joe ricketts wants to throw back. In obama's face. Via the circuitous route of reverend. Right. Their critique of liberation theology is that this branch or interpretation of christianity. Is nothing more than quote-unquote christianized. Marxism. Now i find this criticism to be. Incredibly curious. Because i have said i don't believe there can be any real doubt from the biblical record. That jesus himself was radically concerned. About the poor and the downtrodden. He was himself if i am to take his words seriously. A radical communitarian. It is moral thinking about lookout communitarian as opposed to an individualist. So i would say to mr ricketson to anyone else. In christian circles hostile to the emphasis upon the poor. In liberation theology. Read the book. Mr. ricketts read the book. It's in the book. In the bible you will see that jesus really did believe and advocate that we have a fundamental responsibility. To care for one another. But that affirm the question might still be asphalt. Was jesus a commie. Was he a radical mark sister socialist that we americans should reject. With a vision board agenda. I totally just in total equal society. Like pure marxism and communism spouse we don't want any of that right. My reading of the bible leads me. Include. But the parables and sayings of jesus. Well clearly devoted to the needs. Of humanity's poor and oppressed. Nonetheless do not lay out. A concise liberal or conservative. Socioeconomic vision. For america or any other nation. But what i think i can say. With more than a little scriptural. And theological authority to back me up. Is it the challenge of the christianity jesus. The challenge. Christianity. Jesus. Is the challenge to be actively and compassionately attentive. To the needs of the poor and the disenfranchised. Liberation theology is i read it does not. Does not insist. I'm some sort of pure marxism or social. Or communism. But what it does insist. Is that we work with one another. To build a social order. Where we seek to evermore liberal. Liberation. To evermore liberate. All purse. From the oppression. Of hunger. Homelessness. Unemployment. Ignorance and ill-health. So let me see if i can bring all this home to the united states and our present. Social order. Many religious conservatives insist that we think of our nation. As a christian nation. What they want us to acknowledge i guess at bare minimum. Is that an overwhelming percentage of the population. Thinks of themselves. And calls themselves. Christian. And that indeed does seem. To be the case. Most americans do think. Of themselves. And self-identify as. Christian. But as i look out across the troubled socio-economic landscape of america. With its pervasiveness poverty. It's high unemployment. It's staggering number of citizens. Google who are hungry and homeless in. Sitting here in florida 1 and 5. On food. It's exploding prison population. And many millions who are denied adequate healthcare. I wonder how we could ever dare to fancy ourselves. As a christian. Or even radically humane nation. Because. Of the largely lost historical record. Many things about jesus of nazareth. His life are a mystery. But one thing i think. Is powerful. He was. A liberation. Theologian. He had a compassionate. Social vision for the human family. Where everyone would be eventually free. Spell oppression and what. So if america ever wants to live up. So the moral center. Original christianity. That is a people and a body politic we must begin to turn our national attention and resources. Not to wear military spend. Not to lortab. Not too gay marriage. But towards purposely eradicating a whole host. Of societal ills and inequalities. I want to listen equality's is by the way. Denial of marriage. For reasons unknown. If we want to be followers of what jesus and the other great. Compassionate. Teachers. It'll humanity like gandhi and king and the dalai lama. Said. We must all together. Conservative. And liberal and centrist. Begin to pay compassionate attention. To the pressing need. Of all. Especially. Jesus was. A radical. He was a radical. We spent his ministry. Short as it was calling us. Compassionate. Back. To one another. But don't take. Might work for. Read the book. It's all there. In the book. We are called. To be one another's. It's in the book. Jesus was reported to have said. My dear people. Let us love one another since love comes from god. And everyone who loves. God and knows. No one has ever seen god. But as long as we love one another god will live in us. And god's love will be complete in us. God is love. And anyone who lives. In love. Lives in god. And god lives. In him. So this is a commandment that god has given us. That anyone who loves god. Must also love. His brother. In that spirit. Go from.

uufvb_org

2015Apr12Sermon32.mp3

Can you feel the summer humidity coming back in. It's almost here. Today. I begin my 60-year as your minister. 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've 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 feeds your soul and gives you renewed energy and purpose. Enjoy for the living of life and the days ahead. Poet brian andreas. If not you first think. There is no effort of will know firm resolve in the face. Of this thing called living. Hold your cup. In the cool air. 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 ready. I've been riding a great deal of miles i've got first time i did this 10 years ago. American artisan i good luck necklace that i've had on for a few days i'm. Why we're at everytime i go across the country in the night. Leave it in the rearview mirror the car when i'm not doing biking. Good luck biking sleep. But the bicycles all over it i wear these every night i washed them periodically i'm finally 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 & co. This coming friday morning at about 6 a.m. i'll be flying out of west palm airport. Sure that's mike vincent. Retired division chief of broward ems on the left and the middle. Atlanta shorter older guy on the right. This morning mike and cliff are riding their bikes into christ by the sea where do you think they got that. And they're talking about the same things that annabelle mentioned. Preaching about poverty here in our county. So starting next sunday morning in the pacific via the miracle of cell phone video. I pick up 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 is 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 as the tear off is in the. Is in the. In the brochure. It's going to be a lot of physical and challenging work was 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. The word immediately said. However as i began to think about this ride the three of us we decided to focus our efforts exclusively here. 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 find making a. To harvest. So far we've raised our approaching 20,000 of our $50,000 goal. And i probably promise you that every dollar will go directly to the program of the harvest food & outreach. From a terrible standpoint. All right across america. Beginning next sunday will end with a gala splash party at waldo's restaurant on tuesday may 26th. Splash party at waldo's all the proceeds. But i wanted to. 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 temps 2005. And everytime i take a challenge i like this i said personal goals for myself. The fundraising. As important as those are and not just the physical fitness goal. Which 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. Cultivate and honor everyday as i ride and i want to share them with you now and stay 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. The first 48 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 flight if we can cuz i'm going to take these in turn. Keep the hungry and poor close to my heart. As i've already said. Because the whole purpose of our ride is to address to duals courage of poverty and hunger. Those fellow americans in need low ride with me. In my heart as i travel the 3500 miles to salisbury beach massachusetts. Sadly. Skip the next slide. For the simple fact is a 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 rate. 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. How much poverty i saw. From my bicycle everyday especially as i passed through. The poor and impoverished small town. The. the desert southwest. And the deep south. So what cyride amor northern route this time especially through many of the smaller prairie. And farmington. There are currently no suffering such 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. Score in the navy on neighbors in mine and i in our hearts. 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 fussing and get out of poverty inside a hand up not a handout. All right that's the first spiritual practice by second one. Set up. Pay attention dummy. Which is mindfulness. We're here three years ago on the sunday the same sunday by the way three years ago when i. Begin the first ride to be hunger. Spiritual practice was high on my list also. What in the world. Of traversing this vast and beautiful nation of ours. If you don't promise yourself to keep your eyes open. Here i am in 2012 somewhere in arizona i think of that kind of vistas typical. Taking in the breathtaking beauty and openness 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. Smell. Feel touch. The surroundings. And breathe in the full-year simple holiness. Each place and each moment. Mike monk the retired military guy who will be the leader of this. John walsh's son jim who is doing the whole ride with me i'll be picking him up next saturday. And jim will be riding with. 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 seriously hannah's bike bonked into the back of a semi tractor-trailer truck that was parked on the shoulder. He literally ran in z. 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. Bike everyday regardless of whether. And study the landscapes in the sky listen to the birds. And absolutely everything. 4. Only when we are fully mindful. Do we and live fully in the moment. Do we experience life in the fullness in the beauty with which it was intended. Alright. My third spiritual tract. Read all i need. This is a virtue of hospitality and kinship. It's a very simple low-cost that i believe high-return spiritual practice. But i've engaged in 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 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 valued 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. This upcoming ride that is now just seven days away i'll make a habit just to say hello how are you. Cuz i pass people. And as goofy as it might sound i stand the spiritual practice of hospitality. Why not. We are all we are so connected to everything in life. Even the car. Horses get my attention despite the flaws. Of these riders i don't know don't think 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 crazy cyclists from all over the united states in the world sign up for such an adventure. These are weird weird type a. I don't 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. 32 days with 12 strangers from all over the united states and europe. Is a seamless and harmonious 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. 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. I will have a better and more satisfying experience. Because of my. Generosity i know this to be the case. 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 that i just put on this week. And i told the story that simple idea comes from a unity minister the reverend will bowen who grew tired. Devise this thing where. You put this on. And every time you catch yourself bitching. You have to move it for the one wrist. For 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. 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. 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 who move like molasses. They're boring breakfasts are inaccurate maps. And the inevitable mistakes the staff lawmakers plenty to be irritated. Legitimately complain about. Each of the three times across america there's been a fellow writer 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. Only does this behavior with the worst was a german guy was a german engineer from rockford illinois. Only i'm not taking my best friend. Not only does this behavior make these individuals. And people do i avoid them. I hope this little purple band will help. Remind me not to whine and complain and by the way and if 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. And sold 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 when 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 something called box canyon in california. Stunning place. I will try not to complain because it really is like the old cyclist saying suggest anything 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 2 and that in that paceline there. My heart and mind will move on to other federal more constructive thing. And i will benefit. Not. Alright. Next. Enjoy the flats enjoy the flat tires i know i've talked about this before. Here goes what i mean like. Mean by it. Arrive like this when hardship and inconvenience come your way like when bike tubes and definitely get punctured by all the sharp objects. On the highways especially true out west. Steel belted tires break up on the truck and all his little wires just millions of them. Sometimes one has many as 20 flats a day between 20 riders in case. Whenever a flat happens. You have a choice between one of these two approach. You can resent resist and pacifically complain about the whole unwelcome experience and having to take 10 minutes to change your tube out. Or. You can settle in 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. 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. This virtue then is the virtue of patience and adepts adaptability. Personality. What's a type a personality that i find. Hard. It's hard for me to be patient. An 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 into my list lean into the headwinds. 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. 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 chasing let me show you what i mean. Azhar azhar i l mike month 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. Complete. Snow and tornadoes and dangerous thunderstorms and phone showing cole. As with every cross-country spring trip by taking 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 strength within and just say i'm going to just do this i just. Going to do. All of your life require for tattoo. Various venues. This one will. Cause me to need fortitude. Last. Keep a smile on my face which is the virtual droid. Maybe some of you think this is a silly inconsequential airhead kind of. But if you do psychologists have identified. A constellation of benefits that come with regularly smiling and here they are. Amazing benefits of smiling first 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 strengthen your immune system. Somehow leaves 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 situations. 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 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 and also lists and calms and reassures. Those around you sometimes. Had a ride like this at some very difficult or demanding or painful moment. Simple smile has the power to lift the collective mood of the group. That helped everyone get through the day it really is that powerful. The second time i crossed america in 2008. Santa barbara california. Who is 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 west east texas. 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. Yeah alright let's do that that's my list again. You all know the spiritual practices. And the virtues of the heart that i hope to practice as i do this ride. I trust that have used as you listen to me this morning it is occurred 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 on a bicycle. To have these eight spiritual practices. What spiritual practice means to 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. The reach of you keep me in your thoughts and prayers. Cuz 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. Satisfied every reasonable precaution i take. Things can and probably will. Go wrong for me and other riders and awesome 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 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. Set 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. God bless you all. Lighthearted i take to the open road. Healthy. Logan road. I inhaled great dresses space. Armine. Whoever you are. However sweetpeas light up stores however. We cannot remain here. Together the inducements shall be greater. We will sail pathless. And wild seas. Forward. After the great companion. And to belong to them. 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. Showtime. Choir. We have something to sing to you. Thomas replace refurbished. 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 just.

uufvb_org

2014Oct05Sermon128.mp3

Did you feel that nip in the air this morning when he went out to get the morning paper. Tan sweater weather be far behind. Welcome welcome this beautiful ottumwa morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are glad. You've chosen to start your day with us. We were kind of gation of open minds loving hearts and helping hands people seeking. To become our best individual cells even is together we work to make a better world. And please know 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 on. Ged or a phd. Weather your visitor with us this morning i've been coming for decades. Whether you're feeling on top of the world. Or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We welcome you just as you come. We hope you'll find our services morning meaningful and enriching. And then you'll find something here this morning to take with you. To make the days ahead better. Welcome. To this congregation. Every sunday we gather here at the corner of 16th street and 27th avenue. To celebrate life. And to remember and live out our faith. This religious community believes in the worth and the dignity. Of each person. As they come to us in all of their particularity. We believe in in the in the dream of a world built on justice. Compassion. And love. In the possibility. That everyone can find joy. And purpose in their living. Welcome. To this our worship. On the sunday when i talk about the second source of our unitarian universalist faith. Which of the words and deeds of prophetic. Women and men. I thought we would do a responsive reading from the ancient old testament. Prophets isaiah. 58 the words should be above on the board otherwise it's in the back of your hymnal. 588. Let's read this responsively isaiah of course was speaking. To his own people. The people. Of israel. Is not this the fast that i choose. Is it not. To share your bread with the hungry. And bring the homeless poor. Into your house. When you see them naked to cover them. And not to hide yourself from your own kin. If you remove the yolk from among you. The pointing of the finger. The speaking of evil. If you offer your food to the hungry. And satisfy the needs of the afflicted. Hirons. The morning reading. So this morning i continue my sermon series which i'll preach on occasional sundays. Over the coming year about the 6th official sources. All of our unitarian universalist faith. Now what is my educated guess that even though i preached the first sermon of the series several weeks ago i majority of you. Are much more familiar with the seven principles. Of unitarian universalism which we faithfully print. Every sunday in your orders of service. And often talked about from the pulpit. Then you are the six sources of our faith. Which the denomination has identified. After enumerating the seven principles. The bylaws of arjun domination which were adopted in 1984. Immediately go on to officially identify. 6 soundation all sources that gives shape to our face and here they are and i would like to again read them out loud to you. The six sources of unitarian universalism. The living tradition which we share draws from many sources. Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder. Affirmed in all cultures which moved us which moves us. To renewal of the spirit. An openness to the forces which create an apple life. And i preached about that 3 weeks ago. The focus for today. Words and deeds of prophetic women and men. Which challenges to confront powers. And structures of evil. With justice compassion and the transforming power of love. Wisdom from the world's religions. Which inspire us in our ethical and spiritual life. For jewish and christian. Which call us to respond to god's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves. 5 humanist teaching. Which council us to heed the guidance of reason. And the results of science. And warned us against idolatries of the mind and spirit. And finally in this was added last. Spiritual teachings of earth-centered tradition. Would celebrate the sacred circle of life. And instruct us to live in harmony. With the rhythms of nature. Now you might well wonder why our free-thinking denomination. Bother to formally enumerate six sources which. In form and shape our faith tradition well it's because. Like all faith traditions ours has to answer.. The epistemological question. And the epistemological question is simply this. By what authority. Does your faith tradition. Say something is real or true good or right. The word epistemology which is a kind of fancy academic word and philosophical word simply means. The methods and grounds or theory of knowledge. And so the epistemological question in religion. Is simply this. By what authority does your faith tradition say something is real or true good or right. Authority. Is the really big essential question in all religion. Because i think this is obvious to anyone who thinks about it. If a religion any religion. Cannot answer this question. In a reasonable sound or authoritative manner. Vendors in real intellectual and spiritual trouble. No. For many traditional christian religion. Indeed for most of the congregation here in this town that are meeting all over town. This morning the epistemological question is answered in a way something like this. 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 artists relation. Is a clear and reasonable epistemology. And indeed an 18th and 19th centuries. Here in america both the early unitarians and the early universalist. Had biblically-based epistemology is very similar. To this one. Both the early unitarians and the unit and the universalist who were both i remind you. Liberal. Judeo-christian sack. Relied almost exclusively our traditions did. In biblical scripture. And then they're all be a liberal interpretation. Of the nature of god. And the teachings of jesus. As thesaurus. For spiritual truth and behavior. For both individuals. And the society at large. But with the arrival of the 20th century. Both unitarianism and universalism ss faith traditions. We're increasingly open to an influence by religious humanism. And other great religions of the world most especially the eastern traditions. Texas buddhism. Hinduism and taoism. So with the arrival of the 20th century. We unitarian-universalist began. To embrace a much wider. And more inclusive spirituality. And epistemology than this one. And began quickly actually moving beyond the confines. Of our strictly christian and biblical roots. Unitarian and universalist as increasingly encounter. The wisdom from the other religions and philosophies of the world. Most especially the teachings of modern-day humanism. And so when it came time. Fourth of july emanation to update our epistemological source statement. In 1984. This again is the wide-ranging and inclusive statement that was included in our bylaws. Right now we're back to that. So you will see that in honor of our distinctly judeo-christian roots. Forget remember both unitarianism and universalism began as liberal. Christian sex. The fourth source is jewish and christian. Teachings. And we'll get to that in a in a couple of months when i talked about the importance of that. In rnr a jewish honoring our jewish and christian past. But you'll see that it is not first on the list. No it's fourth. And that is very important to know. And we put before that fourth source. The focus for today. The word at the of prophetic. Women and men. Where do we begin with this all-important second source of our faith. I think we have to begin by defining the word. Prophetic. For that is perhaps the keyword. In this state. Prophetic. What does it mean in our face tradition. For someone to be. Prophetic. Will the word prophetic of course has its origin. In the ancient idea of the prophet. Which wikipedia the online encyclopedia describes this way. In religion a prophet. Is an individual who is claim. To have been contacted by the supernatural or the divine. And to speak for them. Serving as an intermediary with humanity. Delivering this newfound knowledge. From the supernatural entity. Two other people. Wikipedia cozaar. The message that the prophet conveys is called a prophecy. Claims of prophethood have existed in many cultures. Throughout history. Including judaism. Christianity. Islam. Ancient greece zoroastrianism and many others. And then the wikipedia ends. Traditionally profits are regarded as having a role in society. That promotes change. Due to their message. And their actions unquote. One online dictionary tells us that the word prophet. Comes from the greek root to profess. And it means to speak forth or to advocate. And a1 online biblical site explains the role prophets play. In the jewish and christian traditions writes this. Clearly than a prophet. Is an authorized spokesperson. For god. With a message that originates from with god. And was communicated through number of me. When god spoke to the spokesperson. They had no choice. But to deliver that word. To those to whom god directed it unquote. So the classic understanding and religion. Is it a prophet is an extraordinary messenger of the divine. Who demands that those around him or her. Listen. To god's instructions. The prophets of the jewish. Bible. Spoke of their own spoke to their own hebrew community. Of the will of god pointing the people of israel. For goodness righteousness. Justice and compassion mostly that's what the prophets did. Most of you are undoubtedly at least somewhat familiar. With the stern prophets of the old testament. Striking men like amos hosea. Jerimiahisaiah noah. And ezekiel who preach to the people of israel. About mostly their sins and in justices. And reminded them in no uncertain terms of what their god. In covenant relationship with them. Demanding of his people. And what grievous outcomes. What happened to the people of israel if they disobeyed him. The hebrew prophets had as the famous scholar abraham heschel put that i love this quote. A breathless and patience with just with injustice. For god as isaiah puts it. Is raging in the prophet's words. The mouth of the prophet is a sharp sword. He has the polished arrow. Take a note. Of the quiver. Of god. Unqualified. The polished arrow. Taken out of the quiver. Of god. These are not people you want to meet on a regular basis. Now. As interesting as we might find. This ancient biblical tradition. About god keeping the people of israel in line. To the stern words and warnings of hand-selected prophets. Surely this is not what we as unitarian universalist. In the 21st century mean when we say. That we look and value the words and deeds. A prophetic. Women and men. As i'm sure you've already noticed when our denomination finally settled. I'm the all-important on this all-important second source its wording. They did not say. Words and deeds of old male prophets. Who in the ancient past. Challenged humanity to honor god by confronting the powers and structures of evil. With justin's compassion. And the transforming power of love they didn't word it that way. No. We affirm the importance of prophetic words and deeds of both men and women first. At assumedly. Past and present. And from every great religious tradition of humanity and from every corner of the globe. Who call us these prophetic people. With the moral clarity of their words and deeds. To do what is right. What i think is somewhat scuttlebutt is terribly important to note here. In this unitarian universal statement. It does not focus on the noun profit. Lifting up a few remarkable god inspired people from the past. As some sort of pure and saintly example of righteousness. But rather it focuses on an adjectives. The word prophetic. Treating prophecy i would suggest. As an ongoing human possibility. Indeed an ongoing requirement in human life. For men and women women and men everywhere. To my mind at least this carefully-worded statement of ours. Suggest with the role of being prophetic. Is never restricted. To a few divinely-inspired mostly men. A biblical times. But in fact prophecy and being prophetic. Is something we all can and do end should be about. In our troubled times. 4 unitarian universalist then prophecy. Is it ongoing human possibility and responsibility. As together we work in our religious and ethical eyes. To confront evil. And to promote love and justice and compassion. As my colleague beth miller who serves our current gation up the road i asked all the ministers in florida. If they had preached on these six sources and she's one of the few who sent me all six of her sermons. Here's what she wrote on this. The second source. There are still plenty of profits. Amana. Like in biblical times. Modern-day prophets confront people about practices. Better unfair i'm just or immoral. Modern-day prophets beth goes on. Still speak truth. 2 power. They still remind us who we are. At our best. They still seek to turn us back. To have us repent. From ways of life. That are selfish and exploited. So that the community may experience redemption. And it restoration. To hold us for all. And two piece. And harmony. Unquote. So let's pause here and without using the word prophet. For as i have suggested that word. Enlisting up just a few old-timers. Conveniently distances us. From the possibility of prophetic activity in our own life. Let's see if together we can build a list and i've got my little bored here. Of some of the prophetic men and women. From all cultures in all time. From all religious traditions the kind of women and men. Poop prophetically. Help us to see the way to love and justice and compassion. I want the individual states. Call out the names of some of these people one at a time and i'll put them up listen. What i must say of course. We won't all agree on everyone who is suggested. This is after all a free-thinking conjugation. But i think this will give us a landscape of what kinds of prophetic people were talking about. Yes. Mother teresa by the way i have a crib list over here and she's on it. But hang on. Hold on. I know i asked for one and i didn't get one. Who does the name martin luther king. What. I'm sorry. That's not it that's not a prophetic name. Alright who's got another one.. Jfk. Rosa parks. Lincoln. Thurman howard thurman. The famous african-american theologian. Thomas jefferson. How about how about how about oh my goodness okay alright alright. I did ask. How about jesus. We didn't get him up there.. He was a man. Who else. Atari. Harvey milk. How about nelson mandela. I had her on my. Ls2. Rachel carson. The famous psychologist. All right at 1 order tomorrow. Mark twain. Who's granddaughter just passed away. Thought you know that yeah unitarian universalist. Stop. What's the full name again. Yeah. Togo's. And margaret mead alright we'll stop there. All right we won't stop there. Alright. You get the idea. Coming to see who else i had on my little list. I had the. Desmond tutu albert schweitzer leds now dolly llama. I had a few more of those. But we could go on and on all day. These are just some. Of the noble visionary noble and visionary women and men from human history from this.. From all corners of the globe and from various faith background. Whose words and deeds can indeed. And must indeed. Help us inspire us to lead lives of greater compassion. Greater justice and greater love the shining example of these lives. Helps us to live better lives. Right where we live. And i'm sure that we as unique as we as unitarian universalist moving to the future. Will be adding new names to this list as new prophets. A new states arise from human history. So let's move on the now and not going to move this off the side cuz we're not going to focus on this anymore. Let's move to the next part. Of this. Statement. Another very important thing to note about it. Is the inclusion of this phrase. To confront powers. And structures of evil. Wii u use believe that the words and deeds of prophetic women and man. Challenge us to confront evil. Now this. Is very important to waze. It's very important to know that the word evil. Was included in the statement in 1984 because. It's frightening because it was a long. of time and unitarian universalist history. When is the face tradition we were not terribly comfortable using the word evil or sin. Some of you may not know. 70 18th and 19th century are optimistic and positive thinking spiritual forebears. The great transcendentalist thinkers like ralph waldo emerson. William ellery channing henry david thoreau margaret fuller joseph priestley. Theodore parker and so many. Who are standing up against calvinism. Which was just soaked with sin and evil. They were not much interested in those words. As a result. Our forebears seldom use the word evil. When they talk about human affairs. If not. That our forebears were unaware of human wrongdoing. And violence and cruelty. They just didn't want to permanently naval label human beings and society. As inherently evil. Which is what the calvinist their religious competitors in the marketplace we're doing. Ralph waldo emerson for example in his famous 1841 divinity school address. Suggested to the seven or eight newly-minted unitarian minister. And now i paraphrase amy said boys. There's no such thing as darkness. Only the absence of life. There's no such thing as evil. Only the absence of goodness. Did you get that subtlety that ontological subtlety about. Darkness and evil are not as not equivalent. Two light and goodness. So is a faith tradition we were long hasn't it. Do use the world word evil. But by the time of our the statement was created in 1984. And perhaps this is sadly doing part. To the money wars. And then humanities and atrocities of the 20th century. No one on the steering committee that put the statement together apparently had a problem. With including the word evil. As something we have to quote. Confront. Andover power. I for one as a minister in this tradition. And profoundly comfortable. With the assertion. Better crucial part of your and my work. As a religious people is. To confront. The powers and structures of evil. With justice and compassion. And the transforming power of love. Who amongst us living. In these troubled and violent early years of the 21st century. Would be hesitant to acknowledge was another beheading yesterday for god's sake in the middle east. That there is much evil in the world. Which demands the resistance. Of our full human community. And every one of our hands and hearts. How i met so many times in human affairs. It is not enough. It is not enough. Just simply be personally. You know kind and loving and gentle. We need to stand up together often. In an organized way. And say no to evil to violence to cruelty and injustice the same no we will not allow it in our world. And to declare the evil in all of its pernicious manifestation. Has no place in our world as we did for example. When the world grows up. Against hitler. Third reich. And the second important thing to notice about this middle part of the statement. Is it it's challenging us to confront. Powers. And structures. You use in the statement are not challenging under so much. To address personal evil and wrongdoing like. To challenge someone who has murdered someone. That's the micro-level of our lives know. This statement is. Asking us to address. The powers and principalities of evil. The macro-level. Where evil is played out. In communities and governments. And culture. Clearly than by wording this statement in the way we have. We are primarily challenging one another. To prophetically address. Structural. And societal level. Which is very different. Then personal or idiosyncratic evil. We are we are demanding as a faith tradition. The together we confront. Whatever systemically dehumanizes. Individuals or community. Addressing for example societal scourges like. Poverty. Homelessness. Joblessness. Compassion was capitalism. Racism. Homophobia sexism. Domestic violence. To name just a few of the systemic. And systematic. Moral failures. Of our culture. So our faith tradition. Is clearly more focused. On societal failure and wrongdoing. Then it is personal. Failure and wrongdoing it's not that we approve of personal failure in wrongdoing. But we are most as a religious tradition focus. A changing the larger structures. Of the world so that all humanity can move forward. So in closing this morning let me tell you what this complete. Statement means to me. The second source of our faith. The words and deeds of prophetic women and men. Means that in my spiritual and ethical life that i live out mostly here in vero beach florida. I need to regularly heed the clarion call of prophetic. Individuals. And women and men from many times and places cultures and traditions. Who have name. Destructive and dehumanizing structures of evil. And challenge me with all of you. To address them. With compassion and justice. And love. The source means that i have an ongoing moral duty. To see an address evil. In all of its societal. And cultural manifestation. And further means that i myself. As one unitarian universalist. Realize that the work of prophecy. Is not something the conveniently ended in biblical times. No. We who lead lives in these terribly complicated years. Of the 21st century we are all responsible. Right where we live in life. Dude are at least occasionally. To be prophetic ourselves. When we see evil. And injustice and suffering unnecessary suffering in our mint. Like the prophets of old we need. To speak up. When we see wrongdoing and pain. Being inflicted on others. Even if it is by benign structures like. Vague laws that say well we can't really take care of people without healthcare. We have to speak up. And we have to act up. On behalf of compassion and justice in love. Of course it can. Be pretty a pretty scary thing. When we feel called upon. To stand up. And confront powers and structures of evil around us. Sometimes these forces. Are very powerful. And very established. And they have a great deal of power over us. But this is what our faith. Demands of us. To be a unitarian universalist means that you are prepared to become. A courageous. Activist. On behalf of human dignity and hope. When you see those things endangered. In this faith tradition. We cannot remain silent or passive. When we see the unjust. And unnecessary suffering of others. We are unitarian universalists. A people of faith. Pumas again. And again. And again. Speak up. An actor. On behalf of what we know. Deep to our hearts. To be compassionate. And loving. And i say and me and you this morning. I'm in. I send you on your way with someone who i put on the list. The dalai lama. Kunis book. Ethics for the 21st century wrote. May i become at all times. Both now and forever. A protector for those without protection. A guide for those who have lost their way. A ship for those with oceans 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 a servant. To all in need. Going peace. Do good. And be well. I meant.

uufvb_org

2012Jan15Sermon32.mp3

My mother. Marsha ewing alexander. There she is. In tulsa oklahoma right after world war ii. My mother was a civil rights activist. A woman deeply concerned about equality in america. During her entire adult life right where she live for greater racial understanding and equality. Which is something of a surprise i think because she brewer grew up in virtually all white northern wisconsin. We're her exposure to people of different races and cultures was incredibly limited. In the isolated in merrill wisconsin the only real diversity worth mentioning was between the missouri synod. German lutherans in the wisconsin lutheran. But somehow by the time she reached adults. With an in the african-american community for greater educational economic and social equality for all. After graduating from northwestern university with a degree in social work. In the early days of wwii my mother. Who because of personal wealth had plenty of opportunity. To choose a comfortable and a conventional life. Went to work instead. In a strike at a struggling neighborhood house in the slums of syracuse new york. Where she worked with the children of the poor mostly african-american. She lived. In a rough-and-tumble neighborhood where she lived with two roommates. An african-american social worker colleague wonderful woman for her entire life. And and this is a story unto itself. A japanese american woman who also worked with my mother. My mother had managed to liberate from an internment camp in california promising the federal government my mother individually that she would. I'll take responsibility for this woman's welfare. And activities. She knew those internment. What's wrong. And liberated one. My mother remembered. These years working in the slums of syracuse and some of the most purposeful of her. After the war she married my father moved to racine wisconsin to raise us for boys. But my mother's commitment to social justice remain. In the early sixties she pretty much single-handedly created a thriving community center. In the one black neighborhood in racine wisconsin. Which i was a poor community located at the valley at the bottom of an industrial valley right in the center of town any of you who know racine wisconsin. Drive down into this neighborhood. After pulling both black and white civic leaders together to launch the project she not only provided professional leadership and encouragement to get the program on its feet. She bought a house. It was pink. And the organization first began as the pink house. But was later named the bray center. After an african-american friend of my mother george bray. Who was the unitarian universalist leader in the community. I want to win this week. I googled the brace that's. And was stunned to see that. Its 50th anniversary year it's become a thriving social service institution in racine wisconsin. Providing again program and support services. For primarily for african-american youth and i had a picture of the gymnasium. There's the gymnasium. The bray center they have nationally ranked basketball teams and many wonderful programs. This is one of my mother's children. Anyway. I want to share that all throughout my formative years. I watched my mother in racine and elsewhere work. For the betterment of the african-american. And she instilled in me an understanding of the importance of racial equality and dignity. And the one-time martin luther king came to southeastern wisconsin we went to kenosha and we were the only white people i remember that. Perhaps this is why following her death. My brothers and i were shocked. Genuinely shocked. Threw a bunch of dusty old family photo albums that my mother had in her possession. To find a photograph. Identical to this one. In one of the family album. Although we were. Unable to trace of although we were able to trace this photo album back to the illinois. Side of arguing char's family. We have been unable to precisely determine who these two sinister characters were. And why their picture. Was in our family album. But i can only assume family albums being that. 50 scary-looking goons. With their sinister hoods and their shotgun at the ready. We're both relatives of mine. From the last half. Of the 19th century. Could these two evil characters be great-uncle great-great uncles or cousins or perhaps even heaven forbid someone. Closer to me. On my family tree i we just don't. No. Beyond the fact that we are certain they are part of my extended family. An embarrassing part. Of my ancestry. As a midwestern american of european descent. Pains me to acknowledge that these folks simply are my people. They are my. A few generation. Some of you may not know the full and rather ugly and complicated history. Of the ku klux klan. The kkk. Is the name given to a number of past and present fraternal organizations in the united states. Variously advocated white supremacy and power. Fu semitism. Racism. Attic catholicism and more recently homophobia and of course nativism. The first clan. Was founded in 1866 in the deep south by veterans of the confederate army. With the sole purpose of resisting reconstruction. And keeping the freed slaves quote-unquote in their place. At the bottom of the social educational and economic order. The first plan was destroyed. In the early 1870s by president ulysses s grant his vigorous enforcement. Of the civil rights act of 1871 also known as the cake. The second incarnation of the kkk. Was a massive whites only membership organization which sprang up in the 1920s. With many local chapters and millions of members representing believe it or not this is a shameful american. About 15%. Of the eligible white. Male popular. What are the seven. This organization which in many parts of the country included midwestern states like ohio indiana and illinois. Where my family cross pass was apparently. Headset have hundreds of thousands of members. And was responsible as you all know for lynchings and fire bombings and other violent activities directed against african. Those. Like its predecessor this twentieth-century kkk. Was committed to maintaining the economic and political power long afforded to white american. While denying. Advancement and equality by force. Intimidation and murder if necessary. Two african-american. Mercifully this organization just as its predecessor. Predecessor also collapse. After a couple of decades of sinister activity. And was virtually non-existent as an organized movement by the time of the second. World war. But today is you all sadly know there's still a few pathetic pockets. A modern-day activity. I'm thinking. Don't loosely now is white supremacist movement. On the margins of our society yes. Aw and wildly repudiated by american culture. In the mainstream. But still here. As a kind of. Festering. Opposed. The nineteenth-century clan the twentieth-century clan. And their decades of violence and terrorism. Remain a terrible stain on american history in race relations which we must never minimize our. That's why i took what i think it's a risk for me anyway of sharing this little bit of my own family's dirty laundry. With you on this martin luther king sunday in the year 2012. I shared it that shocking and shameful. Lyon family pass. Not because. Particularly feel any personal guilt. 150 years later i honestly. Do not feel much personal responsibility or even emotional connection. To the terrible choices some of my ancestor. Apparently made in terms of. And dab. The decisions they made in the context of their own fearful. Ignorant and prejudice lives any more than i would take credit today for my mother's. Noble work. Behalf. Of racial justice. Quality inn racine wisconsin. I share this undeniable part of my. My family story. Because it serves me and all white americans of european descent. You are facing the tragic facts of american. America's violent and oppressive racial history. It is a stark reminder. Of the power. The privileged and the prejudice. Which has over the history of our nation. Giving me an all-white amir. Such incredible advantages. Over those americans who were enslaved. And held down. And depressed. Regeneration. Generation. After j. Just one more painful example for my own family history. August legacy of power prerogative and privileges. During. The many years of a successful nba career basketball career everytime i heard the name of patrick ewing. Who was during the 80s in the 90s of standout all across african american doll look at him star center the new york knicks. Always could be counted as one of the best players in the nba everytime i heard his name patrick ewing. I was reminded again of my family's. Slaveholding past. For the undeniable truth historical truth is a patrick ewing and i threw my mother share the ewing name for one reason. Not genetically. Because his great-great grandparents were enslaved and owned by my. Ancestors. With the name. Viewing. That is precisely. How majority of african-americans today came by their surnames. They were forced to adopt the last name of those who quote on quote. Well i profoundly wish it were otherwise as a privileged white american. Living in the supposed enlightened time. I have some ugly skeletons in my closet both slaveholding. And the kkk are tied directly to me. Into my past. And i'm sure. The same is true. Hello. For a lot of you sitting out there this morning this is not just my narrative. I don't. Now let me be very clear about something right. I bring up all this this. Not because believe me i want to lay some big white. Liberal guilt trip on every light skin. Personnel. Myself and. I bring all this up on this martin luther king sunday to remind us all the truth. Resignation america now just a handful. Of generations after my relatives put on those ugly uniforms. America's not even close not even. To being finished. With the pressing moral and societal work of correcting the damage done to black and white americans like. By many generations first of slavery and following that generations of. Systemic economic educational and social discrimination. And depression directed at people of color. In the year 2012. All americans as citizens of are still flawed and very unfinished nation. Have a pressing duty. Two-face are shameful rachel path. And this is the hard part. We have an obligation. 2. To commit the resources. Economic governmental and the personal result. They will continue to be required to truly. Heal our nation and begin to make things. Let me take a moment. Here to remind you of a bit more of american history. This somewhat more recent. Immediately relevant. And suggest you wear i think we have to move as a nation. In regards to our very much ongoing struggle with the issues of race and discrimination and equality and privilege. Following the watershed 1964 supreme court decision brown versus versus the board of education. Which began the painfully slow process of desegregated america's racially-divided schools. Following brown versus board of education. For several decades federal state and local governments. Began to seriously implement a wide range of remedial. Social programs. To correct. The accumulated economic educational and social harm. Done to african americans. And others. Discriminated against because of their racial background. The most systematic programs were on the federal level as you all know beginning with president kennedy's. New frontier proposals. Which were extended after his death. By the progressive administration of lyndon baines johnson. Who did three things. He persuaded a reluctant congress. To pass the civil rights act of 1964. He announced a wide-ranging remedial war on poverty program. A push through congress a wide range of other programs. Which would lead he said to a great society. In the year 1965 alone. And i was amazed to be reminded of this when i researched this sermon. In the year 1965 alone there were 115. Presidential legislative recommendations. We're quickly adopted by a supportive congress imagine that today. Launching wide-ranging programs design. To help the poor. And racial minorities most especially african-americans. Who have borne the hardship greatest. Ivar discrimination is a culture. And indulge me a quick but i think. Telling the side here about just one of these remedial programs. In the last communication i serve. Yeah it i'll just outside of washington. One of my distinguished oldest older members. Was a gentleman named bradley patterson he's written the book on how the white house works actually. Google i need him a great guy just lost his wife. Bradley. Who happened to be a republican unitarian universalist. Was a member of the white house staff through several administrations in the sixties and seventies. And who among other accomplishments worked on developing auntie probe anti-poverty programs during the johnson. One day when he and i were discussing. The persistent issue of race in american society and he can't come in for a cup of coffee. He told me the story of a white house meeting in the mid-sixties with his boss. Sargent shriver. Who is in charge of johnson's anti-poverty efforts. It looking over. The a proposal to spend millions in poor predominately ask african-american inner-city school shriver noticed a little budget item. For hundreds of thousands of dollars. Four mirrors. I'm skeptical shriver. Skeptically as the project manager what possible use schools could have vince with so many mirrors. The project better without looking. Project manager without looking up that if actually responded with a r for the classroom. Because so many of these impoverished children have never seen themselves in a mirror and have not had the opportunity to develop appropriate self-awareness. Our self-esteem. Bradley said. Harumph. My brother history. In the sixties and seventies president johnson's great society initiative. Other remedial i don't want to keep using that word program. Designed to lift. Discriminated against minority populations out of poverty enjoyed the widespread support of the american people. Including i remember my parents. And their friends who are totally committed. America achieving greater. Economic and social. But as the nation our nation moved into the last two decades of the 20th century. And african-american and other poverty proved difficult to eradicate or even substantially reduce. Many in america. You all know this is true. Became impatient. An increasingly hostile to both the cost and possible ineffective me. Of these programs. Economic and social conservatives in particular. Began to raise their voices and political clout against. Tax-supported. Remedial programs. And suggested that the great economic educational and social gaps between various racial and ethnic groups in america. Could best be closed not by quote-unquote. Throwing federal tax dollars at the problem but rather. By insisting that those who find themselves poor take more quote-unquote. Individual responsibility for their own advancement and pull themselves up by their proverbial bootstraps. Under the weight of this conservative argument. And the growing resentment in many american quarters again. Paying taxes for any purpose. Over recent decades. Most especially over recent years as american conservatism has found a louder voice on talk radio. And other venues. We've seen a steady. An intentional decline. In federally-mandated. Federally financed for medial programs designed to compensate. Correct for past. Racial discrimination and oppression. There has also been a similar widespread rollback in part 2. Several recent decisions by an increasingly conservative supreme court. Of what are known as affirmative action for. Both in education and business. It is clear to me anyway. Ranier 2012 for something out sometime now america has been moving away. From a concerted. Governmental investment and correcting long-standing poverty and racial discrimination at edwige a tran. Which i and any others regard as a grave. Societal. And moral mistake. For as i have said. We are nowhere close as a nation. To having sufficiently address. The collective damage. Done by our shameful past. Martin luther king was right. This is not. To be quick. It is not. Going. To be cheap. But of course as is so often the case when we look. Vexing persistent social problems. I suspect that this national situation of ours concerning race. And remediation. For historical discrimination. Maybe more complex than any of us. Progressive. Wanted first to admit. As i thought in preparing this sermon. About the dualism. Here's my dualism. Between the liberal progressive commitment. Two programs of social remediation on the one hand. And the conservative insistence. Are encouraging more individual responsibility and initiative on the other. When you come to this paradox it occurs to me. The one we. Are looking at the dream of america at even greater justice and social equality. These two at first seemingly incompatible things. May both be simultaneously true. They may both be true to a certain extent. As i have already said. Because african-americans and particularly in particular historically suffer generations of spirit. Crushing slavery. And the subsequent economic educational and social subjugation. Of our culture. Additional and substantiv governmental remediation and investment. Progressive programs if you will. Will be required to bring about true racial and social equality in yet at the same time. The same is true whether we're talking about white poverty in the hollows of rural appalachia. Or latino poverty in the barrios of south los angeles. Or the black poverty on the southside of chicago. At the same time. No amount. Of governmental remediation and investment will work unless those individuals of any. Racial ethnic or cultural background now trapped. And that cycle of poverty and illiteracy and deprivation. Are able to step up themselves. And take increased responsibility for the future of their own lives and the lives of their children and take advantage of every opportunity. Although it is not without controversy. This is precisely the largely conservative message that african-american entertainer bill cosby. And african-american columnist tom sewell and charles ramsey the no-nonsense police chief of philadelphia. And even oprah winfrey. And other routes spoken leaders in the black community are all currently preaching. Two african-american audiences themselves. Although was the progressive. I am always inclined to first support governmental anti-poverty program. It also does make sense to me. Amount of governmental remediation or investment again in any impoverished. Regardless of race. We'll work unless those families suffering. From generations of the cycle of poverty. Discrimination are willing to play an active role. With governments committed. To helping. To work to improve their own. Indeed one of the greatest and somewhat overlooked success stories in american society over the last century. Is the inspiring and some ways spectacular. The millions. Upon millions. Of african-americans. Whose ancestors were enslaved in chains as recently. Az100. The years ago. And with the help don't forget tax supported government remediation. Shooting clarence thomas. Who got a lot of it and now doesn't want any more of it for people who follow but i'll leave him. That's not the text i just sent it. I can't help myself sometimes. Where was i. Millions of americans like like clarence thomas have gotten out of poverty. It's stunning. The bottom line here is that i believe both liberals and conservatives. Do have something to contribute here. As america struggles in the twenty-first century to slowly move the whole nation. Toward the justice and equality dreams of. Liberals and progressives both black and white are morally and politically right. To call for more and better design social remediation program. Invest. Significant governmental resources which are tax refunds. To correct past discrimination. Conservative. Both black and white. Are also morally and politically correct. To encourage the impoverished. To invest something of themselves. In there if their personal situations. And those of their children and grandchildren ever trump. Seems to me. That we do not have to choose. Between the progressive view of. Spending money. And the conservative view of. Charging everyone to do the best that they can stay. So we don't have to choose between. Those. Two perspectives are both required. Let me give just. One more example of this merger of liberal and conservative. Perspective. But i wasn't watching the couple years ago our new wonderful young black mayor adrian fenty. Who is simpson. Removed from office. Arpi left. Watch the election. He proposed. A program. Call adult literacy illiteracy elimination program in by sheer accident that we have the literate literary services hazard. Hazard a benefactor this morning. He announced his program which was a partnership. Between the district government of dc which will provide these centers and teachers. Do to combat illiteracy. And the residents to these programs. This it seems to i was delighted with this multimillion-dollar expenditure of my tax dollars. To provide these centers where people had to go. Had to choose to go. And that's the way i say. Government works best. When we take these two perspectives and melt. I returned on this martin luther king sunday and enclosing. To affirm what i believe i believe is our primary responsibility of those of us. We're sitting here most of us. From the fireplace. In vero beach florida a privilege. Enterprise. Cast. It's our primary responsibility. As we help america to move toward racial. Equality. Our responsibility. Citizens and voters and taxpayers. Do everything we can. To ensure that our governments. Federal state and local. Wisely. Best in affirmative action. And remedial programs design. To end. Race-based poverty. We'll never failing to insist that those to whom the funds. Are directed. Do their parts. It frankly saddens me. But at this particular juncture in american history. Very comfortable and successful americans including. Many. Many people. Here on the treasure coast. Want to forget. And deny this truth. About the necessity. But the work of racial and economic. Justice. Remains. So painfully under. But perhaps. We constantly remind ourselves about. Painful skeleton. In our past life. My picture of my kkk. Patrick ewing. Having to share. My name. That. Perhaps we will find the nashville will. To once and for all make this right. I pray that is committed and come back compassionate unitarian universalist. We will be steady and reliable voices. In our families and in our workplaces and in our social and friendship circles and in our neighborhoods and communities. Advocating. For america to do the hard and yes expensive. Work. Avant doing the damage. Of our racist past and present. It is clear to me. Linear 2012 the dream of genuine racial equality and social justice that martin. King head. America. Will take more time. And more money. Did any of us would have helped. And more time. And more effort. And many of your neighbors have any patience. But this is the dream. We must never forsake. This is the dream we cannot afford to abandon. This is the dream we must keep. 4front. Hobart national a.m.. In america. Totally. Equality for all we are not. And the road. Going. Delong. But we must.

uufvb_org

2014Nov16Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. These are the days we move to florida for right. Wonderful weather welcome. The unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so glad you've chosen to begin this beautiful day with us. We are congregation. 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 know what 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 shade of humanity. What do you have a ged or a phd whether you are a visitor this morning or been coming for decade whether you were feeling this morning on top of the world or. 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 in richmond to everyone here. When that you will find something here this morning. That nourishes your spirit and feed 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 smaller star and into that world at some point flu. Red-winged blackbirds. Sperm whale. Edit do with bloomed crocuses an intuit blue winds to lift the tiniest hairs a naked arms in spring. And then do with epsom point through onions out of soil and in went mount everest and also the coyotes. We spotted in the woods about a mile from here. Just after sunrise on these mornings. When the moon is full. The very scent of him. Makes his brother are dog insane with fear and joy and ancient inbred memory. Into that world came animals and element said plants. And imagination the mind and the mind's eye. If such a universe existed. And you noticed it. What would you do. What song would come out of your mouth what prayers what praises was sacred offering. What whirling dance what religion and what 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. Feeling in as it were unaware upon the heart. It comes quickly and without excitement. It has no terror. No gloom. 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 in the invisible wind. It is among the hills and valleys of the earth. With a strapless mountaintop pierce has a 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. In the year 1632. The great italian physicists and astronomers galileo publish the book entitled dialogue 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. That 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. Let the galileo being tried and convicted of heresy in a church court known as you all know as an inquisition. Threatened by the scientific truth church authorities ordered all copies of galileo's book destroyed. He was forced to publicly renounce. His astronomical research and he was sentenced to life in prison. Which was later commuted to permanent house arrest. Galileo died ten years later in 1642. And although soon a stall astronomers and physicists not to mention theologians around the world came to accept the fact that indeed. 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 science pollster john miller of northwestern university reports that one in five americans when asked about our earth and sun incorrectly state that the sun revolved around the earth but i think that's mostly due to sheer scientific ignorance. As opposed to the persistence of discredited church doctrine. Similarly in 1859. British unitarian. And scientists charles darwin after five years of exhaustive research as a naturalist aboard the hms beagle along the shores. The western shores of the south american continent. Proposed in his now famous book the origin of species. What was at the time a new and controversial scientific theory of natural selection. Which asserted as i trust you all know. Set all living organisms every plant and animal including us. Evolve and change over time in some cases over hundreds of centuries of time. In order to adapt and survive in their changing natural environments. 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. As famed 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 site american scientific organization. That is weighed in on the recent evolution versus intelligent design controversial i'm talking about today. Affirmed evolutionist quote. 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 schools. They write evolution is a valid scientific theory for the origin of species. That has been repeatedly tested and verified through observation formulation of testable statements. To explain those observation. And controlled experiments and 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 is factually true 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 and creation ism the post goes on have actually been running neck-and-neck. In the origin of life sweepstakes. And now a third they write more complicated contender intelligent design. 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 lice origin. While slightly more accept the idea of evolution and then the article concludes. In a recent pew poll. 42%. Of americans agreed quote. Humans and other living things have existed in their present form since the beginning of time. While 48% believed that humans and other living things. Have evolved. 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. That there is not a single person pray it be so god in this room right now who does not intellectually except as factually true and scientifically irrefutable evolution and natural selection as the building blocks which enables us to understand and explain our world. Well almost half the american people say. 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. Let's be really clear about this. Perhaps the most single important thing for us to realize about science and religion. Is it when science and religion. Come into conflict about the facts of the natural universe and how it works science in the end always wins 100% of the time. No matter how long it takes. Whether you were talking about the truth discovered by galileo or darlin or einstein. Regardless of public opinion polls or how insistently some hold onto old inoperative ideas. In the end the facts in the flow of science. Rather than the doctrines of religion carry the day. And i believe that all religions if they are too early in electrical respect of the world. And more important serve their adherents 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. But as you all well know some religious beliefs even when they bump right up against undeniable scientific finding. Prove most difficult to dislodge. You may not know for example that if you visit the grand canyon today you can sign up. For one of two kinds of rafting trips. In the 18 rain geologist will describe to you what you were seeing. Which isn't fact. A beautiful wondrous canyon. Created 550 million over the last 550 million years by shifting fault. And water erosion 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 plate is rather a place car. 400 4500 years ago by the great flood. Described in the old testament. Just some traditional religion and dozens of conservative christian churches right here in vero beach. The known. An indisputable fact of our natural world can be ignored. Organize. No matter what intellectual gyrations are required to do that to defend ancient scripture and unyielding belief. The great tragedy of courses 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 of course has a persistent. And frankly in so many ways intellectually ridiculous battle in the american public square 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 of a couple of different ways of god creating the natural universe and everything lives in it. Justice ar today in 6 actual 24-hour days. Weather this ancient story. Should be taught in american science public classroom. Side by side. As viable as a viable possibility or a possible alternative. To explain the natural world as we know it. From f with evolutionary theory. Never mind for now. The all-important american principle of the separation of church and state which as you all know. Must help must help us keep any particular religions teaching. All of the public school. Our government is not supposed to establish any religion. The larger issue however is simply that of accepting irrefutable scientific tree. Just one current example if you might. If the importance of teaching only scientific facts in american science classrooms. Right now as 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 the virus works for them. The ebola virus isn't particularly very very clever virus and it is evolving. Incredibly fast. God help the medical scientists trying in his or her lap to combat and conquer ebola who clings to the creationist idea that this virus was created as it is now four and a half thousand years ago. It's just crazy. Creationism and 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. And a quick but necessary aside here. Over recent years the cultural debate about how the natural sciences. Should be taught in america has significantly shifted away from the old creationism versus science debate. To another idea called intelligent design. In preparation for the sermon i read a lot of articles about intelligent design. Written by those few scientists to articulating and promoting it again. As a viable scientific alternative to evolution at the house this planet came into being and work. Pata 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 design central idea. Is what one of its major proponent lehigh university professor michael behe calls. The irreducible complexity that exists the molecular level of life. We she 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. By the hand of an intelligent god. This very idea is very much like the early and classical christian theological argument. Which is known as a telia logical. For the existence of god the theological arguments of the existence of god. Which was articulated by english theologian william paley. Who in 1802. Created his famous watchmaker analogy. Quote. If we find a pocket watch in the field haley wrote. 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 go online take a look at intelligent design and duford to reading on. But suffice it for now here to say. The just was in with creationism that ancient political mess 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 it and therefore. Must have no place in american science classrooms. But let me be very clear here. By dismissing intelligent design. As a scientific assertion. Which of course is based on everything we know about the physical universe. I am not dismissing intelligent design. As a theological assertion. It's no good science but it's actually can be pretty fine theology. In the field of religion and theology. Nnnn in one's own personal spiritual life. Believing that there is some sort of holy or transcendent spirit or presence or intelligence. That is how to 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. They 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 all the wildlife that. Coexistence 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 faith. 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 seeding of a sort of authority by religion to science regarding scientific matters. Does not mean. That religion any religion including our own. And those very different from our own. Cannot have an authoritative voice when it comes to describing defining an n 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. Two different. Field of human endeavor with two very different methodologies of arriving at wisdom and truth to guide our human enterprise. One way of understanding science and religion and as parallel and equally important discipline. Is to think of science. As properly focus on question how does life mechanically work. Where is religion properly focuses on. And what does life mean. Mysteries and all 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 religion and science noma. Non-overlapping magisteria this morning did you. Non-overlapping magisteria. With science concerning and having the authority to address the factual and empirical realm of life that's that this magisteria over here. Well religion is concerned and has authority to address the ultimate meaning and moral value of life. As he puts it. Science and religion each and separately have a legitimate magisterium. A domain of teaching authority. That's cool. Any points out they do not overlap. Now. This makes a whole lot of sense to me. If we accept the idea that science and religion are different realms of human authority and assertion and endeavor. With different methodologies for discovering and living truth. Then we can proceed only then with the creative interchange. Between these twin towers of human expression and understanding. Look let me put this all little differently. As a unitarian universalist committed to both scientific and religious inquiry and insight. I think the enduring tragedy of the. Evolution creationism intelligent design debate as it has been framed in this country. Is it has become a winner-take-all public policy struggle. Either at least somewhat haven't either you believe in the coal mechanical march of millions of years of natural selection and evolution. The science describe. Or you believe in the ancient creation myth found in the book of genesis. In which an all-powerful all intelligent all good god cuz all of creation and all life forms once and for all a few years back. What a tragedy. The both sides to date at least. Have been unable to consider and incorporate the essential truth. The other end of their thinking. The magisterium not the magisteria not able to talk to each other. Let me speak personally for just a moment. As a rational and 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. But that scientific understanding when i cross the barber bridge and look out over at they will fit the darwin explained all this. Doesn't me. It has a personal space i also can't. While gazing up toward pelican island on the barber bridge. See and feel and be uplifted and transformed and affected by. A scientifically unquantifiable let me just call it a spirit of holiness. Alive and operating. Before my eyes. As one person who looks at my world bow through. Scientific eyes and religious ones i see no ultimate incompatibility. Between the scientific facts we know to be true. Anna sustaining intuitive face. About the sacredness and and holiness and and beauty and mystery. Of the world i find. In performing. In other words i believe bolton evolution. Which i can prove. Enter the active presence in my world in scotland's anders case of what i call a holy and sacred spirit. That i cannot prove to any of you empirically in the laboratory. I can never prove. But there is a. Holy and sacred spirit afoot 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 a really neat thing. About religion and theology. Weather. Well neither theological assertions north face statement should be unreasonable. To the scientific and thinking mine. You do not in theological 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 theology and face work. So speaking again personally this unitarian universalist believe. Fall in the scientific andy refuted the scientific irrefutably of evolution. And in what i call. My face in a. Holy spirit that animates. Enlivens my world it may surprise you to hear that this is the thinking of senator john mccain. It is interesting book character is destiny he says something similar. After favorably quoting darwin about the richness and diversity of the planet on earth. John mccain. It was there on paper i'm going to read it to you. I don't see why that magnificence excludes religious faith for misinterpretation. Those who want to protect the theory of evolution need not deny a person. Quote perception of divine purpose. These two sides mccain goes on. Can find common ground in the letting. Call the facts of evolution speak for themselves. And letting the faithful she's a 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 since they forgave galileo 340 years late. They have no problem the roman catholic official position. 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. Pope 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 canyons that were created millions of years ago. To read that the new pope pope francis in a reason to dress to the pontifical academy of sciences. Also reaffirmed that the process of evolution does not contradict catholic teachings i quote him. From a few weeks ago. The big bang. That's a day is considered to be the origin of the world. Does not contradict. 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 derives directly from a supreme principle he concludes. That is created out of love. 21st century. The roman catholic church position visa v evolution and faith is simply this. 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. That's a media 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. Who originally insist. But the science of evolution and their faith in a creator god are totally incompatible. And they can listen to no scientific truth about evolution. Only the old story. If they catch us. If they could just open their hearts and see their old story is a bit of interesting poetry. Poetry the 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 can affirm that. With both the reality of evolution and their faiths 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 the 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 in all these things interact to create an ecosystem i wonder how is this possible. And it clearly blind process of evolution it is. But i choose to describe to ascribe to that world a larger. A larger force of love the mystery of glory. Thinking theologically again thinking theologically about the world is very very different exercise from thinking scientifically about it. At 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 physiological or ontological reality of our world. Now that's a wide-open exciting question. A wide-open and exciting question. But i would have liked nipples liberal and conservative religions humanists theus and 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 planet. Rather than engage in this pointless winner-take-all debate that the texas school board of school textbook commission goes in whether we should allow. You know creation science in the public last at the ridiculous ridiculous. Rather than involved that winner-take-all battle about what you be taught. I'd rather. Allow scientists and theologians to speak in the same room. About their truth and begin to interact with. But setting aside and closing. For the moment the persistent debate about what should be taught. In american scientific classroom i hope that each 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 and our environment here in indian river county for exam. What matters to me theologically and spiritually. Is it you have. An active heart and a heartfelt appreciation. And engagement with your world. And that you feel. Something like walt whitman did when i almost 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 noble tree the sweet young flowers the bird that's the birds at singing forest bowers. The rivers grand that murmuring roll and all. Which joyce 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. Each living thing. An air or land is formed. For joy. And peace. When you have that. Relationship. How rational. And i said mean to you. Email. Telogen thomas more. Let nature's curious wisdom fill you. Let the world's mystical heritage guide you. Paint your canvases. Play your tunes give your all. To the worlds. That are born from you. Going peace.

uufvb_org

2011Oct16Sermon32.mp3

Your friends i might as well be right this morning with where i want to take you spiritually and intellectually. I am deeply convinced that some of you may have heard me say before. But the greatest spiritual danger in america today is simply. Distraction. You and i live in a distracted. Any distracting culture. With way too much spin and activity and clutter annoy. We're very intentional. Unless we learn to live with a purposeful mindfulness. We can find ourselves living on the jury surface of things. Living under jittery. Surface of things. Unable to be fully present. To the deeper tones. And realities of our lives. Let me see the snow the way by way of a story. One day a few years ago i was driving down that particularly grimy industrial portion of the new jersey turnpike. In newark in the refineries the flames. When i spied this great casino in atlantic city. The casino's famous owner is his name. Grinning broadly with. In both hands. Emblazoned across. The billboard is said. You've got. Immediately struck by the absurdity and emptiness of this gambling moguls pitch. On the surface. That you're if you're going to win money in his place if you going to win money despite the odds against have to be present. As i read that. Billboards pitch line in just that moment a much larger spiritual thought came to me which has remained with me ever since. Tricky truth. To truly succeed in this business of life you've got to be present. You've got to be present to win. Present in a windowless glitzy noisy smoke-filled casino. Not the way you win. The spiritual truth to your friends. Is it in these fragile fleeting lies were given we have to be present. To win. Everyday we have to be fully in mine fully engaged. With life just wear a touches us and all of its subtlety and intricacy and charm. This is why mindfulness. Is one of the most important spiritual possessions any of us can have. For without is lost. Literally and figuratively. This morning i am offering the second sermon in my year-long series on 12 gates to the city. What time reflecting on 12 different pathways. By which i believe we can answer the holy city. Or the sacred space. Of our own lives. And the future the affirmation which lies at the center of the sermon series. Is my conviction that we human beings weren't built from the ground-up out of the primordial soup if you will. We were built. Define traffic. The sacred flow of this life. Which is ever and always around and within a that is our birthright. To know the divine traffic. I am persuaded that mindfulness. Which is the simple human ability to pay attention and to wake up to the life you have. First and foremost gate. Into the holy city. Of your own life where satisfaction. And. Purpose why. Because if you're not focused. Another world that is at hand. If you're not keenly using your eyes and ears and nose and top. And mind to take you in what's around you you are essentially sleepwalking. Through your life. And you're going to miss. Most of what this creation is trying to bless and charm you with. This of course. What's the point of my asking us to share in this morning's. Simple meditation of the senses with the grape. Isn't it amazing. How. You notice things that you don't notice ordinarily when you simply start. Attention. Cultivating mindfulness is what i want us to focus on this morning. But before i delve more deeply into that i have to talk a little bit more about this american problem of distraction. It is wonderful book. Coming to our senses healing ourselves and the world through mindfulness. And yes i do recommend at this fight is $25 cover price. American bully. Teacher jon kabat-zinn. Makes the case that as a people we americans are losing our capacity. 4life enriching focusing, chapter. He titles add nation. Add nation. He describes the attention deficit disorder that we americans are falling victim to. Our entire society he writes suffers from attention deficit disorder is getting worse by the day. Much has changed for us in the last hundred years as we have drifted away from the intimacy with the natural world and a lifetime connectedness to the community in which we were born. And this change has become even more striking in the last 15 years or so with the advent and virtual universal adoption of the digital revolution. Do are through our home computers and laptops. Fax machines and pagers and beepers cell phones with cameras and instant text messaging. 24/7 high-speed conductivity. I've nearly incident cable channels. I am the incident reach of the internet and the world wide web and of course email. All these technologies despite their undeniable convenience usefulness and deficiency. Have already irreversibly transfigured how we live our lives whether we realize it or not. This new way of working. And living kabat-zinn. Does inundated all of us all of a sudden. With endless opportunities. An endless. Options. For interruption. And distraction. Urgency attached to even the most trivial events and communications. We are continuously bombarded he writes. With information. Communication. We find ourselves and we find ourselves responding willy-nilly. Increasing volumes of emails and voicemail and tweets and faxes and pages and cell phone tracker. Traffic coming in from all corners of the planet. We are literally he rides. Being driven to distraction by our delicious. Opportunities. And choices. And then he goes on this technology itself undermines anytime. We might be inclined to take. For reflection. It has given rise to dance of inattention. An instability in the mind. There is so much more to pay attention to. That it is now harder to pay attention. To anyone sing. The relentless acceleration of our way of life over the past few generations. Have made focusing in on anything almost a lost art. Things sell fast and furious and relentlessly. These assaults on our nervous system. Continually stimulate and foster desire. An agitation. Rather than connectedness and calmness. And if we are not careful he writes. They robbed us of time. Rob us of our moments. And then he concludes. So many of us feel trapped by this crazy acceleration. Yet at the same time also addicted. To the news feed at which our lives. Arnaud unfolding. Even our stress and distress can feel. Oddly satisfying or outright intoxicating. To slow ourselves down. And give ourselves fully over to the present moment. It is 10 fully. What is truly and richly at hand. Who first coined the phrase but what i went online. Preparing the sermon they're bunch of. Mostly psychologist and others were describing a new american illness that has reached pandemic. Proportions and that is. Curry. Sickness. Hurry. Sickness. It's a disease that earning distracting disquietude. That arises in our psyches and in our bodies with symptoms like. Elevated heart rate and blood pressure. When we allow ourselves. In this fast-paced culture to infect go faster and faster on the highways in our workplaces at home on our computers and most importantly in our minds. I quote dr. ann mcgee cooper. Hurry sickness. Is more than just feeling rushed. And wanted to get relief from our present pressure cooker live. Just as pavlov's dogs learn to salivate inappropriately. We americans have learned to hurry. Appropriately. Our sense of urgency is set off. A real need to act quickly. In a hurry crazy society. Are pavlov she right have become the watch. Alarm clock coffee machine. And hundreds of self-inflicted expectations for speed. We have built into our daily routines. The subliminal message we received his time is running out life is winding down so please hurry. You can't possibly sit at a stoplight and just enjoy the two minutes why does the stoplight. Gotcha. What new way countless americans probably through their lives these days is my quote-unquote multitasking. Doing multiple things simultaneously at work at home at the gym even got help us while driving more on that in a minute. Few years even have the word multitasking in them. And multitasking which hardly existed as an idea little lifestyle. Multitasking is not a negative or a judgmental word in our current culture in fact many of us we're multitasking as a badge of honor. Who wants to consider him or herself. Football ambitious player is of course. I mean how else are we going to get everything done and be clever and attractive and everything else at same time. Timmy the widespread american practice and acceptance of multitasking. Symptoms. Of hurry sickness. The biggest problem. With multitasking. And with being plugged in 24/7 ready to receive more stimulation and information. Including tweets about. Somebody you know. What their baby burped up at. 7:45 this morning who the hell cares. I'm sorry i care. Especially. The problem with multitasking. We are not wired neurologically for this frenzy. While we like to think of ourselves as a terribly advanced species the fact is dear friends that just a few jumped out of the savanna trees. Evolutionary psychologist friend who studies of the human brain. And neurology. Despite the incredible advances in technology we are still wired almost exactly the way we were when we jumped out of the trees. We have made no progress neurologically since we were hunting wild meet gathering nuts and berries and strangling squirrels. Don't believe me. In this morning's new york times it's buried in the book review of a book. There's an article which points out. Numerous studies that reveal that. Guess what percentage of us can multitask successfully. Two to 3%. Only two to three percent of people. Can multitask successfully. Most of us. Are much more competent and efficient and we pay attention to one thing at a time. The scientists do these hands on studies this is science. By taking in our world one focused bite at a time is the way most of us are competent and happy. We simply are not capable of multitasking. Driving a car. Several recent studies of highway safety all reach the same conclusion. And watch the kids in the backseat i sometimes with a portable electric razor or read i've actually seen drivers out on 95. All the science revealed. Multitasking drivers are dangerous distracted drivers. According to a new study by the university of north carolina highway safety research center. An estimated 285 distracted multitasking drivers. Art cause serious crashes each year in america. It is not only spiritual. Physically. Do you and everybody around you. I don't know about you but if i'm at my office here on some perfectly sane little morning. And attempt. Ways are often do. Because i'm caught up in this 22 multitasks simultaneously reading my overnight email drinking coffee and answering a phone call from one of you at 9:45 let's just say. While i'm also thinking about next sunday sermon chances are i will do all four of these things badly. Except drink the coffee that'll probably manage. Again. Well we all get away with it every once in a while generally speaking we human beings are not wired. For multitasking. And the sooner we slow down and do one sequential thing at a time. The happier and safer. And more centered we will be. It is surely as novelist henry miller once put it. The moment one gives close attention to anything. Even a blade of grass. It becomes a mysterious. Awesome indescribably magnificent world. In itself. The more we americans hurry. And multitask across the various. Venues of our lives the less calm and focus we have and the buddhist. Have a word for this. A buddhist. Centuries ago described. Spiritually unwise state of distraction as dukkah. Which is variously translated into suffering anguish stress. Malaise disease or unsatisfactory ennis. And many buddhists. Teachers also use a more colloquial phrase. Monkey mind. Monkey monkeys running around the trees. When we allow joker. We have monkey mind we become distracted and cluttered. When you have monkey mind. It's almost impossible to really know and enjoy the day. Now i'm sure that a few of you out there have regular spiritual practices. That help your lives maintain calm. And i gave you a little insert. This morning in the order of service i don't seem to have it it's over there. About just a few meditative practices that. Might help you in your daily. Effort to rid yourself of hurry sickness and and monkey mind i'm sure that a few of you already have this. The next thing i want to point out. Is that. Mindfulness is almost always a matter of degree. Being mindful in your daily life is not i don't think an all-or-nothing proposition that's not like being pregnant for example. You either are or you aren't. Rebecca it's not like pregnancy mindfulness. Is a variable quality in the morning and then i'll have monkeys. It's a variable quality. Again i quote. Jonathan kabat-zinn. Is a simple concept. Mindfulness in your life in a particular way. On purpose. To the timeless beauty and richness of the present moment and it means paying attention open heartedly. A non-judgmental suffering are on happy. Is none other than the capacity we already have. To know what is actually happening. As it is happening. It is a vast and spacious awareness of both heart and mind. We have already noted. How out of shape. We americans have become. When it comes to exercising our innate capacity to pay attention. Being but mindfulness can be refined. Systemic practice. And then. Since there's nothing particularly buddhist. About paying attention. Or about achieving true awareness. It's not particularly eastern or western northern or southern. The essence of mindfulness is truly. Universal. Anthony ann's mindfulness is the final common pathway for what makes us human. Our capacity. For self-awareness and self-denying. I would like nothing more this morning then to demythologize for you. The idea of mindfulness. Mindfulness is not something that can only be achieved by guru. Sitting for hours on end and some beautiful on some beautiful tapestry pillow high in the rarefied atmosphere of some mountaintop in the himalayas that's not where mindfulness. Is his father can be there. But mindfulness more. Is an everyday thing that takes no great. Superior spirituality. It can happen right we could be achieved right where we live here and now in ordinary moments. With life-saving. Life-like enhancing. Regularity. Meditation kabat-zinn says. Is best thought of as a way of being as opposed to a collection of techniques or meditative principal. This unitarian universalist forbetterorworse. As a busy guy i find this idea that this is very accessible to me that mindfulness is innate and natural and was was given to me. Out of the primordial soup i find this. A great. Comfort. There is not one person here who cannot cultivate mindfulness. In regular life-saving waze. By using your innate capacity. Kind of. Slap yourself still when you're. Falling in the monkey mind and say what am i doing why am i allowing myself. To be in a hurry sickness to be in monkey mind why am i allowing this i'm going to stop this behavior. Can slow down. Notice. What i'm doing and where i'm doing it. With whom. But let me just say the song little bit differently. You all know that i roads all across america people neighborhoods. Bumpstick naked 60 miles an hour. That's what i'm saying we need to lay down our own. Speed bumps. The slow ourselves down so that we noticed the world around us. You know whether the neighborhood has those slower and you do notice things and that's the point. You need to. Construct the common barriers and practices in your own life. Slow yourself down. So you can see that do use the image again. Divine. Traffic. And please remember it is as. Jon kabat-zinn. Observe mindfulness is more way of being. There's nothing esoteric or complicated. Greater mindfulness is available to bless each of us no matter. No matter how distracting our lives sometimes we ourselves. Capacity to pay attention. Wake up to that which is directly at hand. I want to close this morning by giving you one more concrete image. Of how important it is to be increasingly mindful in everyday life. What i was growing up. As a boy in wisconsin in rural wisconsin i remember seeing signs like this one everywhere in the countryside. Was a railroad crossing your life. So if you were not going to get whacked by the train going 60 miles an hour. You had to stop. Look. And listen. I'm reminding you today. Irrespective. Journeys our roadways of your life you need to do the same thing you need to refuse distraction which in the case of these crossings could be deadly. You need to refuse hurry sickness. You need to refuse multitasking and monkey. And choose a wide and spacious. Mindfulness. Just like with an unguarded railroad crossing. If you were going to go safely and joyfully through your lives. You simply must with regularity and purpose.. Look. Listen. Look. Listen. Listen. Only then. Can you enter the holy city. Of your own life. 1. Precious. Moment. Calmly say amen.

uufvb_org

16Aug2009sermon128kbs.mp3

uufvb_org

2013Sep29Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. It looks like we have another day on her hand thing. We're all here and we're well i welcome you to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach and we are so pleased that you have decided. To spend a part of the stay with us and worship. 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 this world a better place and please know that you are 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 shade of humanity. Whether you are feeling on top of the world this morning or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We welcome you. And hope that this hour of worship. Adam celebration. Will be meaningful in reaching for you. And that you will find something here this morning to take with you. It will make the days and the weeks that are coming better for you. We bid you welcome. Who come with. Where is spirit seeking rest. Who come with troubles that are too much with you. Become hurt and afraid. We bet you're welcome. Who come with hope in your heart. Who come with anticipation in your step who come. This morning proud and joyous. We bid you welcome. Who are seekers of a new faith who come to probe and explorer who come to learn. We bid you welcome who. Entered this hall. As a homecoming. Who have found here room for your spirit. Who find in this people of family. Whoever you are. Whatever you are wherever you are on your journey. We bid you welcome. Are meditation this morning or if this is true me day mystical persian poet day. This is a poem by rumi. Call the guest house. I will read it and then we'll have about a minute of silence which i will end with the bell. This poem by rumi is called. The guest house. This being human. Is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy. A depression. A mean nurse. The momentary awareness that comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all. Even if they're a crowd of sorrows. Who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture. Still. Tree. Each. Guest. Honorably. He may be clearing you. Out. For some. New delight. The dark spot. The shame the malleus meet them at the door. Laughing and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes because. Each has been sent. As a guide. From beyond. I have a reading before the sermon which is it is exerted by an op-ed piece by dr. mark epstein is a psychiatrist it was published. In the car we can review in the new york times on august 3rd. I quote him at some length. Talking with my 88 year-old mother four-and-a-half years after my father died from a brain tumor. I was surprised to hear her question itself herself you think i'd be over it by now she said. Speaking of the pain of losing my father her husband of almost 60 years. It's been more than four years she said i'm still upset. I was pleased to have this conversation with her. Grief needs to be talked about. What are those held to privately attends to eat away at its own support. Mother i responded. Trauma never goes away completely. It changes perhaps softens with sometime but never completely goes away. What makes you think you should be completely over it i don't think it works that way. There was a palpable sense of relief as my mother considered my opinion. So i don't have to feel guilty about not being over it. She asked. It took ten years after my first husband died. She remembered suddenly thinking back to her college sweetheart. To his sudden death of a heart condition when she was in her mid-20s. A year before she met my father. My mother said i guess i could give myself a break. I never knew about my mother's first husband dr. epstein goes on. Until i was playing scrabble one day when i was ten or eleven and open to her weather-beaten copy. Of webster's dictionary to look up a word. They're on the inside front cover in her handwriting was her name inscribed in black ink. Only it wasn't her current name. And it wasn't her maiden name. It was another unfamiliar name not sherry epstein but sherry steinbach. What's this. I remember asking her. Holding up the faded blue dictionary in the story. Came tumbling out of her. It was really spoken of thereafter. At least until my father died half a century later. At which point my mother began bringing it up. This time of her own volition. I'm not sure that the trauma of her first husband's death has ever completely disappeared. It seemed to be resurfacing again decades later in the context of my father's death. And then epstein goes on. Trauma is not just the result of major disasters. It does not happen only to some people. It is an undercurrent of trauma he right runs through ordinary life. Shot through as it is with the poignancy of impermanence. I like to say that if we're not suffering post-traumatic stress disorder we are suffering pre traumatic stress disorder. There is no way to be alive he right without being conscious of the potential for disaster. One way or another.. And it's cousins old-age illness accident separation and lost. Hangover all of us. No one is immune. Our world is unstable and unpredictable and operates to a great degree and despite. Incredible scientific advancement outside our ability to control it. My response to my mother. The trauma never goes away completely points to something i have learned through my years as a psychiatrist. Epstein right. In resisting trauma. In defending ourselves from feeling its full impact. We deprive ourselves of its truth. As a therapist i can testify how difficult it can be to acknowledge one's distress. And admit one's vulnerability my mother's need your reaction should not be over the death of your father by now. Is very common. And then he gets to a very interesting. There is a rush to normal. And many of us. That closes it off. Not only to the depths of our own suffering but also as a consequence. To the suffering of others. And then he hands. The willingness to face trama. Be they large small primitive or fresh. Is the key. To healing them. They may never disappear. In the way we think they should but maybe they don't need to do. Trauma. Isn't eradicable aspect of life. And we are human as a result of it. Not. In spite of it. Here ends the reading before the sermon. Every once in awhile i come across something in the morning newspapers i instantly know i have to share with you and that happened to me. Last august. Fourth when i read this wonderful thought piece in the new york. Spy doctor. This morning i want to further reflect on what he has written. And i want to do so at this particular moment in the life of our congregation because. As many of you know over the past several months many members and friends of this congregation. Have experienced a great deal of trauma and grief and loss and disruption these things seem to go in cycles and we're in the down cycle. A promise. In this congregation. Many of you have recently suffered either in your own lives or the lives of those close to you illness. Pain suffering grief dislocation. Until the time seemed ripe. To spend a little time this particular sunday to think about trauma in our lives. And what we can do not just to endure it but to successfully move with it. And ruin. Both emotionally and spiritually now before i really get rolling i want to share a slight. Ministerial worried that i have for you this morning although i am not generally known how should i put this. For my buddhist sensibility. The sermon does have a bit of a zen quality to it and my fear is that while some of you will instantly understand. The tone of what i am saying about trauma this morning others of you rooted. Firmly in the habit of western rational discursive thought patterns. They have a bit of trouble following my buddhist town this morning that said let me begin. The first point i want to make this morning is one that dr. epstein makes in the new york times piece and that's simply is. Expect. Trauma. During your lifetime. I believe it is important. For all of us both emotionally and spiritually to expect. Trauma to come along in our lives cuz it will. Again here is how epstein puts this persistent truth. An undercurrent of trauma runs through ordinary life. Shot through with a poignancy of impermanence if we're not suffering post-traumatic stress disorder we should be. Experiencing pre. Traumatic. Stress. Disorder. This potential. For disaster. Is everywhere. And no one. Is immune. No deep inside i think we all intellectually least understand this. Universal reality about the fragility. And the risk and the danger of our lives and when trauma suddenly doesn't rude. In our personal lives when a marriage falls apart. When a child or grandchild becomes gravely ill. Or dies. When a dear friend is killed in a freak car accident with an illness we never saw coming. Suddenly takes over our lives and threatens our very existence as happened to dottie grant this last week before last. When trauma. Intrudes us. We are often shocked and totally resistant to what's happening that's natural i guess. And if the law a 10-week retreated as if the laws. That upholds the universe have suddenly been upended and crazy and unacceptable ways but the. Laws of the universe kevin. Suddenly been upended in crazy. Or unacceptable ways they are simply. Playing themselves out as they eternally always have. And unpredictable and often on pain painful and unwelcome way. Trauma is a persistent part of life and we should expect to encounter it again and again. And now we arrive at the second point about coping with trauma and her lies i wish to bake and that is simply. What it breaks over you don't instantly ask. Why me. That's natural you know we always do it first. But you can't get stuck there that why me question. Usually when the worst. Usually the worst and spiritually and emotionally most unproductive question to ask. When were kicked in the pants in life is why me. It almost never makes any constructive sense. Why has this calamity. This loss or hardship why is this grief this illness come to me. Honestly amor sensible and fair question to ask when trauma and intrudes is. Why not me who am i to think. I am exempt. I mean. We. Who of us are. Able to think that we will effortlessly. Skate our way through life without bumping up against real hardship and dislocation. Why should we somehow imagined ourselves exempt. From the trouble of the world. Besides on the other easier side of life's equation. We don't usually ask why me when really really really good things happen to us. Wide why do i deserve these loving children and grandchildren of mine we expect it. How come i've been blessed with such good health good friends good times a good career of course i deserve that. So why should we ask the question. When the negative happen. Show us any more than we asked when the blessings. I guess what i'm trying to say is gently as i can. Is it when trauma inevitably comes into our lives and again even the luckiest and most charmed of us. Eventually we'll encounter. We should not spiritually take it personally. As if some sort of cosmic affront. Or unjust punishment from the hand of life but rather. Accepted as quickly as we can as a natural and necessary part of life. Something we have to face. And engage and move through. Until we get back to a place of equilibrium and call now. Let me say this just a little differently. And yes a little more pointedly. During my 40 years in this business of ministry. I've worked with some people who when their lives were swept. In the traumatic or difficult loss or pain. People who are totally unable to integrate the hardship. Into their understanding or their narrative of their life. Results. They spend all of their emotional and spiritual capital arguing with life about the unfair hand they have personally been dealt. Rather than moving as i like to say moving with the new information about how their life is going to be. Instead of saying i am now a person who's going to live with cancer. They say how dear life that cancer. Come. Tumi. People who spiritually and emotionally absolutely refuse to accept trauma. As a part of their lives block themselves. From proactively moving with that drama and through it. And dusty make it all the more difficult to get back. To any sort of normalcy that is joyful for them do you understand this. I know this is a hard thought but i believe all of us over the course of our lifetime. Need to strike a kind of stoical existential truce when trauma comes to us not befriended. Or submit to it. But somehow strike a truce with it. And be willing to bravely and patiently slog our way through these tough times. Without thinking ourselves as some poor picked on victim of life. Builder words don't flatter yourself mary it's not about you. I am passionately persuaded. That whenever trauma and all of its manifold and complex possibilities. Comes into our lives we need to accept as rumi was saying about the guest house. Thought he was being human is a guest house with all these visitors. Except the power and the reality of the visitors. Give it its 2 and then move in our lives not. Not from where we would ideally like to imagine ourselves but where we actually are steadily working our way. Back into life in the context of what has befallen us. I guess what i'm really talking about here. Is it kind of. Emotional and spiritual mindfulness in the buddhist sense that enables us. Be fully with the traumas of come our way. Move. With them and through them when they are way back to a life we can be at peace with. In my now classic book. Everyday spiritual practice which much to my surprise is still a denominational desks it's all like twelve thousand copies that's a lot of books i'll tell you. In my my blockbuster book everyday spiritual practice simple pathways to lending to enriching your life. I have a chapter on mindfulness written by my. Colleague jim austin who was the the it guy at uua headquarters is in the ministries nit buddhist. And. He talks. He talks about mindfulness is not just something. That we need one more cycling we're taking a beautiful walkthrough riverside parkour. Looking at our grandchild in our hands for the first time. Mindfulness is not just reserved. For the pleasant things it's also is reserved and needed for the traumas in the difficult times i called him from his from my book. Mindfulness is a kind of remembering. Remembering to be here to be present. To pay attention to this moment in life to remind ourselves to show up. In the present moment. Be that moment. Pleasant. Or unpleasant. Mindfulness seawright is characterized by a spacious knowing. Of what is happening. It requires from us a willingness to be open to our experience. And then it was on. We human beings have a natural tendency. Do not want to experience unpleasantness. The human animal like all other animals recoils. From painful or undesirable experiences. It is attracted to pleasant or gratifying ones but sooner or later jim wright. We are all confronted with the changes of growing older. The loss of loved ones and our fears of approaching illness and death. Mindfulness practice he concludes. Can help us see that though we may not be able to control what is happening. We can learn to work with our resistances. And move. Through the pain and unpleasantness. To a better. What gym the buddhist saying is precisely what dr. epstein the psychiatrist is affirming to us. And that is my fourth point to you. When my third point. Went and that is when trauma comes into our lives again always unbidden always unwelcome. We must face them. We must lean into trauma and give them your do. And although it's hard let them have the spiritual emotional space. They are going to demand. For only then. Will be able to work with them. And threw them back to a better place. The 12th century persian poet seem to understand this necessity we're in another quote he said. Don't turn away. Keep your gaze on the bandaged place. That is where the light. Entergy. Let me see if i can physically represent. This healing spiritual emotional stance of leaning into trauma with you paul amaral this is coming i asked him even practice this. Imagine paula some big and unpleasant trauma in my life. You're a really sweet guy. But right now you're a big unpleasant trauma so when. So when i encounter you i need to engage you. And i need to lean into you not to try to push you out of my life. What arena do you and not to let you overpower me. But to stay in this thing and as you begin to move. I need to move with you. And pay attention to your emotions. That are uneven and i'm settling as you push me back and is i try to. Positively resist you this is a physical representation of what i'm talk. You're really not such a big and lawful trauma. Move with the trauma. Lean into it. Bringing to bear just the right amount of personal attention. And spiritual and emotional pressure that is required. To stay in balance with it. Until it fades. Away. No too quick. Important besides here. Although i think it is crucial to engage and move with trauma when it enters your life. I do not believe. The trauma has a purpose. Or that it visits us quote and how many times have you heard this. To teach us something to make us better or stronger or more loving person know. Trauma has no such purpose. But it is often true my life experience tells me. The trauma does. Through its demanding disruption. Through its unwelcome visitation. To quote rumi when that. Guest house. Darkness comes in. It does. Work. To make us better or stronger or more loving people. Perhaps this is because trauma. Forces us. To see life differently than we ever have it opens cracks. In our. Smooth exteriors. That lets the light in that we would never have expected and never have welcomed. Trauma walk always. Painful in the welcome. Leaves us often positively transformed that's not its purpose. But austin would have. Insecticide is a warning. Instead of engaging their trauma. As i did with paul right now. Many people seek to hide. From the reality and the demands of the trauma. That was not giving it to do. Buy emotionally running away. And submerging their lives and drugs. Or alcohol or other avoidance mechanism. That never work. I have a friend who after the death of her beloved husband of 40 years fled into the world of. Computer video games. Rather than move proactively with her heart loss. In her own psyche and soul. She submerged yourself. Into the nonsense. A video game. She left the noise and the clutter of the game's distract her from doing the soul and grief work. Cheated. I hope you all understand x and accept the wisdom of what i'm saying about the psychological and spiritual necessity. Of giving trauma it's due. But it comes. To our door. Not surrendering to it in self-pity. Or just fear. But rather leaning into it. Engaging it the old adage you can run but you can't hide. Applies here. When trauma visits us we must mindfully and soulfully engage it. Work with it. Move with that. For i believe that is the only pathway to ensure that the dark power will fade. Allowing us. Just slowly see the sun shine again. Abnormal morning. And that's why i arrive at the final thing i want to say to you this morning. About trauma. And about proactively dealing with it in our lives and this is one of the key points. Which dr. epstein made in his essay. And that is to resist the temptation after trauma hits. To rush back. To the normal. Again i called him. Whether they be large or small primitive or fresh. Trauma may never disappear in the way thomas may never disappear in the way we think they should but maybe they don't need to. Trauma is an eradicable aspect of life. We are human beings as a result of trauma. Not in spite of them. What are you suggesting is in our american can-do culture. Which always wants to fix everything you know america's mr. fix-it. And return everything to normal immediately. We are missing the spiritual emotional poet. When it comes to trauma grief for loss of we think we just want to fix things immediately. The crying when he calls the rush back to normal. The many people attempt after trauma he writes. Morning. Morning mourning morning has no timetable. Grief is not the same for everyone. And it does not always go away. The closest he writes one confined to a consensus about it among today's therapist is the conviction. But the healthiest way. To deal with trauma. Is to lean into it rather than simply keep it at bay. The reflective rush back to normal he writes is counterproductive. In the attempt to fit into be normal. The traumatized person and that is most of us. Feels. Estranged. And then he concludes. We are often conditioned to believe that normal is where we should be. But the truth is the victims of the boston marathon bombings. Will take years to recover. Soldiers returning from war carry their battlefield experiences within. For decades. Or their entire lives. And the grief we experience. When we lose a loved one may well linger with us we'll linger. For the rest of our lives. It's not something. You quote on. I wish i could count the times. The people who have tragically lost someone very close to them a partner a child a parent have told me. They feel the pressure from well-meaning people around them. To be over their grief in a year or so. That pressure. Which may largely be the result of other people's anxiety. And discomfort with your loss and sadness. Another word for making it about them by telling you to get over you. Is totally unrealistic and always not helpful. When you lose someone terribly significant to you. That grief and trauma does not depart quickly or oncue. And in fact they reside in your soul should reside in your soul out of your love. A for the rest of your life. As it did for dr. epstein's mother still grieving the loss. Of her first husband. 60 years late. There is no formulaic timetable for healing. From lawson trauma. And we must all refrain from suggesting two others that there is one. Rather we should stand faithfully by those who grieve letting them heal in their own ways. On their own timetable. Let me summarize enclosing. Where i hope we have traveled together. This morning. What i'm gently suggesting to all of us this morning is that we need. A patient. Trusting and more buddhist way of thinking about and responding to the trauma. That inevitably. Comes into our lives. Americans tend to resist. Deny resent plow through. Attempt to overpower their grief and sadness. When in fact a more zen. Response is called for. Without surrendering to their dark powers. We must lean into the trama. The come through our doors. Engage them. Welcome them in a way. Except the emotional and spiritual time and space they will occupy and work with them back. Word. This is hard sole work this. Bravely moving with trauma. But it is the only way. To wind. Your way back to a life. Of hope. Satisfaction. And i say and mean to you this morning. Poet donna markova. I quoted her before. I will not die on live life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days. To allow my living to open me. To make me less afraid. More accessible. To loosen my heart until it becomes a wing. Torch.

uufvb_org

2013Oct13Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach florida. My name is bonnie shelton. And we're so glad you've chosen to be with us this morning. Wiara congregation of open minds. Loving hearts. And helping hands. We are people seeking to become our best selves. Even as we work to make a better world. Please know that you are welcome however 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're on top of the world or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We're glad you're here. We hope that you will find this service meaningful. That you will find something here this morning that nourishes your soul. That gives you a renewed energy and joy for the living of life in the days to come. Minister the reverend scott alexander is out of town this week. So we're pleased to have as our guest speaker earl beasley. Regular at our fellowship for about the last 14 years. Earl says he was born into a southern baptist family. He decided to commune with the episcopalians for nearly four decades. And finally as he put it he. Cherians because he likes the people. And he likes the cookies that they serve after the service in the fellowship hall. We've grown and appreciating earl sense of humor. In 1970 to earl's founded and ad agency called the alexander group. In north carolina's research triangle park. In 2000 having made vero beach's homebase. He added real estate sales to his operation. Any worked for a local firm for about a decade. Before opening his own brokerage firm under the name the alexander group. Realty. He's living on a sailboat in the caribbean. He let us 35,000 member boy scout council. He's been an officer of the local united way. He's on the board of our county's mental health association. He was a founder of the local boys and girls club. And served a term on the board of the local theater guild so you can see how active he is in our community. This morning. We look forward to hearing his observations on interface cooperation. As he asked the question. Why can't we all just work together. Are opening words today. Come into the circle of love and justice. Come into the community of mercy wholeness and health. Come and you shall know peace and joy. 99 years ago. October 1914. While german forces were overpowering belgian. And beginning their own slaughter poland. While garrett morgan. Was registering his patent on his new invention. The gas mask. While the boston braves were closing out the first world series sweep in baseball history. Dr. halford lukic. A prominent american minister professor at yale divinity school. Published a collection of quick, he's under the title. 5-minute shoptalk. Nearly a century later i picked up a book and found a chapter entitled. What's wrong with the world. It made me think and i thought i'd share it with you. There was a time the beginning of history. When there was not enough to go around. If the tribe of savage men were to survive. They had to fight for goodpasture's and farmland. It was a case. Of the strongest winning and getting all it could. Now. There is enough to go around. With a new surplus of product we need a new way of thinking and living to go with it. The old everyone grab for himself method hasn't panned out very well. Yes it has developed good traits self-reliance. Industry energy and initiative. But along with those virtues the times demand a new feeling of social unity. A fair distribution of privileges. And a fresh sense of common brotherhood. Cooperation is the biggest word in the dictionary right now. The 19th century. We'll talk upstairs. The 19th century made the world neighborhood. It is the task of the twentieth century to make it into a brotherhood. It looks as though the twentieth century in this awful year of 1914. I've gotten off to a bad start. But it will make a better finish. Alright. Got to ask you out front. Is there anybody here today to expect me to pull out my cell phone. Testimony to the last time i spoke with you today i've got to tell you the phone's off today. Mom is happy in north carolina and wilmington north carolina talk i spoke with her this morning. As she talked about what a beautiful fall day it is there. I do remember fall and fat kathy my partner kathy reminds me. From time to time is like within her recollections those north carolina days. She said i could sit in the audience with that blonde woman the one that has the nose thing. I'm not really sure who she's talking about olive. But just know that you are remembered in north carolina. Is bonnie told you in the introduction i am a recovering southern baptist. As such i love hearing a good baptist story baptist tell great stories on themselves. And so i'm going to take the liberty of sharing a little inside track of what a baptist would likely say. But it helps to punctuate the point. For example. Once upon a time. A mighty tall ship sailing across an ocean when it came into a horrible storm. The ship sank. But somehow 10 survivors make nearby. It seems there were two catholics. Two muslims. Two jews and two baptist. Explore the island and found food. They located water they determine shelf or was they all got busy. Alex. Got busy. The tube buddhist got busy and built the temple. The two muslims got busy built the mosque and the two jews got busy and built the synagogue. Oh too bad just got busy. I built the first baptist church in the second baptist church. Yes we can laugh but the reality is there's an awful lot of truth in that story. Whether we're talking about catholics muslims baptist jews whatever. We have little evidence to go on. Getting church people to pull together. Four common goal. Now any churches quick to tell you that they're there. Did they're all about doing good. Yes. Oftentimes churches do make things happen. But do they really cooperate with each other. For the purpose of a greater good. I would submit to you that they rarely do. Let me share a couple of quick examples for my experience. Here in this congregation in 2012. Are minister the reverend scott alexander took a cross-country bike trick. Yes he was going anyway. It was one ritual that he performed for himself once in awhile. But he wanted to do it again. Claiming this might be his last time and he wanted to use it as an excuse to raise money. For communitywide crusade for to hunger causes one locally. Another internationally. Scott enlisted me to help him publicize the ride. We decided to call it the ride to beat hunger. We envisioned a 30 300 mi bike ride with daily blog post. We imagine groups and families and churches across the community not just our church. Not just our members but people across the community volunteering. Donating to the charities that we had designated. Attending a big rally in may late may when scott arrive. I'm participating in a major meal-packing event to be held several days later. Creating meals that would be sent abroad. Yes we got many groups like the rotary clubs that step up to the plate mini committed individuals. Became involved. But only a handful of churches help. At all. I remember jack deal for the lutheran church. Mike bernholtz from the temple. Joseph holmes took an active interest maybe one or two others. I was very proud of reverend scott. And the amount of energy he committed to all aspects of this campaign not just pedaling. But the objective of promoting interfaith cooperation was high on his list of priorities. But when the campaign concluded. I was disappointed in the response of our local faith. Okay. Maybe i can understand the reason. Other churches mites cooperate after all. When the day came for someone to pedal across the finish line. It was going to be a baptist preacher. It was going to be a presbyterian minister or the assemblies of god pastor. It was going to be a unitarian universalist. And we all know about those you use. Still. I wish more clergy nari had seen fit to get involved was a surprise not really because. Frankly this wasn't my first frustrating experience and trying to mobilizing interfaith community interfaith cooperation indian river county. Back was 15 or 16 years ago while i was serving as an officer of the united way. But i work on a community-wide initiative called success by 6. Among success by sixes objectives. The birkenstock to bring the communities focus on the importance of intervening in childhood development process before the age of 6. When it's shot while a child is truly experiencing his formative years. Great program many facets to it. I personally took on the tangential africa. The 104 faith communities which we identified in indian river county at that time. Into a cooperative campaign. To publicize and promote the things that they were capable of doing for families with children. The whole effort was to culminate with a one-day event. We bought a name for this event we called it the children sabbath. We simply ask our local faith communities to determine what they could offer. Then on this one day on this one sabbath in february to talk about it with the members and guests who ever showed up that day. It whatever format they chose to do as much of the program is i chose to dedicate to it. Where is little of the program suggested dedicated to a bed and exchange. What do united way was prepared to do is we would advertise and promote the event to families with children. I would give them a real reason show up at church. What an opportunity. Call it a win-win the families learn about the churches while the churches get to meet potential new members. Here was the deal clincher. United way would provide the full-page ads in the press journal radio spots psa's on the cable television. And a treasure chest promotional materials. The faith community simcell. Could use in their own publicity within their own internal campaign. Most importantly the united way was picking up the tab for the entire program it cost the church is nothing. Our effort to recruit churches music. Still in the magic date tang. Less than 20 churches were involved. Another words not not even one in five church operate. On a no-cost after that would directly benefit themselves. I was amazed. Totally amazed. Masculine to commit money. To put additional burdens on their staff to make their facilities available for others to use. How to modify their activities really in any substantial way. Still they wouldn't get involved. The following year we did it again. Course by then everybody realize how much publicity. Hampton chain. And we had 60 plus churches. Participate next year. And the process went on for several additional years beyond that with great success. During the first year this campaign when i was involved in organizing i personally became. Spoke the scores of preachers in town i got to know the good guys and the bad guys. And i must say let me give a public call out right now to some of the good guys hats off to the late bill nye. From community church. Joe simmons. Who's now going on to have his own church. Becky oliver from the ministerial team that first united methodist. The readers who were leading unity of the time. Dyer davis the former rabbi shalom. Are the lutherans dependable leader again. And of course. Our own richard speck. These delightful team players did make a genuine difference. Okay i'll admit that my frustration with these two attempts. Have conditioned me to look upon interfaith cooperation through brown colored glasses. I can recall one very splendid example. When a single faith community. Breast with inspired visionary leadership. Made a huge difference. Witness atlanta's ebenezer baptist church. Congregation that took on a challenge. United with other churches for meaningful change. And caused a seismic shift. In the affairs of humanity. In this nation and beyond. Against the backdrop of that dynamic black congregation and its accomplishments. And despite the discouragement that i have encountered. I still can't stop dreaming that someday. Somehow. The mighty power of our churches will come together for good. Free change. Alfred. The yale divinity professor who gave us our pre sermon reading. Also gave me a quote. That is a personal favorite. I want you to take this one home with you. It's going to show. Hidden going to share. The voice of god says it's not going to ship. Remember this one. No one. Can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra. Now the ride to beat hunger. For all. Was played by string quartet. The children sabbath. For the modest success it enjoyed. Was still a little more. Then. Is the 13th chapter of paul's letter to the corinthians observe a sounding brass. Or tinkling cymbal. So the question remains. What keeps churches from cooperating. Where to begin. I won't even pretend to offer complete list of reasons but i will try to suggest some reasons that are more obvious. Let's start with full with faith communities themselves. We see lots of interphase squabbling. The jews don't like the muslims who don't like christians who don't like just about everyone else. Of course the uu's. Well we're still trying to figure out how we feel about the whole mess. The problems are just not among the churches that also within the churches. Intrafaith squabbling is. On the rise in many denominations. Witness the baptist. My old episcopalians. The lutherans more. So many churches are preoccupied with doctrinal debates. That rage on and on. Abortion and homosexuality seem to dominate the discussion. Keep in mind that. Competition for members is another reality in today's church. The 80th annual edition of the national council of churches 2011 yearbook. Report the continuing decline in. Oh you're going to hate that you're not getting to see all these beautiful statistics i've gathered for you on the screening. Gualala. It looks like they might have gotten remade a bit is that true. Okay. Membership football. Mainline denominations of catholic church the nation's largest religious community. Has it 682 million members reported the membership decline in one year .44 percent. And the southern baptist convention. The nation's second largest denomination. Reported a decline in membership for the fourth year in a row. 15%. The 16.1 million members. Among the mainline denominations the sharpest rate of membership decline in 2013. Down 5.9% in one year. To 4275 thousand members was posted by the evangelical lutheran church in america. Who was it that time and it still continues to rage embroiled in a rancorous debate. About the role of homosexuals in the church. Others posting the client 2011. And the 2011 report the presbyterian church down 3.45%. Down 1.45%. Down .19%. In fact. According to dr. expert. The go-to guy on church membership questions. In the last 30 years the leading the larger denominations have experienced membership losses of 20% or more. As an aside. You may be asking a question how have the recent years. Here's a chart. Galia. That shows the universalist membership friend since the 1960s. As you can see you you membership in most recent years has averaged. 162,000 members. Let me help you put that in perspective. Forever you you member. They're 420 catholics. 100 southern baptist. 26 evangelical-lutheran since 04. Power looking at it let's also take a look at the number of you churches in america. You'll see how the number there has mirrored. The membership situation. Short. You use are few in numbers. But powerful in spirit. During the recent past the pentecostal churches have bucked the steady membership decline. Although their growth. Has not been sufficient to offset the loss of membership experience in the mainline denominations. Opened the pentecostal groups. Have built sprawling church enterprises you know the church. That was. Initially here. We became the airstrip because they moved into the burbs. Adult a megachurch. Regrettably some megachurches. Seems to develop a sense of self-sufficiency. It keeps them isolated. Reluctant to get involved with other churches. Abby on competing for members. Churches are also competing for donations. Again according to national council of churches in 2011 nearly 29 billion was contributed to american churches. The previous year's total was 1.2 billion more. Keep your calculators in the pocket i'll help you out. That's a 4% drop in contributions in just one year. If that decline continues. In about a quarter of a century. Church contributions will be no more. Omg. The predicament of the faith community that was only part of the problem. Responsive is compounding the problem. Involvement petite sets and you can call this burnout. You've heard them say. I go there and nothing productive seems to be happening or. When i get involved i get meeting to death. Burnout is a real. Another perspective i hear. Church work work is irrelevant so old-fashioned it's world. In the past. The church provided us an important sense of community of belonging. Nowadays many people feel they don't need a church. To supply that necessary community. Often they replace the churches community. With new communities. Did anybody say facebook. Another argument. Some people contend that society's human needs. Are being handled by others particularly they argue that government. Does that. The same time they're fighting to slash government funds. Program. Or they will contend that there is a charity to handle that. Which brings us to another point. Often. People figured that they can buy their way out of their social responsibility by giving a little money to a worthy cause and expecting the cause to take care of the problem. How's the world's ills can be solved so simply. So where are churches cooperating. And how is it working. And what types of things might we consider. As we look toward thing leadership the leadership we can give. And helping to unified churches for a greater purpose. I did a little googling i google cooperating churches and i'd encourage you to do the same to see what you get. I was shocked. As an aside here i actually came across several references to churches. And they're mine were just fine and cooperation. Not going after the. Fallen member. Who had been reduced by. Their former. Nearby congregations. Did you follow that. That's right they were saying if church a boost boots somebody out for reasons. Church mission cooperate by leaving that rebuked member alone. So this is operational mind anyway. Next things get a little better. I came across a handful of stories about modest accomplishments. Five ministers in congregation who decide to get their acts together and make something happen. Some of these were fun and interesting experience. With a ride to beat hunger. Churches in plano texas. Who got together with a shoe store to provide 2,000 pairs of shoes for children of needy families. Oh yes their work is commendable. But it's also typical. For the most part these projects are short-term. To tackle a narrowly focused community need. Providing temporary fix. Requiring closely measured. Commitments by a limited number people. I'm not complaining about their efforts. But i do feel we need to do not so much more. And then there are occasional examples of sustained cooperative effort. Community coalition. What dominates the search engines is michigan's muskegon county cooperating churches. I'll tell you just a bit about. Representatives of 23 congregations met in may of 1941. Consider undertaking the ambitious men mission. Combining a ministry effort for their community. By the end of that year. Council head 10-member congregation. They pledged to minister to the physical emotional and spiritual needs of the people their community. Over the years they work their workers range from collaborating with area ptas. Providing. Milk for local school children. Organizing a preschool program. Developing a clinic. Housing need your address through the creation of a revolving loan fund. Play man to jail in the prison ministry they started programs for foster grandparents. A local habitat for humanity in their community of mediation service. An institute for healing racism. Their lives truly does go on and on. Similar programs have been in place elsewhere for decades notably. 60 year old program in palmyra pennsylvania to palmyra area cooperating churches. I'm cooperating churches of sussex wisconsin. And even the urban ministries of wake county in my old hometown of raleigh. For many of the urban ministries programs. They actually contract with local governments. Leveraging taxpayer dollars with their volunteer labor force. Deliver community services which might be too costly for the taxpayers to fund a loan. Then while googling some more. A different type of church cooperative caught my eye. It's located in oregon. And call the mcminnville cooperative ministries. Church. What is the strangely named churchwell. It seems on one church property to church is it formed a partnership. Trinity lutheran church in mcminnville and the mcminnville united methodist church got together. Now they share virtually everything. Staff. Buildings property. Ministries worship community and so on. They didn't merge. Because they didn't merge into a single church. Because they felt that both congregations valued. And wanted to retain the historic ties to their respective denominations. Should i have methodist they have lutheran's they have a lot of other people. Who defiled themselves. In other ways or frankly don't care what they're called. What do they believe are they charismatic or dogmatic liberal or conservative. Are the evangelical or fundamentalist traditional contemporary. They respond quote. We don't fit some of the categories of people sometimes put churches in. Many of these categories. Represent old argument. And issues that don't seem very important to us anymore. They're beginning to sound a lot like unitarians. No i say that in jest. When you look at the realization that we unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach and in a larger sense. Unitarian universalism throughout america. We have a unique perspective. Among the denominations in our country. With our creativity energy. Our resourcefulness and persuasiveness. Rvision. Our determination. We can rally people of many face. Many denominations. To serve a greater good. And though we are small in numbers. We enjoy a powerful religious recipe. Which positions us. Uniquely among church people everywhere. To be the mediators. The conciliators. The consensus builders. The co-operators. The people who can. Make a difference. In a world in need. Vincent brown stillman. Poet. And him rider. Penzeys lyrics. But i'd like to leave with you today. As we leave this friendly place. Love give light. To every face. May the kindness which we learn. Light our hearts till we return. Going pee.

uufvb_org

2014Feb09Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. Sachimo and tom are right it is a wonderful world. The ancient psalmist said this is the day that the lord has made. Rejoice. And be glad in it. Welcome. To the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so pleased you've decided to start your day with us. We are congregation of open minds loving hearts and helping hands individual people. Seeking to become our best selves even as together we make. We seek to make a better world and please know you're welcome to welcome here 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. Weather this morning you were feeling in the world or or somewhere in between. We are delighted to see you as you come to us and all of your particularity and charm. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. And that you will find something here this morning. The feed your spirit and nourishes your soul and gives you renew renew joy and purpose. For the living of life in the days that lie ahead. Welcome this morning to this place of ability. For this is love. The home of hope. A refuge for mines in search of truth unfolding. Ever beautiful. Everstring. Here compassion is our shelter. Freedom our protection from the storms. Maybe find comfort and courage. Become vision. See the unseen. Entergy. The good that is yet to be. One of the better perks of this job is not a lincoln continental. But the fact. Did i get to. And i have no friends. At the last church that i served before i served it at the bethesda river road congregation. We got to know each other very very well as i took that job after he held down the fort for 2 years. And so it's my pleasure linda lou and john live in newburyport massachusetts. And john is retired now from active ministry but as you will discover he still has an active mine. From a wonderful text translated. Ancient poetry from china japan and india come these words. This is the truth. My lover. My childhood could not last. It's my long hair was clipped. Eight long years have passed. Blooming like a fruit tree i am a secret stream running beneath earth's surface. And you. My constant dream. I too have prayed the gods to make my childhood stay. But i must take its course. Will have its way. Let me just say. That this is an important sermon. Only because. Is important. And it's the most acceptable. Four-letter word in our language. As you know all the storefronts are sick with every shade of red. We study love also yet fail to completely understand. It is common but a mystery. Hertz as much as. Pains as much as pleasures. It's hard to predict. But guaranteed to happen. But cannot be guaranteed to last. There are loves long and brief. And sometimes it's hard to understand. What makes the difference. What we call the heart. Is really a blood pump though it is an extraordinary organs. Yep we say we give our hearts away. Or we steal another's heart. We say the heart pines sinks and sores. And is the seat of our emotions. Certainly. We deem it to the anchor. Of love. Love is everywhere and people. And wisely we have revised some of our assumptions about. Linda lou and i are heterosexual but in all likelihood. Our love would not have come about. Without two wonderful game bringing us together. And even friendship is largely. Much less passionate. Then that of ancient times. All the way up to the last century. Soca. Is often said to be no love at all perhaps andalusian. Which is terribly unfair to the young. Their love is real but it comes at a time without benefit of experience and maturity but it is felt on the left. Puppy love is love. And should be. So honored. Speaking of things puppy. We should honor animals to especially our family pets because they too are important. We love them do it is our love of a different species. The companionship and mutual affection however are real and powerful. They comfort us. Favor sometimes from loneliness and are among the truth of our objects of affection. Unlike humans and hurt by our overprotection are spoiling and our co-dependence. Because indeed so much that is said about human love is incurably romantic. They are generalities about our emotional nature as if that's all there is in life. And that is what we are used. And that is something we expect to avoid with age and experience. The deception. If it sounds good and feels good it must then be good and true. But we can come to know is equally important and provides as much emotion inspiration and wharf as do pretty words and conjectures. From earliest times people's was determined by others. The kings. Queens are the pope's beliefs were held by most everyone and woe to those who did not. But thanks to the enlightenment and to the reformation individuals. And true beliefs beliefs that were true for them. But before even that however. Declared its independence. And as love always must be was out there. Alone and vulnerable. And paid a price. Retard. It's a shame that culture and history have sold romanticize even slander the courageous people. They were the troubadours. Who sang and poetry and song of the power intrusive love individual. Till then marriage had been arranged. For the sake of custom convenience and family commitment and dedication. Indeed love can successfully be arranged. And history is testament to that. Love also. Became democratic. And the love we now come to by choice. Or as we say by the coal of our hearts. Is no more functional and workable and less than love arranged. And if you doubt that let me say. In our free and democratic society. More than 1/2 of marriage. Do not laugh. Because love offer. Does not. In our freedom. We are the ones who find and. Honor and dishonor get respect and disrespect nurture or starving. Not because it was arranged for us. For it is our way in love now. Give ourselves. And take ourselves. Away. We sometimes underestimate. That much of what we learned early of love is in its stories. Snow white was carried away by her prince apparently lifeless in her coffin. Which became also the bed at her resurrection. Sleeping beauty came awake to her lover's kiss. Cinderella's life perfect of a slipper. Those who rescued a show their love and some important way. We're beauty. Cinderella in. We only know the sleeping beauty. Gazed. Quote in a friendly fashion. That the one who freed her from enchantment. And in similar words snow white. Friendly. Toward her rescuer. Certainly not. We should pay attention. What is not said. Maybe more valuable than what is. That there is much more involved. In real love. Now certainly each woman was beautiful. And therefore desirable. We are all beautiful. Be beautiful we must be ourselves. Does not speak. As bruno bettelheim falling in love. If something that happens. But be more. But there are many other tales or unremembered by any or all of us the lesson of witches that charming as it is to be long. Not even being loved by a prince. Guarantees happiness. Now it is a truism that freedom is hated by tyrants. And that goes for the freedom of love. Now let me go back to some people that i mentioned a little bit ago. The troubadours. We're not the hippies of their day. The counterculture. Bellossom portrayed as such. They were actually the nobility. In a part of france is spread through all of europe. Is the 1100s. And before their time. There were two other kinds of love. One was era. The biological urge from a god that excited people to sexual desire. Spiritual love. However are impersonal. Eras cares little for the whole person. Eris wants one thing. Agape is a love of neighbor regardless of who that neighbor is. As joseph campbell. The ability to feel with. To sympathize with strangers. On the basis of their humanity. And freud cautioned that it is impossible. Everyone. The most we can do is humanly sympathize. With what they are going through and to help them if we can. What's amor. Personal. With all its pleasures and disappointment but that through commitment. And enrich yourself regardless of time and loss of newness. And as democracy threatened politics. The democracy of individual personal. Religion. As we know. The church always had control. Love and lovers. It's rituals were designed to set the standards from the cradle to the grave in all aspects of life. Including love. And it tried to crush personal love by crushing the troubadours. And they did so through politic. There was a heresy. At the time having to do with the corruption of clergy and threw a sleight-of-hand the church made it appear that the troubadours were complicit in that. And the influence of the troubadours. Along. With the heresy. At the time personal experience and personal love as a dangerous idea. Dangerous is that of tristan and is. You maybe call the she was to marry a king. But they had never laid eyes on each other so her mother made a potion. To ensure that they fall in love. There was a modern movie. Assam years ago that was called love potion number 9. And that's what it was about. Well alas and alack. Is sold and her escort tristan. Mistook it for something else. And drink it together. Today we often hear that doesn't work out for any reason. Including death. We are to move on. With our lives. And i dare to offer the example of tristan. Who told that by ingesting the love potion he had drunk his own death. Punishment that he and his soul would suffer if discovered he would accept that. And if it meant punishment in the eternal fires of hell he would accept that. I once had the privilege of hearing jennifer harbor east. Regarding torture. Her husband had been tortured and killed somewhere in latin america. And for years since that time. She had travelled everywhere. Finding for terror and tortureware and exposing it to the world. He had not and would not move on. With her life. Hunger strike. To protest torture had left her debilitated. To some degree. But her love was bigger than pain or the threat of death. That alone. What's a humbling thing. About jennifer harper. Read dante. Or bernard shaw. If you are in heaven or hell that you are where you should be. Because it is where you want to be. Now why would anyone want to be in hell. Well because he'll after all with a creation of the church. Andrew rizk. Or to suffer for love put you right. Where you ought to be where your heart is. Not where someone else wants you to be. Williams lake road and walking among the fires of hell. Put the angels looks like a torment. But to those who are not angels it is the fire of delight. And one is willing to endure any kind of pain for it especially the. No this is all very far from the romantic notion of green state of eternal perfection. Where everything will work out alright. In real love we will pay a price. No other. We should be ashamed. We may pay. Are merely fidelity. Nurturing. Living for another person. As well as our. And i want to be clear that i am not saying that love should tolerate and endure abuse. In hopes of changing the abusers. I do not mean that at all. That would be another sermon. In spite of all the romanticism. Was also a time of great brutality. In the world. And on its heels. After the troubadour. Came the age of chivalry. Which had rules about love. And the rules were made by women. Not by men. It was a civilizing force and that terrible. Brutal.. And among requirements was that men were tested by women capable of more than lust. A man was required also to have. A gentle heart. A heart. Capable. Now it's become towards the end of this part of the service. Let me say even fairy tales. Have changed in our time. I do not know this personally but i do want to see it. Because i've heard. Popular story disney's frozen. Is a version of the classic fairy tale the snow queen. And anna princess anna's heart is frozen. And can only be thawed by a kiss of true love. Sounds like we're right back. To the other fairy tales.. But. Her fiance is myth. He doesn't. Really love her. He was just after power and wealth. All along. Luckily. And embrace from her sister. Saves. Anna. Hey everybody should get hugs. Regularly and often enough some friendly kissing at least. So is fairy tales can come true we can learn from all of them for love is the greatest and a four-letter word to be used with discretion. And those are the challenges. And those of you who have lost love. The came to love again. And to learn your lessons well. This sermon. What's a great big. Valentine. Thank you. And we send you on your way this week with these words. May the love overcomes all differences. Which reconciles all who are separated and among us now and.

uufvb_org

2013Feb03Sermon32.mp3

Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach florida we are still please. This is a congregation standing on the side of love. Where we work to build our best selves and to help save our world. Nothing less. And 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 feeling on top of the world this morning. Or down in the dumps or somewhere in between you are welcome just as you come to us. In all of your particularity in need. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching and that they'll be something here for you that will make the living of life and the days and weeks ahead. I'm more rich and full experience for you. May we be reminded. Here. About highest aspirations. And inspired to bring our gifts of love and service. To the altar of humanity. Maybe know once again. That we are not isolated beings. But connected in mystery and miracle. To the universe. And to this community. And. To each other. Is truly an honor for me to be here this morning. I can well remember. Some. 16 years ago. When i was. Has selected to become the president of meadville lombard theological school. And i announce my resignation at the river road unitarian church in. In bethesda maryland. Clayton a later at the general assembly. Was looking for a congregation and i said to him. Scott i have a congregation for you. And sure enough the search committee agreed. And he was. Selective course to be the. Minister of that wonderful congregation. We were sorry to lose him there but i can see why. He wanted to come here. Many reasons including this magnificent building. And i predict since you now have one of the most outstanding ministers in our association. I predict that this. Sanctuary auditorium will be filled on sunday mornings. Within a few years. We'll see if next time i'm back. That prediction will come true. So so great to be here with lee paige leave is a student in meadville lombard theological school and i was there. And up. See you soon. Amazing person. I think you have two amazing ministers so congratulations. Stand up. I think your future. Is going to be great. Dreadnought. Is the sandpaper that every year travels more than 18,000 miles. The arctic islands of northern canada. To tierra del fuego at the southern tip of south america and back again. Stopping along the way on several atlantic beaches. During their stay in the southern hemisphere. They replace their tattered feathers. Ensuring their flight equipment to be in top condition when. In february. They begin their journey north in flocks. 1000. They stop on their way for food. Always at the same beaches or marshes where they have fed for centuries. From the northern tip of south america they embark on a week-long non-stop flight. It takes them to delaware bay. Just as horseshoe crabs are laying eggs by the millions. There they gorge themselves in order to be prepared to engage the next leg of their long journey non-stop. To the islands north of hudson bay. They're in the long summer they mate and breed. And by mid-july the female knotts abandon their offspring. And head south. And a few weeks later. The mills follow. The babies fend for themselves. Until late august wednesday 2. Commence their nine thousand mile journey. Now here to me. Is the absolutely amazing thing. The young nuts. And without adult guides or prior experience. Stop at precisely the same beaches and marshes for food. And join the others at precisely the same place. In tierra del fuego. How do they do it. Are they know where to go along the route they have never traveled. To a destination where they have never been. Scientists can only surmise. It's a red knotts genetic inheritance. Includes a map for the journey. And the instrumental knowledge to follow it. But saying that is simply to emphasize. Mystery. And the amazing nature of life. Love of nature and feelings of reverence and amazement. Is a long tradition in america in general. And in unitarianism in particular. Beginning with ralph waldo emerson. The name familiar to this congregation. Cuz i discovered last night. Emerson's first major publication which is great essay on nature. If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years. How would men believe and adore. And preserved for many generations the remembrance of that city of god which had been shown. So every night. Come out these invoice of beauty. And light the universe with their admonishing smile. It was on. Stars awaken the certain reverence. Because you always present. They're inaccessible. But all natural objects make a kindred impression. When the mind is open. To their insolence. Like emerson i love to go out on a clear night and gaze at the sky glittering with the lights of thousands of stars. Most of them larger than our sun. The unimaginable vastness of what i'm seeing. An incredible distances between the stars. I'm overcome with awe and amazement. And with a sense of how tiny the earth is. And how infinitesimally small am i. And i am cleansed of pride. In recent years. A religious perspective called religious naturalism has been experiencing a revival. Religious naturalism says two things. First. It holds that the natural universe is all there is. The supernatural. Does not exist. Second. It maintains that there is religious meaning and value in nature. What i have done in the book that's got referred to entitled reason and reverence. Subtitled religious humanism for the 21st century. But i've done that book is to combine humanism. Humanism with course has always been a naturalistic in the distance of a supernatural realm. But until now it has not emphasize the religious or spiritual nature. Are aspects rather of nature. According to recent surveys. About 45% of unitarian universalist. Identify as humanist. But that is down from about 75%. Play 25 or 30 years ago. Why the decline. At least one reason is because of the criticisms that have been leveled as humanism. The book in this sermon respond to those criticisms and describe humanism that is vital and open free of the weaknesses. It has been accused of. Most religious humanism and religious naturalism. Maintain that human beings are products of nature and natural causes. We are simply one of a prolific nature's multitudinous creations. Each unique and special. And all part of one interdependent web. Naturalism and humanism also maintained that we human beings are not consist of a mind or soul. Or spirit. Temporarily dwelling in the physical body. But that human beings are a psychosomatic unity. This acceptance of human mortality and transience. Leeds humanists and naturalist. To feel gratitude for life. And the commitment to make the one life that we know we have. As meaningful. And as joyful. As possible. Religious humanism and religious naturalism go together very well. Because from humanism comes in phatic conviction of the value of every human being. I believe in the importance of reason and intellectual honesty. An ethics that emphasizes love. And social justice. It opposes oppression. In all its forms. From naturalism. San jacinto and wonder and reverence. And mystery in the face of life. And the universe. It provides a deep spiritual dimension. Does humanism by itself. Flax. 4 /. Give me the same as been to human-centered. And needed a deeper more inclusive foundation. From which naturalism. Which which naturalism provides. And humanism has been accused of being too cold. And rationalistic. And that too is remedy. Naturalism. Every religious perspective needs a story. And religious naturalism gives us a meaningful story. The epic of cosmic and biological evolution. That's religious naturalism provides a foundation. For a new and more open and more inclusive humanism. Doing the word. Humanism provides the humanistic values of naturalism blacks. And religious naturalism provides the religious and spiritual aspect. Does humanism. Has lacked. As you know humanism is often divided into religious and secular humanism. But religious and secular humanism agree on the basic beliefs of humanism. The major difference is not so much in what they believe. But in the way they practice humanism. Religious humanist emphasized the importance of belonging to a community. A community where our beliefs and values are supported and encouraged. Where we find friends who have similar. Where they where we can work together with other human is for social justice. And where we can celebrate life's passages together. Getting greater meaning. Passages of life. Is berthoud married. Religious humanists tend to be more open than secular humanist to feeling all and wonder at the natural world. And many fine spiritual or religious meaning in nature. And religious humanist place more value on the emotions. And on personal experience. I like to say that religious humanism. Is humanism. With a heart. I have a friend. We just agree to some extent. Because in his words. Religious human in our secular humanism brother is my religion. So he said. The word religion of course comes from together. And humanism is religious because it binds people together. And helps people reconnect. With the things that are most important in life. Human beings. And given values. Most people think religious belief refers to a supernatural being. Many scholars disagree one of my favorite philosophers has an x on the book entitled religion is not about god. That's a surprise.. People. In 400 pages he tells you that religion is about personal wholeness. And social cohesion. So i use the word religion to refer to those experiences that person's life experiences. And it helped to unify the self. Listening to handel's messiah. May not necessarily become a religious experience but listening to. Going to a religious service may not be a religious experience. Might be. Any word. The religious dimension is not a separate compartment of our lives. Better quality of life. That and that which gives meaning and direction. To our lives. Elevator religious naturalism. Religious naturalism not only insist that the natural universe is ultimate. It also finds as i said religious meaning or spiritual meaning in nature. Many people myself included. Nature evoke some of the same feelings of supernatural.. And yet here instead of traditional religion. The unimaginable vastness of the universe. The incredible complexity of life. Evo call and reference greater than anything i experienced. Is a southern baptist theist. As a religious naturalist i feel wonder and amazement in nature's at nature's majesty and beauty. Its complexity and its power. I feel joy and comfort. Tobias waters. And refreshed and rejuvenated from walking in his woods. I feel reverence when i ponder the incomprehensible vastness of the universe. And equally mind-boggling smallness. Of the submicroscopic world. That the universe is in the title of a book by physicist freeman dyson. Infinite in all directions. Is far beyond my ability. Even imagine. I find it the more i learn about the world from modern science the more i am at all. The stars i can see with my naked eye are as far away is 10000 light years leaves me speechless. Well almost. But the dna in a single cell is in my body is so small i cannot see it. But it's stretched out would reach from fingertip-to-fingertip of my outstretched arms. And if there are trillions of cells in my body and enough dna in those cells to reach. To the sun and back. These facts feel me. With wonder. And the fact that the milky way galaxy has a trillion stars and the universe contains at least 50. 50 billion galaxies. And us thousands of trillions of stars similar to our sun. Fills me with animazement far beyond my poor power to disc. I'm overcome with astonishment. It's a salt in my body. Consists of 10 trillion cells. Then my brain consists of 100 billion neurons. + 100 trillion. Synopsis. I'm on. The ability of non-human creatures such as.. Even the immense power of nature has exemplified in earthquakes hurricanes tsunamis and tornadoes is a source of all. The nature's power can destroy human beings and human creation. Is reason for great sorrow. But it is not the result of malice. And certainly not. Will of god. As we sometimes here. We can use our ingenuity and our creativity to do all we can to protect ourselves from nature's destructive power. But we will never be entirely successful. Pictures like the hindu god had. Consists of the creator brahma. The preserver. The destroyer. For religious naturalist living in a natural environment is a spiritual experience. Freedom supernaturalism the religious naturalist can be devoted. To nature nurtures and sustains. It is not accidental that the pizza people speak of mother earth. Or our mother the earth are ties to nature. Rd. And intimate. What are the values of religious naturalism of course his emphasis on the environment. Religious naturalism has a strong environmental ethic. Only because of what. Misread what environmental pollution and global warming will do to human beings. But also because of the intrinsic value. Of nature itself. Turn out a religious humanism. Resuming ism affirms the inherent value. It maintains it all persons are ends in themselves and not means. To the ends of others. It holds that we humans make our life through service. And through personal and spiritual growth. And by optimizing the good. In opposing that which is evil. Religious humanism emphasizes personal freedom. And the application of critical thinking and natural intelligence. And making choices. And inviting one's actions. It emphasizes life in the hearing now. And does not expect another life after death. It up holes intellectual honesty. And reject superstition. Super denies the supernatural it insisted we can rely only on ourselves. To establish a better world. Is optimistic about the future. Although this optimism is tempered. But the understanding that we humans too often pursue our own interests at the expense. Of the common good. And it finds great value in human beings. Coming together in religious community. To deepen our understanding. To support and strengthen our values. To celebrate life passages. And to work together. For better world. I love with a friend of mine. A retired engineer. Has written. And i quote. It's taken me the better part of a quarter-of-a-century to sort out what i think humanism is all about. The short answer is. In finding humanism. I've also found my own humanity. My humanism informs me that i am human. My humanism informs me that i am a worthy. Individual and a worthy member of whatever community i find myself in. By my humanism i know myself to be ethical religious. And civic-minded. Humanism helps me avoid falling into despair. It helps me find a healthy sense of certainty in the face of meaninglessness. Competence. In the face of futility. And self-confidence. In the face of alienation. Or condemnation. And i quote. But religious humanism needed changing. And that's where they just naturalism comes in. To those who have pointed out that humanism is to human-centered. Religious naturalism says it is the natural universe the cosmos. In which we live and move and have our being. And not human beings. To those who feel that religious humanism is not really religious because it lacks a basis for spirituality. Religious humanism religious naturalism excuse me offers our relationship with nature. Is a source of a deep and vital. Spiritual experience. The late carl sagan. Who was and identified as a humanist. Put a beautifully when he said. When we recognize our place in an immensity of light-years and in the passage of ages. Wendy grass the intricacy beauty and sublimity of life. Then that soaring feeling. That sense of elation. Humility combined. It surely. Spiritual. 4 / we humans have been criticized for being too rational to the exclusion of our feelings. We are said to be all head. And no heart. But there is nothing inherent in humanism it says. We have to ignore our emotions. In fact our reasonable emotions often work together. Recent studies maintain that our thinking is infused by our feelings. For example i feel outraged of injustice and oppression. I get angry when i think of the millions of people without health insurance. At the debilitating effects of racism in this country. The injuries of poverty in the richest nation in the world. Every human is dino. Feels that same way and we use our reason to try to resolve those problems our reasoning. With our feelings. Her head. In our heart. Work together. My point is simply that the criticisms that have been leveled against religious. Do not apply. Did humanism that is grounded in religious naturalism. Everybody just vision needs a story. Secret stories. And religious humanism. What i calls humanistic religious naturalism. Has two stories. 120 humanicide. And once in the natural side and they weave together very well. The sacred story for the religious humanist. Is the story of the long struggle of the human race for freedom. The story of the struggle for political. As well as religious freedom. It is a story of the struggle to abolish slavery in the ancient world. As well as in the modern world. It is a story of the hebrew prophets. Prasanta transform judaism from a religion of laws and rituals. To an ethical faith. It is a story of jesus. Bisaccia free judaism from being a religion of laws and ritual. And make it into a religion of the heart. It is the story of the protestant reformation. Which sought to free religion from priestley. It is the story of the buddha's reform of hinduism and of liberalizing movements in islam. It is the story of the early unitarians in europe and america. Who insisted on freedom of belief. And the use of reason in interpreting religious meaning. And if universalists. Who freed people from a god of wrath and punishment. God of love. It is a story of all those. Who have sought the purge religion. From authoritarianism. And who have foster greater political freedom over the ages. It is the story of the liberation of the mind from superstition. And from religious dogmas that foster bigotry and hate. It is a story of the men and women who have worked for equal rights for people of color. And for women. A people of all sexual orientations. The gymnast story is a story of all those who have worked to make human life. And therefore. More fully. Human. And it is a story without an end. As long as there are people who are not free. These are because of political tyranny. Or because of poverty and ignorance and superstition. And any other form. Depression. And it is a story that you and i not only can tell. But we can continue to make. Every religious story or every religious vision needs a story that provides an account of how the world came into being the place of human beings in the meaning and direction of human life. The traditional stories that have sustained western culture for several millennia. Are no longer efficacious for many of us. But modern science has given us a new story. With multiple layers of rich meaning. That the story is the epic. A cosmic. And biological evolution. That story is a religious story. Because it calls us out of our little self-centered world. And i'm able just to see ourselves as part of the great living system. Recall the cosmos. The story gives a larger meaning and a broader ethic. To our lives. The epic of cosmic evolution is a narrative that underlies humanistic religious naturalism. And it provides the individual was a meaningful world. And a sense of belonging to a larger process. The epic of cosmic evolution that begins with a big bang. Provides us with a vision of the universe as a single reality. 1 long spectacular process of change. And development. An unfolding drama. A universal story for humankind our story. Like no other story. It humbles us as we contemplate the complexity. Other cosmic process. It amazes us. When we try to imagine its magnitude. Like no other story. 80 v reference as we feel its power. At all and wonder. As we visualized instabeauty. Like no other story. He gives us a scientifically-based cosmology. The tells us how we came to be. And what we are made of. As we read in the responsive reading the basic elements of our bodies. Carbon calcium iron. Reforged inside supernovas. Dying stars. And are billions of years old we are in fact. Made of stars. Out of the stars. Have we come. We are intimately related. To the universe. Like no other story. It teaches us that we are all members of one family. Sharing the same genetic code. And a similar history. Entity v gratitude in astonishment at the gift of life itself. And inspiration for responsible living. Like no other story. It gives meaning and purpose to human beings as the agents responsible for their current and future stage evolution. We might call. Social or cultural evolution. The things that you and i do. To make the world. Lucian is everybody story but it is unique. Is the story of the creative powers of matter-energy and of the changing an adaptive powers. A living cell. Is the story of the gross and transformation. A living being. It is our sacred story. And is this to me. The most miraculous thing. I can imagine. To quote the late carl sagan again. He wrote. A religion. Distressed the magnificence of the universe as revealed by modern science. Might be able to draw force reserves of reverence and all. Hardly tap. By the conventional face. Sooner or later. Such a religion will emerge. I wish you were alive today to see it three merging because it is i believe emerging among religious liberals today. And it is a religion. 4. Today's weather. Countless centuries of life to become what we are today. Human beings of great worth and dignity. With the ability to build giant cities. To create beautiful art and music. To circle the earth. And fly to the moon. Nevertheless we have much to learn about how to get along with one another. And about justice and equity. Unfairness. These be our goals and values. The met hours belies. That enhance and enrich life. In the time we have. On this earth. Extinguisher chalice. But not the light of truth. The fire of commitment. The worm.

uufvb_org

2014Apr20Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. It's a little gray this easter morning but that should remind you that easter is really not about weather. What about the human heart. Welcome to this easter morning service to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. Chosen to be with us this morning we are carnation of loving hearts and helping hand. Our best individual selves even as together we work to make a better world and please you're welcome.. Whether you are young or old. Gay or straight black or white or some other wonderful. What do you have a g or a p. What do you want a visitor for the first time this morning or opinion for decades. What are you were feeling on top of the world or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We hope she will find our service meaningful and enriching. Easter morning. The nurse uses spirit. And feeds your soul and gives you renewed energy and zest. For the living of life. 20th century coming this morning she wrote. I thank you god for most this amazing day for the leaping greenly spirits of trees. And the bluetooth. Which is natural. Which is infinitely. Which is yes. This is the song birthday love and great happening in earth. Tasting touching hearing singing breathing any. Lifted from the no of all nothing. Merely human merely being unimaginably you. And now the ears of my ears awake. I know the eyes of my eyes are opened. My favorite american poet who is also my next door neighbor in provincetown massachusetts mary oliver. Is easter poem. Entitled. Messenger. My work. Is loving the world. Are the sunflowers they are the hummingbirds equals seekers of sweetness. There's a blue plums. Shooter the clam in the speckled sam. Are my boots old. Is my coat torn. Am i no longer young. And still not have perfect. My mind on what matters. Which is my work. Which is mostly standing still. And learning to be. Astonished. Finium. The seats in the passenger. And the pastor. Which is gratitude. To be given a mind. Thunderheart. And these body close. A mouse with which to give shouts of joy. And the red. I'm just sleepy doug up clam. Telling them all over and over. How it is. That we live. So just after easter last year that i want to share with you this morning. It seems the last easter sunday in angelica church in rural tennessee. The erstwhile young minister called the front. Tell me what the resurrection is. After several moments of crowd finally tensley raised his hand and offered. Will. I'm not sure but i know it if it lasts for more than four hours you better call a doctor i understand it was 10 minutes before the service could resume. Now i hesitated to tell that joke. But you know given the nearly endless viagra as it runs and ed and television we can understand the young boys confusion. But the truth is that is unitarian-universalist gathered here on this easter sunday. We are all in a bit of an awkward place ourselves this morning. Will it rain in an awkward place because every year on this particular some spring sunday when hundreds of thousands. Of christian congregations in america. Our spiritual united. And celebrating the resurrection of jesus from the dead and the promise of a similar personal resurrection for all the faithful we find ourselves. In somewhat of a different spiritual place. We find ourselves in a different spiritual place because even though both unitarianism. And universalism is decidedly liberal christians in early america. As a religious movement we have pretty much moved past. The traditional christian understanding of the resurrection and of easter. Many generations ago. Listen for example to a small portion of a controversial easter sermon. By the famous unitarian minister theodore parker in boston. Way back in the 1840s there he is. He said to his congregation of several thousand in boston that morning. He said today is easter sunday. And all over the christian world it is a day of rejoicing. It is the great festival of the christian year. I'm just saying many people he said celebrate the resurrection of jesus. That is all in the phology. And then that easter sunday parker moved on. To reaffirm is unitarian commitment. Not to a supernatural resurrection of. What's the time list social teachings of jesus you said. But i welcome this day. Which brings men to a consciousness of that gray soul. It is his character which makes his memory. So precious to the world. That was an 1840. In the nearly two centuries since parker preach the word bluntly dismissing the theological idea of the resurrection of jesus into eternal life as quote-unquote mythology. Unitarian universalist have continued to have little spiritual use for what i shall call the grand promise of easter. Simply the theological assertion that is so central and sacred to christianity. Anna grande promise of easter as i think you all understand from living in this predominantly christian culture. Is that true the bodily and spiritual resurrection of jesus. Of nazareth. Accounts of which were included in several books of the new testament. Written several century several generations after his death. The promise of resurrection. An eternal life is made to all be leaving and faithful christians that is the purpose of easter. Across america in hundreds of thousands of christian churches from. Run-down lil wyte clabbered churches nestled at the impoverished. Hollows of west virginia. The gleaming prosperous mega churches in the suburbs of st. louis. Colerain cathedrals in our great cities. Millions of our fellow citizens dressed in all of their best going to sunday clothes. Are being reassured from the pulpit that. only a spring. A hopeful time of life beautiful resurgence. But even more importantly on the spiritual level. Taking a tv turtle life and the reward of heaven. Through jesus christ. The risen savior. But the simple fact is that here in this congregation this morning. As i please hear this as respectful toward the spiritual beliefs of others. As we always strive to be as you use. We cannot give him. The way of our decidedly liberal beliefs have evolved over the last couple of centuries. Entirely share. In the sincere affirmations most christians make. On this morning. It isn't the reverend doctor for his church the former senior minister of all souls church. In new york city said in an easter sermon one sunday there he is. He said. Easter remains on awkward holiday. For unitarian universalist. The trumpet sound we all sing. And jesus isn't resurrected. At least not as god's only son. So what are we doing here. Why even bother to assemble. Are we simply we unitarian creatures of habit or forgotten. Are we all dressed up and nowhere to go. Which was participants in a vein designed to make us feel better about deaths without offering any good reason why we should. Unquote. Here icing. Is the main thing about modern-day unitarian universalist and easter. Here's the thing. As i've already said this morning as a religious holiday when most americans around. Celebrate a supernatural religious of the resurrection of jesus. And a supernatural religious promise. The promise of eternal life. In a place called heaven. For the last two centuries since our very days first days as free thinking. We have essentially been not a supernatural religion but a natural naturalist religion. Or what you might call an empirical. Spiritual tradition. Interested in the supernatural. In fact it was the rejection by our unitarian and universalist forebears of many of the supernatural aspects of nineteenth-century christianity. The cause the great split in american congregationalism in about 1826. For example. Unitarian ministers of that day ministers like theodore parker. George ripley and ralph waldo emerson. Refuse to believe the fantastic miracle stories about. Many of you will remember from your old sunday school days was absolutely amazing biblical account. Which reported that during his lifetime. Jesus literally walked on water. Made blind men see. Clam slappers. Healed all other matters of illness. And drove out demons he could turn water into wine he could multiply loaves and fishes. To feed thousands of people before him. And he could raise the dead. All those stories plumbers you remember for sunday school. Well our liberal forebears almost 200 years ago refuse to believe. That literal belief in these fantastic miracle stories. Anyway necessary to christian faith and they said so in the public square. The miracle stories found in the new testament bible. We're all written several decades after jesus's crucifixion. Why are swell followers interested in convincing others who would read those accounts. To become christian. So our spiritual forebears much to the consternation of the puritans and the calvinist. Suggested that believing in miracles. Ancient. Where the natural laws of the universe are suspended natural laws of gravity are suspended. And somehow supernaturally suspended. These are miracles were not only unnecessary to establish the truth and the holiness of christianity. But we're actually obstructive. The early unitarian said to truly following jesus and his message for the world. It is famous divinity school address delivered at harvard in 1830. Spoke of miracle. For he felt man's life was a miracle. Was a miracle. Miracle as pronounced by the christian church emerson went on to assert. Denying supernaturalism. Miracle christian church impression it is in fact. Quote a monster. Emerson and the other unitarian clerics of the day reason for the fantastic events. Like we've never seen in our natural lifetimes. Not only failed to make intellectual says for who has never actually seen. Anyone walk on water or bring someone back from the dead. But also imply that god is no longer present in the world to perform such wonders the miracle stories. An idea that might infect. What the early unitarian and universalist weren't effects of the biblical literalist and the supernaturalists is. Look. We don't feel logically need these other federally fantastic and unbelievable miracle stories about jesus. To believe in the holiness and the rightness of his teaching. Jesus's ministry and compassionate message of love and of justice. Cells are enough to make us followers of jesus. We don't need fantastic miracle stories. Make or keefus christian. So since our earliest beginnings as a liberal and dare i say. No-nonsense spiritual tradition. Unitarian universalism has been a naturalist religion. Rational religion. We've always believed in the known and the predictable laws of nature that we see with our own eyes. Attest with our own reason. And we have rejected. Supernatural fantastic stories. Or speculative doctrines that require us. To take a bath leap of faith. Beyond the actual world. That we have come to know. Intertrust. And so is forest church points out unitarian universalist are something of an awkward bunch. On easter sunday. Sure we all come to sunday addressed a little bit better than usual. And celebrate with enthusiasm on this day the joyous. Return of spring. At hope horn again in the human heart. But in terms of the supernatural centerpiece. Of the christian holiday. The belief that jesus rose from the dead literally there by promise. The possibility of eternal life for others. We are regards to that centerpiece. We are clearly spiritual most of us outliers. We are spiritual outliers because are decidedly natural. Spiritual perspective. Which focuses our attention on the natural world. And the mortal earthly life. We actually have before. Let me say this a little differently perhaps even more bluntly. Ministerial colleague the reverend dennis daniel church in chico california i called him this week. To tell him i was going to be quoting hammond. Anyway. He said to me once that he spent his entire 30-year career in ministry. Trying to get our basic unitarian universalist theology. Just down to a handful of words and after many false starts and considerable fussing you finally got. The articulation about what unitarian universalist believe down to just three words. This. Is it. Unitarian universalist tend to believe. I honestly think. That is a good clear assassination of our faces i've ever heard. When it comes to life and death. To the meaning and purpose of human existence. Most unitarian universal. Believe. This is it. And let me just pause your quickly to make a very important kavya. You will notice that i said most. Unitarian universalist. Believe this life is the only one they will ever have. Most. But not all of us. I know for certain. There are good and thoughtful and smart people in this room right now. There is some sort of afterlife some sort of personal continuance. Awaiting them after death. And i want to make it clear that while this is decidedly a minority view in our movement and in our congregation. It is not. An unacceptable or unwise one. Death is such a great and universal mystery who can say for sure. The day and they alone know exactly what will happen. To anyone. I sincerely hope those of you. Google he's in some sort of personal afterlife. We'll share those thoughts with me your minister even either in writing or in person. In the meantime. It is important for everyone to realize. Comes to understanding. And the meaning of life. There is absolutely no spiritual unanimity and i will not try to speak for any of you. About the purpose of your life. Where is your destiny. Is be played out. But nonetheless that's dead. The truth is that most of us here today. Believe. If we are to find purpose. Enjoy. And love and fulfillment in life. If we are to discover health and wholeness. As a human being. If we are to fulfill our destiny as well as human being. Most of us believe it will have to be in this life. On this earthly planet. Right here and right now without any spiritual without any supernatural promises. For something bigger or. Or. Beyond. Some of you have heard me speak another occasion. About the painful and tragic death of one of my closest and dearest friends in the world his name is doctor paul. Gordon. He was among other things are crazy cycling buddy of mine. He died prematurely at the age of 62. After struggling for several years against a terribly aggressive cancer. Just started is upper spine the first day i knew it we were cycling through west virginia you said. I got a stiff neck i'm going to go see the orthopedist when i get home. That was the beginning of the end. A few weeks before he succumbed to his illness i went to him. He was bedridden at home in new jersey. Chloe die. I drove up to new jersey from washington dc where i lived at the time to see him. Well that's good time we talked about many things. Does devoted family. His many friends. Our mutual love of cycling. His passion for hiking and camping the adirondacks he did all the high peak. The weather. The absurdities and outrages of our national poet. We talked about almost every. Except his rapidly approaching.. Sensing both of us were avoiding the subject. The lies. When you think about her. At the center of all religion and spirituality. Death lies at the center of all. Spirituality and religion. I finally gently asked him what he was thinking. And feeling about what was breaking over him. He looked up at me with those strong smart blue eyes.. You know i'm an unsentimental. Back driven scientist. He was a cornell. Trained veterinarian. And so i don't believe paul said to me this illness in my body. Is it anyway personal. Or has any particular meaning or purpose in the grand scheme of creation. Because of a sad luck of the draw i somehow got an aggressive form of cancer. That is soon going to take my life and there's nothing i or anyone else can do about it. United talked many times he said to me. About the fact that neither of us as unitarian universalist believe in the supernatural afterlife. As nice as that promise might be for some i've never been able to believe. That that's how creation works. And i'm certainly not changing my mind about the natural world. Now. Just because. I'm dying. I've had a good run at life. Great. My 62 years have been filled with countless pleasures and blessing. Nature's beauty. A wonderful marriage. Two great kids. Good friends a satisfying career and now my first grandchild is on the way. My life on this earth has been rich. Satisfying. Purposeful language. And while i wish i could have more of it. I know that's not today. But i want you to know paul ended. Is it i do not begrudge this natural world. For its mortality. Life has been great. Amazingly great but now i have to surrender that gift. So there it is. That was already sent. I realize that some of you sitting out there in the pews this easter sunday have different ideas. About what happens at death. And i respect and honor all those beliefs. But i must tell you. But as your minister. Spiritually. Where my friend. Paul was. As he lay dying. This is the spiritual. And scientific way that i as a you you personally think about my life. And feel about my life and my dad. With my friend paul even though i'm hoping to the mystery and the unknown. I believe this earthly life with all of its flaws. And hardships and losses. Is all i can count on. And so in my spiritual and ethical life i will do the best i can. To live thus leaving yet precious life i have with as much joy and purpose and decency. As i can muster. I do take comfort. From my strong belief. But if i manage to live loving fully and well i will leave a good and decent legacy. In the people in the institutions i have touched. My life will of matter. And i would have made a positive and enduring difference in the world just as a pebble. Dropped into a pond ripples out. Solo my life have rippled out. I will be satisfied. With the destiny i have been able to play out. For myself in the world. And as a you you with a fiercely naturalist theology. I will not logically or spiritually dream of or demand something else something. More for i honestly do not think that my creation. As amazing and glorious as it is can provide me with anything more. The holy gift. So i have already been given. And no. My personal mantra than micro something like this. This is it. This is all i've got by god. But it's more than enough. Plenty holes. Let me return to ammoman. To theodore parker. Sermon he preached in 1846. Articulating why he's so loved. Leaving mortal life you lead. And therefore that he did not need the promise of a supernatural world beyond the natural when he already had. Parker wrote this. I would not slight this wondrous world. I love it's day and night. It's flowers and it's fruits are dear to me. I would not willfully lucite. Of a departing cloud. Every year opens new beauty and the star. Or the purple gentian friendswood loveliness the laws of matter also seemed more wonderful. The more i study them. In the whirling eddies of the dust. In the curious shells of former life. Fairy 5000. In a grain of chalk. Or in the shining diagrams. Of light above my head. Even the ugly. Becomes beautiful. When truly seen. I see the jewel. In the bunchie toad. The more i live the more i love this lovely world feel more is author. A nice little thing at all and all that is great. And elsewhere in another sermon. Parker affirm seriously. This is it. Spirituality. He said there was congregation. Live today. The eternal life. That. We may all do. The joy of heaven. Will begin as soon as we obtain the character of heaven. And do its duty. Here. In this life. That may begin today. It is everlasting life. To have god's spirit. Dwelling. Justice. Usefulness. Wisdom. Love are the best things we hope for. In heaven. Try them on now. Live today. The eternal. France. Let me in this morning by gently affirming what is on my heart. Anise. Beautiful easter. When all the earth breaks forest in the renewal of life that is spring. I bring you the good theological news. The dark tradition has proclaimed. Four generations. The natural world. In which we now find ourselves. Is a thing of unmeasurable holiness. Immeasurable grace. Everything you need. To achieve. Human satisfaction. Is already in your possession. Right here on this ridge. An amazing. No supernatural promise. For something more. Or something better. Required to make your life. A work. A purpose. Enjoy. You have already been given. All the beauty. All the freedom. Possibility. You need to fulfill your destiny. And fulfill your purpose. Is answered now. Buy limes. Well. Lead. We need not wait for heaven. It can be found here and now quietly. In the fabric. Of everything. That already. Is. This easter morning. Whisper. Hallelujah. In your heart. Friends. We are the makers of springtime. The poets of birth the shapers of green and golden things weakness. We thank the source for its beauty. Forts pleasantness. Forts living warm. And we praise the human heart. Ford's courage. Is tenacity. Its eagerness and love. Maddie made us easter sunday remind all of you. Of the life within. That's 62 verse. I'm blessed. With its color. Practice.

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2011Nov20Sermon32.mp3

Today is sunday. November 20th. Near 2011n so far at least this has been a perfectly ordinary day. In my life. So perhaps this is the perfect. Days before our national holiday of. The giving of thanks. For me to take a spiritual inventory of some of the simple. Ordinary mundane things in life. I am truly thankful for the human being. Idiosyncratic and personal list. But i hope many of you will recognize some or all of it. In your own life. The kinds of simple satisfactions youtube. Here then is what. My life is like on this run-of-the-mill sunday just before thanksgiving 2011. First i began my day by. Hello waking up. Could start. I simply opened my eyes this morning unstretch the sleep out of my body and by any measure that's a pretty good beginning to a day when i consider the real alternative. But i might not have awakened this morning. But instead would have drifted into the fog that lies just beyond life for all of us. But glory be as luck would have it here i. Right here like woody allen. Once again i'm able to give a run at the day. Just the mere fact of finding myself alive underwear. Strikes me as a pretty special thing. And there is so very much more. I woke up this morning wrapped in a luxury of a big soft bed. Which i can call my own. Beneath crisp inviting sheets and a clean cozy blanket. With my bedroom windows open to the breezy atlantic. In a cool comfortable familiar home next to someone there he is. Who loves and cares for me more than i probably deserve. Despite the chronic arthritis in my knees neck and back i was able to get out of bed. Creek my way to the bathroom turn on the water jump in a steaming shower that graciously loosen. Much of the overnight stiffness that had crept into my bones and muscles. Stepping out of the shower i dried off with a warm soft. Fresh smelling towels slipped into comfortable loose-fitting clothing. And moseyed my way to the kitchen sink be to the miracle of coffee makers with automatic timers. There it was. I done moved quietly to my favorite end of the red sofa. In our modest with sunday's living rooms at does overlook the atlantic ocean. The crashing waves of which i heard through the open slider. And between welcoming sips of coffee quietly for peruse. The familiar. Get surprising pages of the morning papers. Dappled. As they are 2in sunshine. To read the local national and global news in this complicated bittersweet world of ours. Including the comics which despite my astounding degree of intellectual. Mastication i do enjoy every more. As the morning moved on and the sun steadily rose a little higher in the sky and the perused sections of the papers steadily piled up on the floor. I moved to my clear glass dining room table which by then also danced in the embrace of the morning sunlight. I sat quietly and enjoy the simple breakfast consisting of. Two halves of a liver liberally buttered english muffin. Shamelessly adorned by big globs of strawberry preserves offset by refreshing sips from a tall frosty glass of ice-cold skim milk. And the last of my car. These taste mingled. And charmed. Preparing for my day with work and how blessed i am to be able to say that i am meaningfully employed in this world. I shaved. Brush my teeth took my daily medications who doesn't have four five or six or seven or eight of those. I'm not dressed for my 30 minute bike ride to church. I left my house. And i biked on settlewood past the house where the murder occurred thursday night. And i said a simple prayer. For that family. And all. Who are affected. I got horrible. Events yet. The world was beautiful. By that. I was on the barber bridge. And i stood up. Pedaling vigorously heading west over the lagoon fully aware and glad that i was both alive and moving with the morning and i took the light in that moment. The fresh morning air snapping in and out of my lungs the exhilaration of my muscles and heart working together the excitement of watching. The hungry pelicans already doing dive-bombs in the breakfast. The pleasing patterns of the early sailboats working their way up and down the intercoastal. The puffy white clouds and far-off. Green palm tree horizon inviting me onward. Charming parade once i got across the bridge of joggers in. Neighbors walking their dogs. In what seemed like no time i arrived here at the fellowship safe and sound without a flat tire. Without meeting a car by accident. Ready to take another shower my second of the day. Put on my best start. Lands end shirt. And a bit of cologne to sweeten the pot and bisley got about the work i love doing the kishore the building was reasonably clean going over the service elements. And greeting all of you as you dribbled in as you always do. And now finally leading worship in this beautiful wonderful space how blessed i am. To work for you you're mostly kind mostly gracious mostly wonderful people. You're all wonderful. But it doesn't say that in there's a text but you are. And is it. All of this weren't enough there's much more. When i plugged the catalog all the relationships i have in the world my far-flung. Weber friends and families and acquaintances. I'm held in a web of affection and care that goes far beyond reason and far beyond these walls and so are all of you. And what's more. I as you live in a miraculous natural world that even in these times. Climate change and violent swings of weather. Is incredibly beautiful hospitable and charming. It's rather amazing isn't it through no effort and merit of our only find ourselves. In a creation adorned. With rainbows i saw one day before yesterday and sunset. Soothing rivers and beaches. Gentle winds and refreshing rain showers in fighting for us billowing clouds singing birds. Yes there are hurricanes. And blizzards and tornadoes and tropical storms and alligators and rattlesnakes and mosquitoes and they're even love bugs. I miss. Play there's nothing lovely about love bug. When you take all this creation together even a pessimist. Must admit. It's a gracious. Inhospitable place and there is more to be. I have enough food and liquid to drink each day i have a solid roof over my head at night and plenty of clothing. To make each comfort each season come. I have reasonably good eyes which permit me to read poetry. Amc sunset. I have a nose. That allows me to smell this. Aromatic world. And ears which while not nearly as keen as they once were. Enabled me to hear the manifold music of this creation. And all of your voices. I have a brain. A reasonable piece of hardware reasonably intact. Which most of the time is coherently connected to my mouth. In ways that allow me to express myself and communicate meaningfully. With the world. Another person's and arthritis a side i still have legs would carry me wherever i choose. And hands with which i can touch and tim the world and lips. Which can talk. And kiss and laugh and smile and a body which most of the time feels like a familiar old free. All this is mine. Without me turning it. And on this sunday. Morning. November 20th i am quietly grateful for this life. Every piece. No. With all this. Cheerfully given voice don't get me wrong. I have lots of complaints and caveats and i'm happy to share them with you. If you really want to listen to them. I'll buy can painstakingly catalog every existential gripe i have. But for today at least the sunday before thanksgiving i simply want to affirm. With full and sincere heart. The overarching truth. An undeniable reality of my life all-in-all i am blessed. I have much to be grateful. Mine is an abundant life. In an abundant creation. And i know that i would truly. Pretty lucky guy. And what about you this thanksgiving. What does your spiritual inventory look like. When you think about the routine shape and substance of your life. Taking all things in all. How are you feeling about your life and more important to question. What are the everyday aspects ostentatious elements of your daily routine. For which you. Can say you know i'm grateful this morning. I hope that your heart is able to come up with a list similar to mine. For surely we are all blessed to some degree or another in countless big and small ways as we make our way through this. Sound increase. This morning i'm offering you the 4th sermon. In my year-long series entitled 12 gates. To the city. Which explorers 12 different. Spiritual pads or avenues of human being. Which i believe will enable you to answer the holy city of your own life. Not some imagines. I believe the gratitude simple everyday uncomplicated gratitude for the gifts and graces of what you have been given. Is an attitude of the hardaway of being in the world which enables you to lead a life. Of satisfaction and purpose and peace and which energizes you. To give as well. Has gat. This is because gratitude. Opens and energizes us. Gratitude stimulates as i've been saying in the series the divine traffic. The divine traffic between us in the world which is always seeking to happen. Gratitude enables and empowers that divine traffic. It allows you to go out. And it allows the divine to come in. I can't imagine any person being truly happy in this life without a healthy dose. Of everyday gratitude. Did it was 20th century british unitarian minister and writer lp jacks. Who wants succinctly said religion. Is primarily an affair of gratitude. Religion is primarily an affair of gratitude. A catholic mystic thomas merton. Said it differently if you managed only one prayer in your whole life. And that prayer is simply thank you. It will be sufficient. Actually i prefer the rather pointed weighs the same thing as a firm. Find my favorite character porcupine. Now i show porcupine is rather curmudgeonly. Anda. Talking about a different strip in one of the strips. Porcupine is down in that little league little league. Churches reading the newspaper article that the blaring headlines in the paper and three billion years ending all life on earth. Turkey lapham is crying with this headline what was me i'm too young to die to which park in the first place. Far as i'm concerned i would never say that to all of you this morning would i. I would never know i would never say. Difficulties irritations aside you're all pretty lucky just to be. Theologian matthew fox writes about the experience importance of gratitude even in the face of real hardship. Gratitude he writes. Changes our lives. It fills us with energy and vitality and then he goes on when i was 12 years old i got polio. And could not walk for 6 months. The doctors could not reassure me i would ever walk again. As it turned out i did get my legs back. But i learned a lesson in the process that i have never forgotten. Don't take for granted. I had taken to write my legs for granted. Legs at work legs that could run and play ball legs of took me exactly where i wanted to go. When my legs return to me i was filled with gratitude for the miracle of my legs being killed. But rather at all. And then he concludes. I was filled with energy and promised myself i would never again waste my legs. For as long as i live. As i thought about this attitude of a heart that's so essential to our health. 3g's come to mind. And i want to put them up there for you. The first g is a routine gratitude. Simple everyday gratitude. That i was talking about at the beginning of my sermon that i feel just simple good old gratitude. But the second g is holding a grudge. Against life which it seems to me is the polar opposite. Of having gratitude now some people i have known over my lifetime. Seem to specialize in holding grudges against life itself. Raise your hand if you know at least you know what to say their name just somebody kind of specializes in holding a grudge against life. Which means you begrudge life for all the way it is on willing to singerly devote itself to your personal happiness. That's what's holding a grudge mean. I have known a handful of people. Who feel this way. Rather than everyday gratitude which is an open door which allows that divine traffic. Begrudging life is a dark and shuttered door of the heart. That seals you type. Against life. This is those who always for whom the glass is half empty it's never have full. Blackout life cuz my waters halfway down. I can't possibly love this. Let me share a quick. Garrison keillor joke which makes the chip on the shoulder attitude about life clear concerns a grandmother. Who was walking her five-year-old grandson on the beach. When suddenly a rogue wave comes up g child and sweeps. She looked up at the sky. No sooner did these words come out of her mouth when another rogue wave comes up and deposit the smiling child back on the beach. The grandmother picks the child up in his arm in arm. Look to the sky and says. That's a great joke. Broadway lyricist oscar hammerstein once wrote this. I don't believe any of us can enjoy living in this world unless we can accept its imperfection. We must know it admit that we are imperfect. That all other mortals are imperfect. And go in our imperfect way making mistakes. And riding out the rust the wilderness exciting beautiful storm of life. Until the day we die. Ezviz in life. The girl heart will not accept life eternal imperfection. His child. Got a hat. And now i arrive at the third. G. For gratitude and that is taking for granted. Taking for granted it seems to me that even more than holding a grudge against life that walter own majority of us majority of us get in trouble simply. By taking. For granted. Taking for granted. Perhaps it is the very ordinariness of life. Which allows us to fall victim. For this season of taking for granted. Who is a sas. In her essay the riddle of the ordinary points. Fall into taking for granted. She writes. The ordinary. By making itself so noticeable it's around us all the time. Has gotten itself in a bad spiritual fix with us. We hardly even notice it. The ordinary simply by being so ordinary and neglectful. When something to rights does not insist on being noticed. When we aren't grabbed by the collar or struck on the side of the stall by a presence or an event. We take for granted. The very things that most deserve our gratitude and this. Is the chief and deepest point she writes concerning the ordinary. It does. Deserve. Our gratitude. The ordinary. Is above all else what is expected and what is expected. Is not often thought of. As a gift. My colleague roy phillips. Once wrote this. To the current gation he served. This is it. This is the day you've been waiting for. If my words come to you when you're down in the dumps you may ask what's so special about today. Well he writes we noticed the specialist of this day when we consider the imaginable opposite. That is unlife non-being. Domenico's on right now. Your chest rises and falls. Airstreams in and out of your lungs blood courses through your veins you are aware you are alive. But there is this that i'm worried about. And there is that which troubles me and there are these things going on today in my life which keep me from enjoying myself my world other people. Adam phillips. Road. I don't want to be hard on you. But i must say it. If you plan to wait. To live fully. And joyfully. Until a day comes when there are no obstacles no hardships then you passed your time for waiting. Life is to be lived and enjoyed this time right now in the midst of all of its imperfections it's troublesome circumstances. This. Is it. This is the day. You have been waiting for. Today. Is november 20th. 4 days before thanksgiving. In the year 2011. Today i know it's a cliche. But today is. The first day of the rest of your life. And this is the day you have been waiting for. Being grateful. Sincerely grateful. For the chance you've been given to hang around. This interesting rich world of ours. Gratitude can be cultivated in a heart. That is simply open. Just seeing. All that is really here for us. In the gospel of thomas. One of the ancient narratives about the life of jesus that did not make it into the final collection that is called the bible today. In the gospel of thomas. It is reported that one of the. Disciples asked jesus jesus when will the kingdom of god come. And jesus responded it will not come by watching for it. It will not be said look here or look their rather jesus said. The kingdom of god is spread out upon the earth and people do not. The kingdom of god is spread out. Earth. Do not see it. Jesus was right. The kingdom of god. It's already here. The holy kingdom. Is richly spread out. Apollo world right here. And every other part. And if you do not see it. It will be unable to bless you. It will be unable to sustain you if your eyes are closed. Is thanksgiving week. Hold this truth. Close to your heart. We are saved. From both despair and dullness. When we quietly. Open our hearts. And cultivate gratitude. For the simple blessings. When we refused to begrudge life. And do not take it for granted. We are saved day after day. Only quietly whisper in our own hearts.

uufvb_org

2014Aug24Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. And welcome to another glorious. Summers sunday morning. And welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. We're glad you've chosen to be. We are congregation of open minds. Loving hearts. And helping hands, our best selves to make a better world. Please know that you are indeed welcome. Just as you come to us this morning. But you're young or old gay or straight black or white. What are on top of the world or down somewhere maybe in the bedroom. What are euros. Are you been a member. For quite a long time. We're delighted to see you. Just as you are. And all your particular already indeed. We both did you find this service meaningful. And enriching. That nourishes your spirit. And feeds your soul. Renewed energy enjoy for the living of life. In the days and the weeks ahead. Alright my opening words are from jewish scholars. Who also wrote many. Blessings. Blessings. Which you lavished upon us in forest and see in mountain and meadow and rain and sun. We thank you. For the blessings you implanted within us joy and peace. Meditation and laughter. We are grateful to you. For the blessings of friendship and love. A family and community. For the blessings we ask of you and ask. Blessings bestowed upon us openly and those you give us in secret. For all these blessings we thank you. And are grateful to you. For the blessings we recognize and those we fail to recognize. For the blessings of our tradition and our holy days. For the blessings of return and forgiveness of memory of vision of hope. For all these blessings which surround us on every side. Dear god hear our thanks and accept. Our gratitude. Good morning everybody. Shabbat shalom. Can you hear me all right. Some of you may remember the film funny girl. The fictionalized story. Of the comedian fanny brice. In the beginning of the film. Young fanny is trying to convince the owner of a tavern. Who is rehearsing and auditioning. High-stepping. Buxom young girls for his nightly show that she fanny. Skinny legs who sticks out. Doesn't look like the other girls. Deserves a chance. She quits. I'm a bagel in a plate full of onion rolls. As a jew. This rueful statement has always run through for me. I suspect. That it rings true for each of us as unitarians. As well. However unitarians may take this fact for granted that they are different. Emory point with some fried. To the fact that they are the owners of his gloriously. Corky. Attribute. It may surprise some of you. However. Whether secular or sacred. Atheist atheist. Or observant. Are not only invited to make the great spiritual quest. What is expected of us. It is required of us. In fact. Is an integral part. Of being jewish. Of belonging to a face. The causes to a search that last. A lifetime. Dismal treatise will not i guarantee all of you disappoint in this regard for i am still searching. Hazard most. I was taught to observe the sabbath. And high holy days. Kiss grandma. And a mani and a wayne and have some fruit and visit your mother once in awhile god bless her and where is it written but anyway. Go to eat chinese food on christmas day. As a jew. I am tot. But god is my shelter. I am also. To let the almighty know. That the roof leaks and ask him to please fix it. And moreover why does it leak in the first place you want i should be wet. Ensure. I'm expected to give god. And myself and argument. As fanny brice it said i'm a natural holler. In christianity. God is the question. And the answer. Question. Dancer. In judaism. God is a question. And both of us. Are the answer. In fact. Each. All of us. Are the answer. We're partners. Is personal. Weather sacred. Or secular. I have no doubt. The i am known. By the creator universe. Every bit of dna. Has been a gift to me. From the first artist. The creation of the universe. My ancestors. A personal relationship with god is at the heart of the story of gods. Comment tu jo. Dreamjobs horrific trials. That god allows. Joe. Did not create the leviathan. Or the fish of the sea and so how could joe not trust. But such an immense and all. Would not have things well in hand. It is a story of humility. As we are put before the great mystery. That we as jews call god. For the record. It is a name so sacred that we are not even allowed to print it. In its entirety. That is of course if we are faith center juice. For some of us its face. And culture. Or simply culture. Wedges willingly or unwillingly. Tour heritage. According to the book. Jews and words. Traditions. Are not made. Gesture. Sound. An expression. But i digress back to joe. Aside from the argument. Joe has with god and himself. I again reference to work. Jews and words. About the literal translation of biblical stories. A profound and genuine truth to which these miss. Refer. Quote. As the novelist among us once wrote. Facts. At times. Come the dire enemies of truth. I would like to finished. Finished with my own brand of preference. For judaism. The biggest questions and produces a few answers. I would argue that. Persona star the great israeli writer. Secularism. Is a non-religious understanding of the world. But searching for god is what we do from time to. He advises against. The false trap. Easy answers. The answers are traps. That lead to a false sense of tranquility. Which disappear. And waste our freedom to search. He asks. That's what i. What then. God only knows perhaps. But some acts of faith still have meaning. Even as banal as the age-old maxim. Which goes. And it is written. They tried to kill us. We survived. Whatsapp. 8 years ago. Unitarian minister whitesville sharp. We're honored posthumously by the us holocaust memorial museum in washington dc. They're only the second and. Third americans. Memorialized with a plaque. On the rescuers wall in the museum's permanent exhibition. The sharps left the united states become involved. In rescuing hundreds of jews and other nazi dissidents. And had already been honored. As righteous among the nations. Holocaust memorial in israel. Subsequently. The us senate passed a resolution. Paying tribute to the courageous work of the sharps celebrating them as genuine american heroes. At the time. Museum director. Few people found it within themselves to risk danger by helping their neighbors during the holocaust. The sharks were willing to leave the safety. Of the united states to save strangers in europe. Speaks to their character. And serves as an inspiration to us today. Particularly as we continue to witness. Atrocities elsewhere. I mention this because it affords direct link between our two phase. Unitarian universalism. Judaism. We have and historical length of course. Given that the deep roots of our faith come directly out. Of judaism. So as long as been doing in this series this morning i simply want to share with you. How judaism has fed the roots of my own faith. So i'm going to begin with a little confession. I have heard more than a few of my female colleagues in my generation say that. On their journey toward professional ministry. That is a young girl they always wanted to marry a minister. And then the door open. Occurred to them. That they could themselves. Become ministers. Well here's my confession. As a young woman i wanted to marry a rabbi. This is true. In my twenties. I had two dating relationships with rabbis one nearly leading to marriage. During the time of the most serious relationship. I was already serving as a unitarian universalist minister and. Well the truth is he just couldn't really get past my being a ship's. And the other perhaps more telling fact is that he used to tell me that i made a much better. No i'm not sure that was true. Or what he based his assessment on. But i do know. But i was faithful. I wanted our friday night. To be about candles and prayers. And i continued. Too deeply value sabbath time. So my first gift from judaism. Is the idea. On the sabbath. On the seventh day. Surveyed all that had been accomplished. Spend time evaluating reflecting and ceased from all the work of creation. God became ruler. The brass. Of the spirit. God took time to listen to god's own breathing. And to rest. Remember then the sabbath. And keep it holy. Labor the other six days but on this 7th day. Take time out to focus. To breathe. To give. To share. To remember. To renew a sense of vision. Tubi. To be blessed. Everyone is to take time out by the way. When the great commandments are given in the book of deuteronomy words are that quote. You shall not do any work. You or your son or your daughter or your manservant or your maidservant or your ox or your ass or any of your cattle or the sojourner who is within your gates. All met rest as you. The sabbath is intended then as a great day. Of equality. Wood. That our world could observe even one day. Sabbath. 1. True equality. One day of peace. Just one day. Of rest. From violence. Observing the sabbath has become a lost art. In our society. As my jewish colleagues will tell you attendance at friday night services is way down. The sabbath now has to compete with so many other alluring activities. Same story for christians of course that business didn't happen on sundays. Few people. Stores were closed. Later sex laws governed only whether alcohol would be sold. And now. Now even sunday morning church-going hours no longer considered sacred time. People work. Stores are open games are played. The assault on the sabbath is nearly complete. Making it next to impossible for anyone or any family to maintain it as part of their weekly observance. I think god knew a thing or two. And suggesting the importance of a rhythmic cycle that includes. Includes time for work. Time for play and time for rest and reflection. In fact. I just want to take a moment to really honor you for being here this morning this one hour. This little bit of time in the week. It is a privilege. That we are able to spend it like this so i thank you. The rosen of sabbath time is what i like to call a troubling eco theological reality of modern life. Eco is an ecological referring to the relationship between us and our environment. I'm just trying to suggest that modern life is a rotating part of the natural cycle of life within among & beyond. The relationship of humankind to our natural environment. And to god. A relationship that requires periods of rest. And reflection. Does. Disregard for the sabbath. Is an eco theological problem. I can only encourage you to reconsider this great gift of jewish understanding. And consider setting aside time. For weekly sabbath reflection. As part. Of your life. The second special gift to my life from the jewish tradition is the idea of covenant. The concept is first introduced in the story of noah. In chapter 6 of the book of genesis. In the ninth chapter. Announces the rainbow as a perpetual sign. The covenant between god. And the earth. What god says then and throughout the torah. Is that god will never be the source of harm and destruction of the earth for her people. As long as people remain true to the fundamental ethical laws god has proposed. God makes a promise. And the people make promises in return. The theme of promise is indeed one of the core themes of the entire torah. The essential meaning of covenant. Is that we will walk together. Sharing common understandings and commitments in service. To the common good. The idea of covenant invites us to consider our lives from the vantage point of shared commitments. Compromise. Fantasize with me for a moment. One of our sort of our usual question if we haven't seen somebody for a while. But you know what it is how's it going. Bringing the concept of covenant more deeply into our lives. We might consider very different greeting. Now i know we're not going to do this it would freak everybody out but just think about it. So we greet somebody. What promises have you made. Have you kept them. What promises have been made to you. Do you trust anyone to keep those promises. How does your face. Help you to believe in promises. Even when it may appear. They are not being kept. The hebrew bible tells us that god offered to be. A partner which humanity in this earliest of covenants. At the coravin. Is the idea that you don't have a self until you engage with a neighbor. With another. Engagement. We are given life. God is not doing things all on god's own. God's own self is emerging in dialogue with human partners. This is not a god who doesn't need anyone. Or isn't taking risks. Much of the resulting religious venture has been to strengthen us humans to opold our end of the deal. Phillip justice and be merciful. And walk humbly. That original offer to our ancestors. Is what i'd like to refer to this morning. As a love letter from god. About an ad that was produced by the jewish theological seminary of america. It was in the form of a kind of love letter. Adapted it a bit for sharing this morning. Send us another. Love letter. I suggest. It might look something like this. Deer people. I offer you a gift. I hope. You will accept it. But linked with this gift. Is a responsibility. I hope you can handle it. My gift. Is freedom. It means that each of you. Can do just about anything. Say anything use build or even destroy anything within your grasp. But you must remember. But i am giving this gift. To everyone. Every person. In every nation. So you can see the tension. If all of you are to enjoy this freedom than each of you will have to sometimes make choices that limit your own actions for otherwise you will end up with chaos tyranny uncontrollable crime and misery. Those with the most may look free. But they will in fact be slaves to their own greed. And their fear of others. So that's the burden linked with the gift. You've got to pull in the reins on yourself sometimes. If you choose to accept my gift it's up to you. To make freedom work. Here are a few guidelines. If unrestrained greed is accepted. As success. It isn't working. If the earth is poisoned. And its resources depleted. It isn't working. If people are treated as objects. It isn't working. If people kill to get what they want. It isn't working. If people turn to drugs and alcohol it is. Working. If people cheat. Because. Everyone else cheats. It isn't. Working. And if it isn't working the responsibility to fix it belongs to everyone of you. No one. Can be free alone. My gift isn't an easy one my covenant isn't an easy one. Good luck. With love. God. A love letter from god. The covenant of the holy. And our prayers become a natural outgrowth of this coven until understanding of relationship. If the relationship holds. And we all keep our promises to each other. Then our prayer life. Need only consist. Of gratitude. And praise. If a relationship breaks or isn't working because i did not keep my promise. Then there's a need for confessing prayer. If a relationship breaks or isn't working because the other didn't keep a promise. Then there's a need for forgiving. For petitionary prayer. This concept of covenant has become central. How i understand my relationships. With my spouse and family. With god and certainly. With my faith community. Well. Because it is judaism that is offered a blessing. For my bare feet. I have had a lifelong struggle with shoes. I don't like them. And they don't like me. I wear only the flattest appeals. The most open weave or fattest if i have to be confined in a shoe. And then only when propriety demands. The shoes are off as soon as possible. It has been this way all my life. I prefer being barefoot and can walk that way over most any kind of ground. I'm happiest dispensing shoes all together. In the book of exodus. Moses wanders with his flock. Mount horeb the mountain of god. And god appears to moses in the form of a burning bush. And moses starts to turn away so powerful is the site. God calls his name and moses answers. Here am i. And do you remember god's next words. Maurice. Moses put off your shoes from your feet. For the place on which you stand. Is holy ground. Is not the earth holy. Are we not always standing. On holy ground. Sometimes i think it's just possible that my feet are the wisest part of my body. And the most in touch. With the divine. To relate all this to a larger thing i would simply say that judaism invites us to focus on the holiness in everyday life. And the last gift that i want to lift up this morning there are many other gifts from this beautiful tradition. Is the richness and inexhaustible depth of the stories. Yes every text has a contacts. And yes the stories of the hebrew bible are stories out of the history of the hebrew people. But they are not just stories. Of an ancient people. These magnificent stories this text. Paradigm for how human beings relate. To each other. How we relate to god. Enter the world around us. Expose some of the often painful particularities of being human. The temptations to which we are are and with which we must each struggle. Just as it was in the time of the book of genesis. In every generation. There will be two brothers. Or fear. Or envy. Did god really favor abel's offering over canes. Was that reason enough. For cane to sleigh. His brother abel. If we keep the questions out there. We don't get to the heart of the story. The story is asking us to take a look at where in our lives. We are feeling that our gifts are going on appreciate it. Or did someone else's gifts. Are more valued. 10 hours. And how does that make us feel. What does it make us want to do. That will be brothers jacob ishmael and isaac. One more than the other to receive the greater portion. Of a father's love. And blessing. What are the things we have done. To assure. Fortress secure. A father's love. And as in the time of the book of genesis there will be two sisters whose relationship is broken. By greed or fear. Rng. Was leah a willing participant in the hoodwinking of jacob. If we keep the question out there again we don't get to the heart of the story. The story is asking us among other things to examine our own competitive feelings with our sisters and what we have done. Forbidden tempted. To do. To win. In every generation a question of freedom. It's on the table. It is almost. Irrelevant. Historically. What matters is that we understand that in every generation. In every place there has been and will be oppression. The continued rebirth of pharaoh is almost assured. Where. Does pharaoh rule now. And what is the name. Pharaoh has taken. Just as in the book of exodus in every generation there will be those like moses who risk themselves to act in response. Of their community. Who has taken on the mantle of moses. In today's world. Perhaps. In this local community. In every generation. Did god really part the waters of the red sea. The deeper question that the story invite says his rather when was the last time. I reached out a hand. To someone. Who felt lost. Just someone who was fleeing some kind of personal slavery. Did the hebrews really wander for 40 years in the desert. Shift the question. Who is in exile now. Who are those millions displaced. Fling. Homeless. How are they sustaining. Themselves. And how. Frankly do we live with the reality. That they're not. Just as in the time of the book of exodus in every generation there will be those who will turn to an image. Mistaking it for the holy. What are the golden calves. To which we have sacrificed. Some of the richness. Of our own lives. I've been called to wrestle with these and similar questions in response. To the great biblical tales. There are questions enough. From more than one lifetime. Are the particular gifts of the jewish tradition to my own religious journey. The concept of covenant. And the stories. That invite us to go ever deeper. I would like to close with words from rabbi harold kushner. Over the generations. Jews have read the torah. Not it's a novel to see how it ends. But as a love letter. For instance. Why this word. Instead of that word. Why is there a space here. That's the way you read a love letter. And wonder. What did he or she mean. By this word. We jews have seen the torah as not just a book of stories or law codes. But as a love letter. From god. Chalice. Light scene. Warm. Phelps. Music favorite. Pleasure tasted. Words spoken. Hands honored. New friends welcomed. Fragility protected. Souls connected. Praise offered. Sabbath. Known. Go now in peace. Go making peace. Live kindly. Love mightily. View the world through the eyes of compassion. And with a global heart. And always bow. To the mystery. I'm in.

uufvb_org

2011Sep11Sermon128.mp3

As all of you. I will never forget where i was and what i was doing. When the news broke mid-morning. Tuesday september 11th. 2001. Set the twin towers of the world trade center in new york city. And the pentagon. In washington dc if instruct by hijack passenger. I was with the newsletter assembly crew of the river road unitarian universalist congregation. Which item served. Just seven miles up the potomac river. From the pentagon. Watching the terrible events unfold in a television we had wheeled into the room as soon as the news broke. Together with the rest of the church staff which assemble we watched in horror as all of you did as the twin towers came. 3:01. And then watch the live local coverage of the pentagon burning. With a gaping. Jagged. Whole. In its side. After watching the worst of the unfolding horror in urgently trying to call loved ones who were in downtown washington. Largely unsuccessful because in dc the telephone circuit. Totally overwhelmed. By panic citizen. We prayed together in that room. The newsletter crew eventually all went home and i decided after follett finally reaching collins by phone and ascertaining. That he was safe and on his way home for all of downtown d.c. had been. Evacuated as. Entire federal workforce. I decided to get on my bike. And go down to the pentagon. To see for myself. What was. I will never forget cycling my way down the old sienno c&o canal towpath it runs right along the potomac river. With thousands literally thousands of distraught and shoveled looking commuters men and women. In their business suits. And high heels the women and briefcases. Slowly walking the ten miles up from downtown d.c. to bethesda. Because. With rumors of attacks on the state department and the subway system the subway system shutdown. All of downtown is gridlocked with buses and cars. The only way to get home. What's the walk. In any case. I finally arrived at the pentagon which was completely cordoned off. And i watched and sad disbelief as hundreds of first responders and military personnel. Bought the still raging fires. Where the hijacked plane have been flown into the massive building at several hundred miles an hour. Because they did not want untrained citizens anywhere near the building there was nothing i could do to help. So after watching for i don't know half an hour an hour. I biked back to church. And began planning with the other ministers and staff. Our response to the terrible events of that day and the worship and memorial services. We would hold that we. Well i finally got home. That evening to collins and my home in dc which was just six blocks. Is still to this day just six blocks. North of the white house. The numerous armed military jet fighters and helicopters. Which have been brought in to protect the city immediately following the attack. Further attack these planes. Resuming. Menacingly just a few hundred feet over the rooftops. As they would 24/7 for many weeks. Needless to say it was very hard. Sleep that night. In washington. This morning on the 10th anniversary of those terrible attacks which led to so much death. Disruption in america and soon thereafter. Additional death and disruption in many other parts. The world. I want to reflect with all of you on 9/11 it's aftermath. Specifically how the events of that day. Have irretrievably shaped and affected and changed us. I think as a people. And how 911 continues to have power over us. And the rest of the world. Even ten years out. Don't let me be very direct and clear about this. I know that as a minister in a leadership position in this congregation i'm about to wait into some very emotional. Insensitive. And complicated waters. By sharing my personal analysis and understanding of these powerful events. And the repercussions i am certain. To offer at least some perspective. Conclusion. Which are not shared by some of you. I am further. Certain to say some things this morning which. When's of you will take exception possibly. Passionate. But one of my jobs as your minister is from time to time in the life of our nation. To offer such. Reflections and perspectives. To help us. As together we seek to shape. The moral and spiritual and emotional future of our nation. But i do so knowing full well that my perspectives are just and only that. Bye. Perspective. The perspective of one person. So to ensure that we have the current gation all have the opportunity to speak our minds and engage one another. It open and respectful dialogue about 9/11 and its aftermath. As i said. During coffee i'll ring a bell in those who want to come back and talk about these issues further. May do so. I want to establish right now. That this dialogue will not be about what will not be an opportunity. For individuals to argue angrily or otherwise with one another rather. An opportunity to thoughtfully share our perspectives and beliefs about 9/11. And it's aftermath m to be respectful. Of the diversity of views there are inevitably found in a free-thinking congregation. Azar. I hope many of you will stay for the style log. 4in a unitarian universalist congregation. The thoughts and the feelings of every individual matter and they will be respected. So if your schedule permits you to stay please do. But there's always more than one way to see and understand. Both our individual lives and the life of the nation and we want to cultivate that conversation. Today. On this important anniversary and learn. From one another as we listen. To one another. One more crucial caveat if i might. What i talked this morning about how 911 is affected us as a nation. I mean how is affecting all of the american. All of us together. Republican. Democrat independent. Liberals and conservatives and everybody in between all of us together as a people. Regardless where we fall along the political. Spectrum or our philosophic. Spectrum. While some may on this occasion anniversary occasion. Want to make partisan accusations about the mistakes that other individuals. At leaders made after 9/11. That is not my purpose this morning. This morning on this 10th anniversary i want to look at the way in which in the overview. Are at our collective national reaction. Which i think should be more accurately called our collective. National over-reaction. Which includes countless decisions made by the president. And the white house. And both political parties in congress. By the federal courts. And appointees who were made by republicans and democrats. The supreme court. By our military leaders by financial banking and business leaders and by all of us. The ordinary citizens who make up this republic. I knew ultimately decide what kind of a nation. We are to be. Want to talk about all of us. First. And i think most obvious. The first thing that cannon must be said is how grateful we must be as a nation. If there is not been in this ensuing decade another. Successful attack. On our homeland and in. We know that various radical islamic terrorist networks around the world which is it is important to note. All together represent only. A few. Thousand. With rather limited financial and political resource. Especially now 10 years old. They've tried to attack us by various means. Over the last decade since 9/11. And although there have been some distinctly close calls like the christmas day. Airline shoe bombing incident over detroit last year. We have as a nation. Managed to remain safe from further attacks against. The civilian population. But the fact that our national security apparatus has by hook or crook. Been able to prevent any further attack is not enough i think for us to focus on. On this anniversary occasion. Brian persuaded that there have clearly been other ways in which we as a nation. And the people have been seriously. And involuntarily chain. And diminished. And manipulated and weaken. Buy 911. The curiosity here is that the terrorists of 9/11. While largely failing in their stated goal and i'll get to those in a minute. Nonetheless that is serious harm. In ways. It appears they did not. And probably could not have imagined at the time of their attacks. Significant harm we at least to date as a people. Have not been able to prevent. Now we know. And the fbi and cia have repeatedly verified this in testimony before congress. The primary goals of al-qaeda. In the 9/11 attacks we're one. To force the removal of us military forces from the persian gulf area. 2. 2nd us economic and political and military support of several muslim arab regimes. Most notably saudi arabia. Egypt and jordan and others which al-qaeda had labeled as corrupt. And the third goal stated goal was to force and an. Do u.s. support of israel. And it's harsh occupation. A palestinian areas. None of these al-qaeda goals have been achieved over the last decade in fact is anyting. The 9/11 attacks only deepened and expanded the u.s. involvement in the middle east in ways these terrorist abhor. So quickly moving on from the terrorists unachieved and unrealised and unrealizable goal. Just how did 911 do us serious harm as a people and a nation. I would suggest you this morning the 911 work this malevolent. Persistent power. On andover us. Primarily through. Fear. Franklin delano roosevelt once famously said you all know the quote in 1933 when america was in the grips. Of the great depression he said the only thing to fear. We have to fear. Is fear itself. And then observation. Which is a reminder that unchecked and unrealistic fear has a way of gravely harming a nation. Certainly is jermaine on this 10th anniversary of 9/11. I believe. It had the american people following 9/11. Taken roosevelt's warning. Do not let fear dominate and director. And cloud our collective judgment. We would not have overreacted. In the terribly costly ways which we did. Following 9/11. Our safety and security fears again. As of total people. Across. Tire spectrum. Cos us. I think. Wildly overreact. The number of fronts in american life. Over-reaction. Successes that i believe hunt us and diminish us to this day. Are over-reaction. Are in five areas one. They cost us trillions. A much-needed public dollars. 2. They caused great economic upheaval and hardship. We continue to suffer today. 3. They threatened to curtail many of our basic freedoms. Civil liberties and national ideas. For our fears caused the ugly rise in religious and racial intolerance. And lastly. Our fear. Create a deep and painful and angry divided. In the body politic. Of america. I wanted to quickly take. Is 5 in. First. There is no credible fear driven financial cost. Of our security and military spending. Occurred over this last deck. One analysis from the online publication the curious capitalist. Bluntly states for the summer bin laden although now dead. Nonetheless appears to have single-handedly cost united states. Trillions of dollars through fear. It is hard to argue otherwise. Another analyst has concluded and now i called him. If osama bin laden school on 9/11 was to go. The united states into a massive overreaction. Then it is clear the al-qaeda leader got his way. The terrorist attacks on washington and new york. Have extracted. Terrible price. In terms of blood. And treasure. A terrible price. With no end in. Do most analysts and americans agree that the war in afghanistan war. The direct. An immediate result of the 9/11 attacks was embarked upon. To route out al-qaeda. Shatter their training and financial base and preserve our nash. Security. And most of us believe it was a just war i do. Unnecessary action. And unnecessary expenditure of public funds. But the subsequent unrelated war raid against a rat. A nation which we now know. Clearly had no discernible connection. To any of the terrorist. Threatened. Nor any weapon. Mastiff. To worry about. That war. And the consequential massive expansion of spending on the security apparatus. The united states. Has cost the nation trillions of tax dollars that could have gone. Two other beneficial social and societal purposes. Healthcare. Education. And the repair of the role of the nation's crumbling in. If you go online as i do. To research just how much our government has actually spent. Both in the war in iraq. Credible expansion of national homeland security. You will find that even the experts. Can't quite figure it out about the total cost because so many billions of dollars. Are unaccounted for in the military. And intelligence budget. Of the united states. Not to mention the unconscionable spending of corrupt military. And intelligence contractors. Who greeley enrichment selves. At this time of day. But the figure by all reputable estimate. Totals more than pooh. Trillium. American dollars. Since 9/11. Encounter. 2 trillion. It's a lot. Add on top of these cost of billions. This excessive spending continues to add to our national debt. And the cost of the america. People become. And then of course there are the terrible human cost. The iraq war. In addition to costing us more than a trillion dollars the war in iraq has led to almost four and a half thousand american death. Which was more than 32 american soldiers wounded. Many of them grievously disabled by life. By the war's countless. Improvise. Floating devices. Because i live in washing. I saw so many of these. Not to mention racki.. Large. Civilian. Which total in the hundreds. Had our national reaction to 9/11 been more. Not nearly as much blood. And then there are the financial cost of an occurred with the exponential expansion of homeland security. Again. All to protect us. A few. Thousand. With diminishing. Capacity. In a stunning tale two-year investigation published by the washington post. Reporters dana priest. And william arkin right. The top secret world. The government has created in response to the terrorist attacks. September 11th. Has become so large. So unwieldy. And so secretive. But no one knows how much money it cost. How many people in employees. How many programs exist within it. Or exactly how many agencies. Do the same work. After a decade of unprecedented security spending and growth. The result is that the system they put in place to keep america safe. Is so massive. So costly. So redundant and its effectiveness. Possible to determine. What are the largest. My membership rolls things we had in my river road congregation. Renew security people. Moving into washington. And i had lots of cia spook. In my last kongregate. One of them. Was a homeland security executive. Who when i talked about. Actually call me into the homeland security office to tell me i was being. Unrealistic. One of the investigation's findings. Tina priest goes. In washington dc and the surrounding suburbs. 33 building complex. Top secret intelligence work are under construction. Or i've been built since 9/11 together these complexes occupied. The equivalent. I've almost. 3 pentagon. Second or third largest building in the. Or 22 us capitol building. About 17 million square feet. Of office. I think the bottom line for. Is it because we as a people. And yes our president. And our congress. And our military intelligence. Let our fears of terrorism run so rampant following the attack. We have spent billions. Upon billions of dollars. Trying to ensure. Security. As the american economy has weakened over the last decade and some analysts blamed directly our post. 911. Spending as a trigger. For our great recession. We have nearly bankrupted our nation. Putting our economy and our social health as a nation. At great risk. I do not think or some of them laden even in his wildest dream. Could have imagined. Sofia taxi perpetrated on 9/11. Could so grievously wounded. As an economy. And the nation. But that is indeed. What the facts indicate. But enough on the mounting economic and financial cost. Are overreacting. 2911. Another area of american life which i believe is greatly as been endangered by are fearful over-reaction. Is the systematic and willful abrogation. Of many of america's basic freedoms. And civil rights. More than any single event following 9/11 i believe it was the passage of the so-called patriot. Overwhelmingly passed again not by one party. But by both chambers of. With the approval or at least acquiescence of both democratic and republican leaders. It allowed to stand by our supreme court. And eagerly signed by a president just seven weeks after the. Points out how fearful americans have willfully allowed the government. Just set aside basic rights and freedoms granted by our founders. Go online if you want to learn about the alarming details about about the patriot act. The tales of this law or stunning. You have to go online to find out. But it was recently renewed and continues to give the federal government. Incredible spying powers. Clearly and unnecessarily and my view at least. Diminishes basic time-honored american civil rights and freedoms again all in reaction. 21 days terrible violence. Because of our fear of further attack. I believe. Through the patriot act and other federal legislation. Including the unconscionable torture. Of many people around the world. We as a people have allowed unprecedented. A dangerous expansion of our federal government's right. To collect information. And intelligence on us even when there is absolutely no reasonable suspicion. Or probable cause. Probable cause. Being used to being the time-honored civil rights standard which regulator. Federal intrusion. Surveillance. Against citizen. This increased federal spying include random searches of our phone calls. And records. Computer and data files financial information even warrantless physical break-in. M2r private. Without any cause. Without any. All because. We were fearful. About what a small group. Around the world by. And because of our post 9/11 fears the federal government. Even has the power in some cases you know this. To detain and jail citizens indefinitely with. Any proof. Look. I know reasonable americans disagree about the standards of federal surveillance and imprisonment. And disagree on how to balance our commitment. To individual civil rights. With the safety and security of the nation. This is a constant conundrum in american life. But i believe that the patriot act and other federal excesses. That have been allowed to be put in place since 9/11. Posing much raider nation. To the nation. And its principles than any attack. Potential attack. By ragtag terrorists. I believe our fear. Following 9/11. Blinded us to the preciousness of many of our basic rights and. And now ten years out we must be urgently about the business. A reversing. These unwise. Which leads me to the next fear-based excess the america. People which endangers our national character and ideal. That's being widespread and growing denigration. Trust. Discrimination that dimension violence directed islam. Islamic centers. Mosques and muslim people. Here in the united states. Surely you are all familiar with the steady shameful pattern. Prejudice. Stila tea ignorance. And violence. South america. Have exhibited for islam. And the slavic. Tuitions and people. Simply sims. Just yesterday i listen to report. On all things considered on saturday morning about murfreesboro tennessee where up. Small portion citizens. Are shamefully blocking the building. Arab community center for the muslim. No american. Can accept or condone the hateful. Twisted murderer. Religion. A radical. Islamic. Jihadist. But they're considerably be no toleration. On our part. Of american mosques. Schools being burned. Face. Orban from communities. Muslim cab drivers and storekeepers beat. Murdered. Quran being burned or bad muslim judges doctors and students being denied equal. All of which happened on a regular basis. In this country. Post. 9. Some americans seem to feel their personal fear of a few thousand radical muslims overseas. Give them the right to denigrate an attack mainstream. Peace-loving american muslims one of the people in murphysboro yesterday on the radio said it wasn't. Radical lutheran that attack the tower so there's an argument. We unitarian-universalist living here in america. Emma still anxious time 10 years out we have a particular response. Just speak up and act up against all fear-based. Intolerance. Send offend. Not only the religious freedom of all but the inherent worth and dignity. Final aspen. American life i believe which. Gravely endangered. Excessive fear-based american reaction to. Is deep and angry divide. Has further. In the american body politic. Look at any look. Any historian of american political life will tell you. The fault lines between progressive and conservative liberal and conservative american is nothing new. And if they have been intensifying over recent decades. But i believe the particular anxiety. And uncertainty which the 9/11 attacks cause. Have radically deepen the divisions among us i believe things have gotten much worse in the last 10. The events of 9/11 set into motion political and social conflict. That have caused us to become a terribly angry and divided nation. A nation that in many ways. Is at war. Not. Haida. But with itself. Over the last decade since 9/11 americans on the right and the left. Have increasingly been at one another's throats. Over the wars in iraq and afghanistan the passage of the patriot act. Explosion of military and intelligence spending. Increases in our national debt. Triggered. And the faltering economy. Trigger. As i recently observed in my bi-weekly local newspaper column in your paper mark. The quality. Civility intelligence and fairness of our political and social discourse have reached a painful nader. I doubt that when osama bin laden. Planning the attacks in his cave. He ever imagined even in his wildest dream. The 9/11 would bitterly cause us. Turn on one another. Ripping apart the body politic and setting americans apart from one another on polar extremes of right and left. But from talk radio. To cable television. Two angry town hall meetings to coffee shops across america. That is what. Oh my goodness although. It is not exactly what i intended to do when i started out preparing this sermon i realize now that i have spent the better part of. Cataloging all the serious way. In which i believe 911 has cost us dearly as a nation. As damaged. Although i sincerely believe that my observations on 9/11. And it's aftermath are on target. That is not where i want to leave. Today was just a statement of all the ways and. We are diminished. It's not where i want to leave you because i believe it's not ever. Too late. For us the american people. To undo. And repair damage to our nation. Our nation especially the damage done by 9 11 10 years ago. As i began this sermon i quoted the great american president franklin delano roosevelt reminded us. The only thing we have to fear is fear. That warning. Painfully relevance. But enclosing i would remind you of what another rate. America. President. Abraham lincoln said. Equally dark. Time. In american. During his first inaugural address. January of 1861 just. As a succession. The southern states. Was completed. And the civil war was about to begin. Lincoln call all-americans to rise up together and live by the better angels. Of our nature. The better angels. Of our nature. 250 years later this is exactly. What bus now gaitas. The people 10 years out from 9/11. Treacherous heartless attacks of 9/11. Have work there furnishes power over our land. Our government. And our hearts. And much damage some of it your retriever. Has been done. But my fellow americans i must say it is not too late it is never. For all of us. To rise to our best and noblest in. And defend. And serve. Store our highest principle. And values of the nation love injustice. Care. Cern. Together we can yet build a nation where all are safe. And free. And respect. We can get work together. In genuine respect and goodwill for the freedom and well-being of all. Let us know never to never let our fear and distrust and anger call us to lucite. Better. Angels. Of our nature. Here and abroad. Let us roll up our collective sleeves and work by god. And building america. Free. Prosperous. Beautiful. For all. You call her.

uufvb_org

2014Feb02Sermon128.mp3

Over my long career ministry i've had my name in print many many times usually thanking me for something or something that i had to do with. It's always startling to see yourself in a national publication when you have. No knowledge of what they're going to say about you especially that happened to me in 1996 when trinity magazine when evangelical christians. We're writing about me and their national publication and bonnie is going to read. What they said about me and about. All of us. The reading this morning is from an article published in 1996 in trinity magazine. It's my dr. alan w gomez. And it has the rather improbable title. Unitarian universalists and the second law of theological thermodynamics. Colon. The rise of militant. Pluralism. I hope you all can figure that out. In the past 30 years we christians have virtually ignored the unitarian universalist association. Leaving it to spend its force and what they perceived to be random. Doctrinal chaos. Perhaps we felt this was a safe course. Since the uua was in steady decline. And was therefore seen as less threatening. Ben more virulent groups. Such as jehovah's witnesses. And mormons. Who were aggressively proselytizing. And reaping a harvest. Ab-soul's. The larger than some notorious and well-publicized. Call. The perceived threat was less. Because the uu way was not evangelistic. Keeping largely to itself. Much has changed. However. Dr. gomez right. And i believe that we christians can no longer ignore the uua. But uua has shed its passivity. And is now spreading it quote. Saving message. Unquote. With a vengeance quite literally. In its attempt to blunt the so-called religious right. We christians need to put this latest string of unitarian-universalism under the microscope. And formulate ways to inoculate. Against it. 4 years of the uu asu any mention of evangelism. Except in a derisive context. By their own admission. The words evangelism. And evangelist. Were virtual unitarian expletives. 4 evangelism what by nature was seen as inimical to the twin ideas of tolerance. And pluralism. Unitarian universalist were scrupulously careful to avoid proselytizing. Or seeking converse. In the traditional sense. However this laid-back approach has given way to systematic efforts. At outreach and growth. Which have new. At which have now become fashionable. Among a newer and more aggressive breed of you use. Leading the charge is the reverend scott alexander. Alexander. Alexander published salted with fire. A strategy guide that presents a militant program for expansion through evangelism. Do not all you use embrace alexander's approach. It does appear to have a high level of support. Even if resisted by traditionalist within the uu movement. The new evangelistic trust appears to be here to stay. If the demand for alexander's seminars and printed materials is any indication. Alexander has visited nearly half of the denominations 22 districts. And reports that he simply cannot keep up. With a clamor for his workshops. Fueling this new interest in outreach. Is it desire to counteract the so-called religious right. Alarmed by an increasingly conservative political climate. The so-called. But the uu evangelists. Feel they must blunt the religious rights attack. By presenting the uu alternative. Alexander state and here he quotes trevor alexander. The religious right has shown us how endangered our values are. How high are the stakes. We're realizing that if we don't stand up in the public square. And proclaim our beliefs. Our message will never be heard. Unquote. Alexander directly credits the activism of the religious right with instilling a quote. Renewed sense amongst unitarian universalist. That we have a unique. And valuable religious vision to offer others. Unquote. Alexander says that unitarians have a saving message. A message that he wants to broadcast as never before. Unfortunately. What do unitarian universalist cannot provide. A generation of hungry seekers. Is the one food. That will satisfy. That's the lord jesus christ. The living bread from heaven. May god cause mini in the uua to buy that food without price. Which only the triune god of scripture. Can supply. Here ends the morning reading. So as many of you i was delighted a few weeks ago on christmas morning when i opened the morning paper and saw us. On the choir and ice on the cover. With a message about jesus and what his life's message might mean to humanity today. Was featured on page one. The religion editor of the press journal wonderful young woman named desire marie de guzman. Like the heartfelt and inclusive christmas message i had written. And decided to share it with the paper's readers here on the treasure coast it went goes as you know to almost 60,000 household. Here is the core of that simple christian message i offered to the wider community that morning. I said weather. You're christian. Jewish muslim buddhist or atheist. The message of jesus is a profound one that we can all emphasise today what is that time of message. Love your neighbor. Share what you have with the poor feed the hungry howie's. The homeless visit the prisoner care for the vulnerable embrace the outcast visit the sick remember. That you are your brother's and sister's keeper and then i continued. What could be more spiritually important. In this fragile season of love and hope. Then keeping jesus and christmas by reaching out to those around us with love compassion gentleness and care and then i ended by reminding everyone. That the true work of christmas. Remains unfulfilled. Now i will fully admit. That i was very pleased to be afforded this positive public platform offered by the press journal. To share with everyone in our spiritually diverse community. This unitarian universalist perspective on the holiday. Whenever i have a chance to publicly express r+ uu values and perspectives. It strengthens our congregations reputation and standing in this community. And it brings wonderful visitors and newcomers to us. And although i should probably not have been i was i admit a bit surprised. When both the religion editor and i were publicly and privately criticized in the days that followed. By numerous local conservative christians who did not approve. Of my inclusive ethical message. Being shared on christmas morning. One angry letter letter to the editor written by grab greg stamps cross. Who is the pastor of the first church of god they built this building before they moved up to the highway. He's a local evengelical christian. He wrote this. I was appalled. By the december 25th article about the meaning of christmas i'm sorry he writes but jews muslims buddhist atheist and humanist. Have nothing in common with christians. On the central message of jesus christ. What i read in the newspaper is both insulting to the name of jesus and harmful to the loving message. That he wants the world to hear and that message of course that he wants them to hear. Is the human persons can only receive salvation meaning and purpose in life. When they accept jesus christ. As their personal lord and savior. Another letter writer accused us. Unitarian universalist as deceptive lee masquerading around as christians. When he quoted they are nothing of the sort. And another angry letter there were about a dozen of these in the paper i think most of you saw them. Another writer snorted it doesn't take a rhodes scholar to figure out that's featuring a unitarian universalist on christmas. Is about as smart as featuring a muslim on young yom kippur. Shame on you editors. What great logic these people use. And then just this past tuesday in a letter attacking the idea. That are part of jesus's message was human inclusivity acceptance in unity another writer said this. Jesus was never tolerant nor did he want his followers to be tolerant. Okay then. I got it. I must admit. That is thick as i think my ministerial skin is in public situations like this. I did feel a bit bullied in the days and weeks following christmas. I wouldn't portly point out that i said absolutely nothing in that christmas morning message of mine. That attacked or ridiculed or dismissed. Conservative christian theology. I did not pick a fight with anyone. I merely articulated the century-old unitarian universalist perspective. The jesus of nazareth was one of humanity's great moral and ethical teachers. Who's message of love. Compassion and justice is still relevant to all of humanity today. But alas at the unitarian universalist i was attacked. And the truth is dear friends i should not have been surprised. Spiders vehement christmas day reaction. Buy some conservative christians and i emphasize the word some. For not all evangelical christians are aggressively hostile. To other faiths. But i was none the last i shouldn't have been surprised for. That are prospective. Was attacked as it was shared. Indeed for the entirety of my 40-year ministerial career i have repeatedly bumped up against. Vociferous conservative christians who feel that they and they alone. Possess the truth about jesus and they alone have the key to unlock human salvation on purpose a on jesus and no one else can speak about him. Indeed very early in my career as a minister when i was just 24 years old serving a little. Struggling conjugation way up in northern maine for a moment of comic relief i thought i'd show you what i look like then. That is the young person. Ernest in the pulpit in 1975 what can i tell you it was cold in northern maine the beard help. In any case way back in 1975 and that's small isolated northern maine town it's a town called holton. There was a fervent. A fundamentalist christian minister his name was memorably pastor fred. Who was one spring. Devoting his weekly half-hour radio show on the only station we can listen to for no other signal reached houlton maine. He was using his weekly radio show on the only radio in town not to positively articulate and share his own christian faith. But rather to sequentially each week attack in the bronx. All the religious groups in town. Which a fundamentalist christian writer by the name of walter martin in this massive book called kingdom of the cults. Had determined work calls were illegitimate dangerous face. That must be rejected by all true christians. Pastor fred was simply working from this book. Reading and repeating the arguments found there. Using the local airwaves to attack and dismissed a variety of religious groups that have been there a very long time. The mormons. The jehovah's witnesses. The christian scientists the salvation army the baha'i is the buddhist the muslim. And yes the congregation icer. The first church of houlton unitarian universalist. Several members of my congregation which incidentally was the oldest gathered church in the northern half of maine. Having been founded with the town in 1811. My parishioners and other local citizens were troubled by these aggressive sectarian attack. And turned to me and asked me to do something about it. So never one to shy away from a fight i believe needed to be fought. After talking with some of the more tolerant clergy in town i asked for a meeting. With the manager of the radio station. I told him that many in town were upset by these unwarranted and prejudicial and inaccurate attacks. Are perfectly respectable faith communities that have long existed in town. And i asked him to get either to get pastor fred to stop these attacks. Or give each group being attacked equal time on his radio station to defend themself. The radio station immediately pleaded with pastor fred to cease and desist from these attacks. And when he refused well. They took him off the air. Now. The plot thickens. As i'm sure you can all imagine some in that conservative christian community in that town who shared pastor fred's fundamentalist and intolerant views. Went ballistic they called the whole affair holton gate. And accused me personally of censoring the word of god and being the agent of satan. Letters to the editor just likes here flew back and forth in the paper the paper was a weekly and the massive of paper was. The houlton pioneer times the only paper in the world that cares about houlton maine. And by god they were right in any case. Everywhere i went sermons were preached about it everywhere i went people talk to you about it it took months. For the controversy to settle down in the meantime. Several of the targeted religious groups in town quietly thank me for defending. The validity. And the acceptability of their faiths. But the controversy taught me a lesson by the way i just found out friday that. Pastor fred recently spent several years in maine state penitentiary for abusing children in his own congregation. Anyway that's kind of a sidebar. But the controversy taught me a lesson i've carried with me for the entirety of my ministry. And that lesson is at some religions most particularly fundamentalist and dogmatic ones. Are very afraid and hostile to faith perspective that differ from their own. I also learned that our free and inclusive faith unitarian universalism. Is often feared and targeted by these folks as disreputable and unworthy. Efface. And so the question i want to ask and hopefully quickly answer this morning is. Just what is it about our faith about uuism. The fundamentalist christian or otherwise are so afraid of. And why has happened here in vero beach after what i thought was a very mild-mannered christmas day message. Why do they feel the need to publicly refute and criticize our values. And our approach to religion. Let me begin to answer this by. Revisiting this morning's reading by dr. alice out alan gomez with bonnie red do us early at pretty much. Succinctly summarize the great spirit odyssey right the saving message of uuism. Is pluralism. A theology centered on tolerance. Independence and compassion. That's the problem. In other words. It is our openness and our diversity to whether whether it's people or perspectives that most most scares them it's the openness. Dr. gomez who teaches at talbot theological school of fundamentalist christian institution located in. La mirada california. Criticizes us as a religion not for the 7 principles. This book in the chapter in mind i'm in this book 2 by the way that's criticized. They they mentioned the principles but they don't have any criticism about them. If they don't argue with our liberal ethical moral social positions we take on marriage equality reproductive freedom and support for the poor. They don't even criticize us for our long history of progressive religious activism no. They attack us only for one thing our epistemology which is a fancy word for the open and inclusive way we do religion. This author attacks are bedrock uu commitment to pluralism. Diversity tolerance respect and inclusion. Simply put it as the open and inclusive way we do religion that most threatens the fundamentalist way of thinking. I quote him directly a notice please. Much to his credit that this author does get our faith correctly listen to what they say about us. I i take this by though he's meaning this as an indictment but i take this as a badge of honor he right. Unitarian universalist promote religious tolerance and pluralism as a virtue conversely they astrue religious exclusivism because they believe religious truth is not absolute. But relative and changing over time you use tolerate a wide variety of religious perspective. They believe all people should be tolerant of the religious ideas of others.. Unitarian universalist believe that no religion including their own has has exclusive possession of the truth. They believe all police ought to be honored and respected for the truth in them. They believe the following that the following of almost any religion. Can help a dedicated individual find a better and more meaningful life that can't be true. And then he refutes our approach calling it an ungodly approach to face. He right. God does not tolerate pluralism in religious belief there is only one true god the god of the bible the bible expresses condemnation of religious pluralism. The bible is qualitatively different from any other so-called sacred books and alone is the word of god. I'm strictly historical ground he's winding up now toward concluding. The bible is the most reliable book ever penned contrary to the you you claim the bible because it is god-breathed. Isn't infallible book without error the bible does not contain moral errors. In contradistinction to all other religions he concludes. Christianity is based on the authority of a person. The lord jesus christ. And then he ends as you think he might. Jesus christ is god's only. Way. Of salvation. Do fundamentalist christians correctly perceive. The threat which our tradition poses to their religious worldview. Were they are certain. There is only one path to truth and fulfillment. Stop being so accepting jesus christ. As your personal lord and savior. We believe. That religious truth and fulfillment can be found in many places. In many religious scriptures and in many spiritual traditions and perspectives. We in the free church. Also believe that spiritual and ethical truth. Rather than having been revealed once and for all in a single ancient bound of bound book of scripture. The truth. Ebbo spiritual and ethical can be found in many places in many traditions and writings ancient and modern. And can you evolve truth can and change and mature overtime. The whole point here is it because of our very. Different approach to matters of the spirit. Christian fundamentalist perceive us as a serious spiritual threat. And they. Ar. They see us as a threat. Because of our open. Pluralistic inclusive tolerant and fluid approach to religious truth. Is valid in any way. Then they're fixed dogmatic exclusive absolutist approach might be found wanting by people. Coralee just speakers. And so feeling that threat they come after us. They come after us. As they did following my christmas column here in vero. Challenging our liberal right to speak challenging our right to be heard in the religious marketplace. They tried to shut down the religious editor so she would never again publish something by me. So again it is a radically open and inclusive approach to religion. Fundamentalism of any fear. And therefore they challenge and attack all right. So i assume. You will appreciate understand this fundamental tension. Between religious. Fundamentalists and religious liberals between the clothes church. And the free church. And why they feel the need to so aggressively push back against us. When we receive any airtime. Or any respect. In the culture. If they don't their whole house of cards. May come falling down. As unitarian universalist living in a culture alongside of many conservative christians. We must expect. These criticisms. For our way of being religious. Why have i talked about all this this morning. On the sunday when we launched our annual stewardship campaign to raise the funds. Necessary to financially sustain this place. Well simply because among the many good reasons. We should generously support this growing congregation. Is the fact that this community vero beach. Needs a congregation. That speaks with a loud and clear and sure liberal and progressive voice. Yes. You should support uusc because it is a warm and caring and inclusive place. The gives you a place to feel safe and warm at home in the world and supports you wherever you are on your journey. And yes you should support you usb-b because here we feed and nourish your spirit with i hope meaningful worshiping uplifting music. And small-group ministry like the covenant group sunday. Book discussion groups are we deepen. Both are human connections and understanding. And yes. You should support uscb because here we work hard on behalf of social justice. And human dignity regularly reach out to those in our local community. And the wider world with compassion and concern and care and yes. You should support your uscb because here we share with our children. And our grandchildren our hopes and our dreams for the human family. And strive to pass on to them. The compassionate values and positive beliefs of our tradition. That will help them we pray lead lives their whole lives. Of decency and purpose and joy. And finally. You should support this place. And this has been my focus this morning. Because here. In this inclusive and diverse congregation. We uniquely make room for human difference. Welcoming and including many kinds of different people. With differing beliefs. And differing passion. And differing perspectives. Here in this unitarian universalist congregation we sincerely believe there can be. Many parallel and purposeful pads. To goodness and decency and joy. Mini pads to finding salvation whatever that means. To you. And we promise. We promise from the very core and said her and soul of this place. To make room for you and your understandings about how life works and how it should be made. Imma stewardship sunday i close by asking that you take a step up. As what he has already asked. And support this congregation for everything it stands for. Just as generously as you can. 4 among all these reasons to keep uusc be strong. It is very important very important. The treasure coast. Has a vibrant and healthy. Progressive congregation. A place of the open mind. And the generous heart. We are all 32. Grow just as we must and might. In the ways of decency enjoy and purpose. Even as together we work. To make this world. A sweeter. And better place. For all. Nice and mean to you this hour. May the love and the strength of our faith sustain us. In the days ahead for hours as a tradition of freedom and reason. Ours is a tradition of inclusion and care hours is a tradition. Of justice and compassion. Unitarian universalism has always been a source. Of healing and hope. For the world. Always. Biso. I meant.

uufvb_org

2010Jun13sermon128.mp3

uufvb_org

2010Aug01sermon128.mp3

uufvb_org

2015Jun07Sermon32.mp3

Congregation. We are the unitarian universalist. Spend a sunday morning. Where are friendly congregation. You come to us. We hope you will find out. And to your well-being. Kindle vitalis flame. Wijnaldum. The world. Overpower the week. Honored. The cunning. Simple. A die-hard. New york. That i could attend spring training games. Curtis granderson. A black baseball player. Is presently a second-year. New york mets. He continues to be engaged with kids from his hometown in chicago. Giving money for. Baseball fields. He continues his philanthropy. With kids. New york city. When he sponsored his trip. Lincoln high school. You know jackie robinson. Major league baseball player. The kids from the high school to see this documentary called 42. Robinson's number. Which has been retired and. Worn by every baseball player on the anniversary of his. Granderson hurd. That one kid with her mother. In word meant. Reminder. Of where we are. Where we were. And where we still. Story. About alive. I want to tell you my story. About 45 years. The lesbian gay bisexual transgender queer. Movement. It's my life. 45 years ago. We never would have used the word queer. Lesbian gay bisexual transgender queer. Has been celebrated in june since about 1970. One year after. Stonewall riots. Will never know. In new york city. Finally fart. During yet another police raid. 28 1969. But they fought hard for three days and nights. Demonstrations. To be the birth. Of the modern gay-rights movement. All over the country. To commemorate the stonewall riots. And today more more people take to the streets all over the world. Celebrate. Pride month. End. Countrywide votes. Legalize same-sex marriages. From the northeast as i am new jersey. New york. Parade in new york city in june. Gay pride parade. And then. No. Group. Martinez parade. In varying stages of dress. There were bands. Parade could equal the macy's day parade. There were float so it was dumb. Parade. Our chance. Went from. What do you want. Equal rights. When do you want it. What do you want. When do you want it. There's still so much work to do. Especially since we have the congress that we do today. Given the makeup of that body that has no intention. Set all of us deserve. Whether you are a retail clerk. Mechanic oral surgeon. If you're gay lesbian bisexual or transgender. You shouldn't be forced to stay in the closet. For fear of losing your job. Put in 29 states including florida. Lesbian gay bisexual and transgender. They are lesbian gay or bisexual. People can be fired just because they're transgender. Completely unrelated to their work. And even though marriage same-sex marriage is now legal in florida other laws leave a lot. Germination continues. Employment discrimination. Legislation. We used to make a joke. Which wasn't really funny. Lesbianism considered to be an illness. For more than three years probably closer to 5. Congress. The employment non-discrimination act. Which would ban workplace discrimination. Based on the quality of their work. And then there's. Carolina. Charles worley who gave a sermon not all that long ago. Asian lesbians. Should be fenced in and left to die off. What is it with. North carolina. There's another one. You should be a show signs of being gay. All the stories we hear about teenagers facing bullying and worse. Worries about the future the pressure of school and stress of peer relationships. Lesbian gay bisexual and transgender. Added burden. Of being twice as likely as their peers. Verbally and physically harassed according to. The human rights. The human rights campaign's. Latest survey of lesbian and gay use. Created. Our own communities. Where we can be proud. And recently. There has been. Our stories. Hope. Will get better for them. Stories from. Youtube. You know that teenagers know about youtube. 41 years ago. 1974. Member of the national organization for women of new jersey. New jersey conferences in that year there was a workshop. Something like that. It was sort of like the stealth bomber. No one could really tell where it was. This workshop over here. Has been called the albatross around the neck of the women's movement how many of you remember that. God forbid. That workshop by the way. Was a hit. I remember hearing stories. From women. Who would come out as lesbians. Losing their children in divorce court. As unfit mothers. Remember when. To prevent the loss of jobs. There's no way i was going to come out. There there. In 1976. The first. Michigan. Women's music festival. In michigan. 3000. An ongoing event this year although this year will be the last. Community. Created by and for women. In michigan. The festival published. One of the beauties in challenges are. Of our community is its diversity. We create a village each year made up of women from other countries. Different cultures. Religious heritage's. Each and everyone of us creates the community feeling that we all value so much. It's not something that the festival provides. It does provide a fertile ground for community to grow. Probably the most important. To michigan. It's a commitment to help and create a caring and loving. Women's community. Common commitment combined with our diverse mixture of life experience. Background culture. Ability and races what. Create community. Bringing women together from around the world. I will never forget it. I do remember however people. Questioning in even. Women's community. Listen. Play race. Would later give voice to another appeal. Motivating women to return to this festival. Michigan. Inexperience of safety. That is not available. Anytime anywhere. And what does that mean. It means that she achieved a level of relaxation. Never experienced before. Free. Free. The first time in her life. But i daresay. It continues. Tubi. So even though this is the last year the festival the organizers sighting. Life cycles of things like this and change and so on. Over 40 years. Michigan music festival. Was a life. Favored in the life giver. 40 years ago. No one was certain how to come out to their families and friends. The family might disown them. The friends might turn their backs. Would throw them out. Younger generations tend to say. What's the big deal. Good for you. Some of my friends are. Generational. 40 years later. The same 40 years ago. Unitarian universalist association. At the general assembly. In 1974. Directions to uua board. Install. An office for gay concerns. Because just in 1970. A resolution has been passed. Urging the end of discrimination. Against homosexuals. Remember churches were urge to help. Lesbian. Settlement. The first. National coming out day. I think they want to change. The first verse in genesis. There was. Darkness. Beginning. 11th 1987. Chameleon. For lesbian and gay rights. This was the second such demonstration in the capital. The first display. Of the names project quilt. Remember that. Remember the name. What's the names of people who have died from aids. People from all over the country has made. Bad momentum continues for months after the march of more than 100. Around the country came up with the idea. Anniversary of that second march on washington to market. 28 years after that first. Coming out. Story after story. Committing suicide. And tortured. For being gay. Heartbreaking stories that make me wonder. Who is. From the new york times. A few years ago. It does get better. Message. Breaking rash. A recent suicides by gay teenagers. Which invites. To tell stories about having. Videos lesbians and gay men bare their souls. And make that simple promise. Better. You'll feel better when you're not hiding who you are. Listen to. Jenner. About what it was like. To hide. Where does this come from. Hatred. So much evil. Directed towards. Transgender. Of the mostly. Conservative christian. Creatures. Ministers to move away from a literal reading of the bible. .. In a responsible. Overtime. Because the boys. Young and older. God hates them. The second-highest leader in the mormon church. Chameleon. Is impure. Can be overcome. Union. Wrong. Do we need more proof. We cannot stay silent. The mormon church hierarchy and others. I've literally risks the lives of children by their tormentors. Broadcast. Packers dead. Same-sex unions are against. To support. Marriage bands. Like proposition 8. Largely by mormons. It makes me physically sick. Just think about how many lesbian gay bisexual and transgender kids. I just sit in those two. Venom. Obviously. Estranged. And i continue to look at ireland. For that change. The catholic church. To vote what was in their hearts and in the hearts of their friends and families and. Packers. Are exactly what makes. But suicide. Community. Living openly. But even god. To be overcome. These lies. The harassment the violence. Play hazard schools. Unitarian universalism. Cuu message. Over and over again by science and by the spiritual experience of americans who know that. We know that sexual orientation cannot. And the two people falling in love. Beautiful. Rick santorum. Republicans. If the supreme court legalizes same-sex marriage. Oh i can't wait. Roommate. My senior year with whom i fell in love. Karen. What in the world. It was not for a couple more years that i was able to get. Through the struggle of identifying myself to myself. Cultural universal difference. And everywhere i turned. Literature called. Drew university library thank goodness for those methodist. It was called. Is a collection of essays. What's my first salvation. Second salvation most unitarian universalist. I mentioned the national organization for women. Task force of which i was chair for about 8 years give or take. My award. Politically i was successful. Instrumental in getting the first assembly. Orientation. New jersey civil rights bill. With my family however i was much. So. The first came out to them in the early seventies my sister was studying. Psychology. Text books that were printed before. The american psychological and psychiatric association. I've removed homosexuality illness. Can you see it. Sister running to mom was a textbook. Mother offered money for a psychiatrist. The women's movement was the only support i had. Discovered unitarian-universalism. Play 1985. Plainfield new jersey. Because guess who is the minister in plainfield. In 1980s. Your friend and mine. Sears between the 70s and into the 90s with my family were full of arguments. Angry silences on. With my father being the only one. Venture to say that. I am who i am. Time i met someone who i treated as my mother had begun to come around. Had begun. To come around. 1989. Discovered unitarian-universalism. Enjoying this because it had a wonderful choir. Put in 1989 that church begin the work of becoming a welcoming congregation. And guess who wrote. Once again. Unitarian universalist association had begun working. Mini. Lesbian gay bisexual transgender folks did not feel welcome. In their own congregations. Congregation program. Was a long process of workshops. Which under trucks the difficult task. Changing people's attitudes. Introspective. Homosexuality and homophobia. Trying to change things that our culture has instilled in all of us. People in congregations express feelings of exhilaration. Straight people alike. What they had learned about each other stories. I had a t-shirt at the time. It said. My congregation last with me. This congregation. Congregation. You know what's not perfect. This program. We unitarian-universalist have not obliterated. Homophobia. Congregation. What is this something to honor and be proud of. And it has saved. Countless. Lesbian gay bisexual transgender people. Where we can all grow. Spiritually. The existence of unitarian universalist churches. Take for granted. And by the time i got to seminary andover newton to a logical school in 1994. A spell to us. Uu student. German. Heritage. That inspires us from the stories that we do here. Daily. We face situations every day. That demands courage. Do we know that week. We'll have capacious reserves of courage. The war against sexism. Racism. Homophobia. Economic justice. Destroyers. Of human life. Continues. Sometimes without our even being aware or clear about the nature of the battlegrounds. What might still be required of us. Right here right now. Mercy more fully. Walking more humbly. Together. Will we do what has to be done. If you haven't thought about it before. I submit to you. Unitarian universalism. Offers us a chance to save the world. We can do what has to be done. In the world. There is a pressing need. For faith that aspires to diminish is not quench the fires of hell. During its existence. Because he'll exist to know. Right here. Fridge and everyone of us it's a little different. Hell. To come out. Whether that is on the streets in baltimore st louis. Individual life. Universalism has never invited the easy path. Here. Dealing. Surround our lives. We stand for love. We stand on the side of love. We stand against. The right place. God promises to hang in there with the complexities and the cruelties of the human existence. Promise not to give up. Lesbian. Great. But you keep struggling. In our broken world for the inclusion of all. Define peaceful solution. Will prevail over hatred. And depression. In all of its forms. Unitarian universalism refuses to give up on people. Refuses to give up on the world. Brother affirming in promoting. The inherent worth and dignity of every person to the interdependent web. Which we are all a part our guides. Interquest. Dignity. We will need every ounce of courage. By our fathers. A mother. Our forebears. Be grateful. For them. Celebrate. The diversity of contributions and talent. We shall overcome hatred. And prejudice. And depression. Another. We shall overcome. We shall overcome the wrong. And that commitment to overcome. Commitment. To be courageous.

uufvb_org

2011Aug28Sermon32.mp3

A few years ago i passed the church on malabar road while i was driving to michigan. And it had a sign in front of it. Proclaim. Under the same management. For 2,000 years. I assume congregation took pride in the longevity of its philosophy. Obligation. Unspiritual presumption. We're possibly they only intended to say that they had marched under the same figurehead. For two millennia. And then i recalled something. What are this country's leading management consultants told me once a long time ago. More often than not. The troubles resetting the companies that had needed his advice and help. We're in trouble simply because management had remained so constrained by their own tradition. And policy. The three operations no longer functions effectively. In a changing society. I have watched the recent unfolding of our nations and the world financial. Industrial. And political confusion. And wonder. Whether we have been so beset because. We have cloned. 2. Superficial ways and ideas. That about lasted. Their effectiveness. Put another way. Something is wrong. Terribly wrong. When we notice and even admit that some of the old ways are failing. And yet we cling to them. In hopes a little duct tape. We'll make things right. Maybe it is a human nature. The cling. Did the pride and true. Seemingly. When the roof is caving in. Remind bankers and investment houses more interested in making profits than serving their public. We have under trees that redesign and then pronounce proudly. But they have increased fuel efficiency by 2 more miles per gallon. When the world needed changes that are orders of magnitude greater than that. How can i company take pride. In offering say 40 miles per gallon cars. What a few years ago teams of international engineering students spend a summer. Trying to design a vehicle that could attain speeds of at least 80 mph. Willie mileage level equivalent to at least 300. Miles per gallon. And several of the teams. Accomplish. That targeted goal. I know i will not totally ignore politics in this presentation. We're almost nothing is more fiercely bound by tradition than is politics. And our whole political process. Pepper oliver design when the fastest mode of communication was a horse. And it doesn't matter whether everyone voted on the same day. Or even the same week. In those days people in one state may well have know little or nothing. About the thinking of those in another state. Which meant that the some extent that please. Candidates were freer to be themselves. Instead of just called. In a political machine. Did those good old days westerners had no idea. What is news were saying with their boat. Now. Westerners can do even before they decide the boat. Just wear the national trend. Is going. Communication. Has train. No i will not get involved in the traditions of politics here but to ignore them entirely. The commentary on the tyranny of tradition. Would be both cowardly. And blatantly. Misleading. Raptors is enough to say that our political traditions maybe some of the most restrictive predictions of all. And unfortunately. They can probably only be changed by acts of those whose personal and professional security. Are most profoundly protective. By the very traditions. The most need to be reviewed. And possibly revised. It may also be unwise to include religious tradition. In this presentation. But i fail to see much point in leaving out some of the historically most. Irresponsibly complaining prediction. Mobile. It may be safe to go way back to the time when most people could not read. And indeed books2read were hard to find. Do include the flock in any religious enterprise almost required. An intermediary. Someone to interpret the word in what is a philosophical ignorant population. Could understand. Intense. Which it could respond. Effectively it was a time when many religious traditions were born. In the last many of them persist. Today. Which leads this former educator to wonder just how effective we can honestly believe. Our vaunted educational system has proven. Tubi. How does that final line in one of our hymns go. We believe this even to question. Is an answer. For questioning is perhaps the only possible attitude. To the turn that many religious traditions have imposed. Obama's. Born out of ages past. Perpetuated through years of inadequate or even non-existent education. And skillfully foisted on the public by mostly very serious and well-intentioned advocate. Who made himself. Never have dared honestly to question. After which they have console strongly. And yes. So respectful. You asked for evidence. Read the letters. To the other page. In any newspaper. All this was turning in my head cuz i sat beside my lake in michigan a few years ago by the way. This started few years ago. I thought of an old cartoon it made its rounds at mit when that institution was focused so heavily. On war-related work. In the 1940s. Young students had an ideal. Blue notary stamp. The next brandy told an expert who said. It will work. The next brandtotal professor you said. It can't be done. Animal a sprain he told another student who said. Let's get started. Was that a message. The mit faculty. Implying that the young may have one advantage over their elders. They have fewer tradition. The oldham back. Now don't get me wrong. Tradition is not necessarily that. Or it can be a powerful blue depose family and group. And yes even nations together. Traditions can provide a powerful sense of security. Connectedness. Enterprise. But they can be frightening lee constraining and devices. And nowhere has that been more insidious in my mind than the fictions among different religious systems. Like a reminder for the almost continuous conflict so often ending an all-out war. That existed for so many centuries. And are still looked upon as being a viable solution. The religious. Differences. This summer i reread victor hugo's les miserables and one brief paragraph caught my attention. And i quote. What are music wondrous masterpiece of combination. Which might is the result of an enormous sum total. Weakness. Explain a war waged by humanity against humanity in the spike. Humana. We do not see what danger there is. In attempting to kill an idea. By military might. And of course. Armando soul-destroying the eero we in the west call. The dark ages. The east. Was in it golden state. One of the prime differences between the west and the east at that time. Was italy in the westward control to a large extent. By religious traditions that were effectively xclusive. Rather than influences. Devices. Rather than. Call pizza. Note that in 1492 their imperial majesties was paying drove all easterners out of that country. Newport centre. Nothing of any real consequence in this science and mathematics italy. Came out. Yeast golden age. Was not do so much to the new religion. As it was to the new religions initial. Religious. Power. Era of the ascendancy of what we often call arabic science and mathematics. Was not so much the presence of muslim scholarship. As it was a muslim power. Unacceptable. Least a modicum. A religious diversity. All that was required was a belief in one god. By whatever name. The result was that many jews christians and members of other religious sects were not only accepted. They were encouraged. And honor. For their scholarship. There were of course penalty. For being a non-muslim. You paid higher taxes. But the result was a period of almost unequal growth. In the natural sciences geography. And mathematics. A some centuries arabic was the primary language of intellectual exchange. Around the world. In time the east to. Succumb to exclusive policies and not eastern golden age. Team tunein. But thanks in part to the islamic tradition of reverence for books by whatever authorship. The great arabic libraries in italy and spain help. The western world. Return to oz. Golden age of its own. And yet. And yet. It is taking some four or more centuries. 41 old largely western tradition. The fully recognized the genius of an old man. 9 galileo. Tradition. Former educator how can i fail the suggested many of our. Traditions in education. No serve more to inhibitor. Then to improve. Our educational goal. Most of our educational calendars are still based on the needs of an agricultural society. That no longer exist. Our society has more mobile now than then. And more and more often neither one school norwin town norway even one state. Provide a child's pole. Education. Yet we insist. Primarily. Local. Control. We require less from our students than almost any other. Industrially. Development. Nation. We are coarser proud. Or educational system. Justifiably so in my mind. But there is some evidence. Set by various measures are students reside close to the bottle. When compared with students. From around the world. Here by the way i'm referring. Not too. University-level students. But those of the lower level. No i take this kind of evidence with considerable grain of salt and i hope you do too. But admit those claims give me. Sirius pause. Something. It's just not. Right. But it could be. The multi-billion-dollar a year. Disaster. Animation. We are more closely bound way whole world society than ever before. And yet it seems less and less. About the world. Did many of our schools. Tablet technology is taking up some of the educational burger. But that same technology. Continuously provide per pound. Thank. I wish i could feel confident. But my profession has either the courage or the incentive. To review its tradition. Will night removing unnecessary constraints. Inspired by its own. Enhancement. The nursing. I hope all this suggest the both we as individuals and we as a community. Need to keep reminding ourselves that the times they are. Exchanging. The clinging to firmly to tradition can have tragically serious consequence. I am not a theologian gordon historian. When i suggested to many traditions entice us to close doors to protect and preserve. Rather than to open doors. To explore and expand. Well that's nowhere is this tendency more and trenching. Then the areas i've been exploring politics. Religion. Education students. It is this fanatic cleaning tradition that i have called here the tyranny. Tradition. But of course there is much of life and the human condition that persist throughout centuries even millennia. And there are universal birdies that should be cherished and protect. Injustice clinging to what is good. And universal. Unfamiliar is itself course. A tradition. And yes just clinging to what is good is a tradition. We should hold on to. Very strong. But this does not diminish the need. You take care unless we persisted ways that insult. True potential. Inherent in human kind. Surely we should have recognized that some of our past efforts have failed. So why do we repeat. Sometimes over and over. And over again. We're obsessed with terrorists these days and resort support even to open warfare. In our efforts. Terrorism. And yet we continue this in the face of overwhelming historical evidence. The tanger and acts of revenge accomplished. Other than to encourage. Anger. And revenge. In return. Clearly we as a civilization have paid little attention. To the victor hugo's of the world are we still live with traditions of revenge. Organize divisiveness. A clinging to waze's have failed. And these are all. Examples. What prediction. Golden buzzer. But even as societal changes have taken place that render some traditions almost ludicrous. Something else has been taking place as well. The death of our understanding in the breadth of our opportunities have changed dramatically. We need no longer be bound as we once were by superstition. An almost universal ignorance. No we live in an age of almost unlimited access to information. Although we have not yet begun to figure out how effectively. To identify that which is true. From that which is full. That witchy dumpling. From that which is not. The whole gilbert and sullivan genre. Is based on the societal computer. Set a reminder when fiction is taken perfect. A sun. Leave the beast. A wand reviews. In their own words. Gilbert and sullivan. Things are seldom. What they seem skim milk. Masquerades as cream. And that pretty much to find what i think. Those debates. Between candidates. When all we learn is which candidate can tell a truth. A half-truth. And an untruth. With greater. Believability. Unfortunately in our electronic age of opinion easily masquerades as fact. And we rarely consider the potential consequences. Accepting. Fancy as fact. We left with gilbert and sullivan what we should not be loving. Are our souls now. Literally the whole world is now at almost everyone's fingertips but the human brain has not so rapidly evolved. In this capacity or willingness. Look at information with sirius. Discrimination. We have wonderful new opportunities to move ahead to work together for common goods and come and go. You know many of us. Refuse to open our minds. Congrats. New opportunity. Weather in general we have taken full advantage of the new literacy and the new technology. That remains to be seen. But what i hope turn up the yard. Is the moving ahead together in our humanity will be more likely to happen. If we can still consider the extent to which some of our traditions. Ochoa's close not only doors. But also are mine. There have been more or less deploring the potential constraints in herndon tradition when i find myself in a religious community. That is steep. Introduce. We're so proud of our traditions and principles that we list some of them on the walls of our lobby. And it is our tradition. The turn to them whenever we look for territorial. Or moral. We're social guidance. And that old bond of union i use for our opening words this morning included the phrase never-ending search for truth. Never ending. Search. Is one of our tradition. Wanderer just not to stand blended content. But the look. Oh and to reach forward. Forever greater understanding. Wisdom. Opportunity. We're service. There's a robert frost poem taking the road less traveled by 10 mate. All the difference. And i think that is precisely. What unitarian universalists are doing. We are taking a road less traveled. Because instead of clinging to our past. We are searching for the road that these new places. New understanding. New opportunities. New obligations. And yes. New reward. In short. Our traditions encourages to dream. Reach out. And then to commit. Ourself. These are traditions that do not close doors. They open doors. Which means i cannot confide. Because they quite literally. Set us. Free. I firmly believe. Show me a pic.

uufvb_org

2013Jan20Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. And welcome on this martin luther king sunday the 1st. That was to say first unitarian universalist church that's not. Unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach. It's beautiful day when everything has been washed fresh. But the rain. We are glad you've chosen to be with us this morning. Please know you're welcome. 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're 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 are and all of your particularity and charm. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. And then you will find something here. The nurse is your spirit. And feed your soul and gives you a nude energy purpose. For the living of life in the days and weeks ahead. Guidelines to follow. Preach good news to the poor. Liberty to set at liberty them. You see the church is not a social club. The church is not an entertainment center. The church has a purpose. The church is dealing with altima. Concern. Sunday after sunday. Week after week people come to church. With broken heart. They need a word of hope the church. Heels. Broke. Circulate the role of the church is to free people. People who were slaves to prejudice. Slaves. To fear. The church is called to set free. Those who are captive. To set free those that are victims of slavery of segregation. And discrimination. And those caught up in the slavery. Fear. And prejudice. These guidelines. And if only follow the guidelines. We will be doing with the church is called to do we won't be a little social club. We won't be a little entertainment center. But will be about the serious business of bringing god's kingdom. To this earth. The following meditation is by. Reverend richard gilbert. One of our senior ministers. And one of our prolific. Writers. Following this spoken meditation we will have. Several moments of quiet silent meditation. Be silent. Be still. Serene in this house of the spirit. Put aside all noises that annoy. All sounds that are at 8. The cacophony that confirmed. Here you are at home. Leave behind all the frustrations that the little the causes the that fred. The troubles that torment. Here. You can be at rest. Put away all the plans to be to be done. Here. You are at peace. Breathe deeply. Clear the mind of all cluttered thoughts. Courage the spirit of all unkindness. Rinse the soul clean and pure. Here you are at home. Easy and be at rest. Feel your body recover its resilience. Your mind it's bearing. Your spirit its strength. Once again we have come home to the stores. We feel the collective power of our companions. The warmth of their welcome. The support of their caring. We who have been wanderers groping for something we know not what. Are again at home. Here is the place for us. We are at home in this sanctuary. And with these people. We are at home on this globe. And was all who dwell upon it. We are at home in this kozma. Are home for all times past. And all time. We are at home. Here. This morning. I continue my sermon series. Seven virtues in the seven. Deadly sins it's a seasonal sermon series which will end by may. Samsung virtues identify many centuries ago by the early christian church. And we're doing today the second installment on patience and anger. Spell doubtful last week in my introduction to the series and in the morning. I think there's a creative. Spiritual emotional and moral tension. Between the virtues and the sims. Quite frequently in our living the sims aren't all that simple. And the virtues aren't all that virtuous. And in the lies we really leave the virtue in the sand kenny gets blended into a. Well in double psalm of what is it supposed to. Some stark contrast. The church fathers obviously wanted us to. Astrue the sims. Live completely virtuous lives but. I think in real life. The story is more blended. And these. These virtues and the sins are interwoven. And in a dynamic. Jeff amor. I'm hoping in the over the course of the series that will gain no more. Nuanced and realistic understanding of what it means to be human. So let's move to the second. A point here. The oppositional virtue and vice pair with the church fathers identified. Patience and angle but i first want to tackle the complexities. And the ambiguities of anger. What's the early church fathers labeled a deadly sin to be scrupulously avoided. Before i go to the virtue of patience. What the church fathers were warning us about obviously. Was not anger per say. Extreme anger or. Wrath what is called rat. Wrath is the sin. A1 commentator to find wrath this way. Extreme anger. Rage hatred or the need for vengeance. Or revenge. People who suffer with wrath wrath issues. Resort to taking the law into their own hands. If they feel the justice system has failed them. To see the need of wrath. They may even turned abusive themselves or others murder. Or even. Genocide. And then this commentator ranzratte. Usually isn't need to do harm to others. Dante described wrath as. Justice perverted. The revenge. And spice. And dante in his metaphorical allegory the infernal that great book. The wrathful. 5th circle of hell. Where the wrathful r4. For all eternity. The ruthlessly attack one another. That's his hell for the wrathful. Another author don schwager puts the pernicious power of wrath or uncontrolled anger a bit differently. Anger is evil. If it is allowed to get out of control or in control of us. The deadly vice of anger. Is an in moderate desire for revenge. Intemperate anger things like blind wrath bitterness of spirit. And revengeful resentment is sinful. These two vengeful actions that are disproportionate. To the injury suffered. Anger with breaks all bounds. Yams. And disrupts the order of reason. Is evil. Editor's tim. No i hope and trust that it is self-evident to everyone here in this room right now. The pretty much all forms and expression of wrath which is again unchecked. Uncontrolled unjust and vengeful anger. All such expressions are dangerous. And harmful to us as persons both in our personal. And our public lives. Truly nolen. Will attempt to defend extreme irrational and unwarranted anger. Which leads almost always to unwarranted you and harm. And i'm guessing that despite all of our efforts. Each of us to control our angry impulses. Most likely every last one of us in the wrote this room cannot recall at least a few time. In our lifetime. When we personally have been so angry. At someone or something. To be at the point ourselves. A dangerous or destructive. We all know that anger once it's given full blossom in our heart. Can be a very hard thing. To check. Or modulate or control so wrath. Is an interpersonal sin that must be avoided at all costs. What about righteous. Or appropriate anger. What about the natural and understandable and hopefully controlled anger we feel. When someone or something seems to unjustly harm or disregard. Or diminish us as persons. It is appropriate again. Either in the private sphere of our life with family or friends or in the public sphere of our lives. With neighbors community of nations to feel and express anger. When we gone kindly and unjustly treated. During the civil rights movement. Did martin luther king help. There was a great deal of righteous anger. Appropriate anger on the part. Of minorities were being crushed. By the dominant white society. I do not believe for example it is evil or sinful. To feel anger and minicon. Like. How to close family member or dear friend who breaks their vow or their promise to you. Or a neighbor say with a constantly barking dog or loud. Rock music. Blaring from their home late at night. Selfishly disregarding your needs and comfort. Or worse still went. Some. Stranger in a quiet town so far off in connecticut. Lashes out and kills 20. Children and their teachers. Absolutely no reason we feel anger. Enter outrage at the evil of this rat. Or. When a nation slaughters its own people. As is happening today sadly and syria. Or another nation practices genocide or aggression against the neighboring nation we naturally feel outrage. In all these cases and so many more in the course of our human lives and interactions. We will indeed should have anger toward those. To whom we are persuaded are acting with selfishness unkindness disregard or just plain evil. Again author don swagger. Anger. In the good sense. Is a natural human reaction to obstacle. It is meant to mobilize us for accomplishing things that demand effort and to equip us. To fight through obstacles. What is right and good. Anger can lead to either good or evil. Anchor. Is morally good or righteous. If it is directed against wrongdoing and is expressed under the control of reason and will. And then. Mike warren gregory the great. Reason opposes the evil more effectively. When anger ministers. At her side. Let me if i might give one example of a morally good. Righteously appropriate anger right now. As a citizen of this land i am outraged and angered by american gun manufacturer. And their lobbying wing the national rifle. Who is jordy of funding comes not from. Gun owners but from the manufacturers for pushing weapons on this country. Beyond all reason. I am angry. For their total resistance. Backup by millions of dollars to any sensible gun control measures. In the face of all the recent assault weapons mass murders. America's had to recently into our my anger. Over what i believe is the sheer insanity. And inhumanity of american gun policy. Has motivated me to speak up hopefully with many of you in the public arena. And bring an end to some of this madness. And demand much tighter gun-control. Specifically much more limited access. To assault weapons and their. Maximum cartridge. I have little or no patience. For the arguments of the nra and their benefactors the gun manufacturers. Make against any number of sensible moderate gun control proposals in fact. I believe they are totally morally bankrupt. So my anger which i feel is both and i feel it is appropriate and measured in under the control of my reason i'm not going. To assault. The nra building. In virginia with an assault weapon. Can serve me dare i say. For the future well-being of all the people of our land. If i allow this anger to guide my actions and involvement in the. Crucial. Social policy issues inappropriate. Waze controlled by my reason. This anger. Is a. Sacred. A good. Sing. For it speaks out against what i regard. Tubidy. Zacian. And wrongdoing. So. While unreasonable and unrestrained anger wrath. Clearly a destructive device. Weather in your private life or your public life. Appropriate modulated anger whether it's in our private life on our public life. Appropriate modulated anger when we've been unjustly wrong or abused and diminished can be and empowering virtue. The helps us both. And the world to find a way to that. Good. True and right. Shifting the discussion if i made to a more personal level for a moment. Dispositive inappropriate side of anger letting anger lead us to what is right and healthy. Unfair. Is one that i at least did not have regularly modeled for me. In the wisconsin home in which i grew up. These are my parents. Wendell on the left and marcia on the right this picture was taken. In 1963. When i was 14 years old now my mother. And don't forget she not only had to live with the testosterone quirkiness of my father. But the testosterone of for boys. My mother knew how to get angry and she knew how to express it. Now don't get me wrong she was by no means a wrathful or toxic parent. When she was irritated or disappointed or hurt by one or more of us. All the males in the household. But my father on the other hand. The one who i guess modeled for me how to be a man. My father was totally and systematically anger averse. He did not like other people's anger. And even more powerfully he did not like his own. In the more than 35 years i lived and loved my father lived with him. Prematurely died at the age of just 68. In those 35 years i was with him i only saw him angry. Once. The incident seems laughably absurd now but at the time it made. Quite an impression on me because my father. Was an expert in keeping his anger. I think i was around twelve years old and my three brothers and i had set up our croquet set. For game at our lake cottage on lake michigan we put it away my father came to look at it. My father was a duke trained engineer he noticed the two of those little wire hoops for missing. And when he asks about the wizard of oz we don't know where they are and. All of a sudden he picked up the whole set was this big brush pile near the place where we store them. Flying into this six-foot hole deep full of brush and brambles. We just all looked at him what the hell is this. Well so i spent the next hour and a half digging through the brush pile pulling out all these pieces of the croquet set finding the two missing. I've never seen anything like this rafi. My father. Over to croquet. For god's sake. Most of the time the way my father my. Email emotional role-model express his anger. What psychologists call being passive-aggressive. When he was mad at my mother or one of us boys he would launch into one of his famous 24-hour pelts. Which way would basically give us the silent treatment. Rather than honestly and forthrightly expressing and processing is anger with us. He just shut down and going to prolong pout. Show me alexander household when my dad shut down we often had what my other friend of mine who grew up in a similar midwestern household called. The quiet. That wasn't peace. The client. That wasn't. One american psychologist says the main sound she associated with the british family was that of doors being banged inside. Where is the main sound she associated with the american family was that of cars being driven away. An observation which caused henry farley to write. The american family seem sometimes to try too hard. To bypass anger. And this may well be a reason why in the wider society. We're adults deal with adults there's occasionally such. Inexplicable. And destructive outbursts. Or eruptions. Avenger like those crazy outburst. Called road rage. Which are not so common here in my experience. Back in washington around the beltway. The child finally goes on. The child needs to learn not only how to control its anger. But how to sometimes. Anger needs a safety valve he right. Before it accumulates and it lasts breaks out and causes the devastation of which it is capable. Need a reminder on all these tragic. Shootings. Schools. These kids killing each other. In almost every case. In almost every case. We find out. But the child had. Bottled up. Press the anger. In dante's allegory the inferno. Those who are angry who do not express it. Dante calls the sullen. Like my father. They are also in the fifth circle of hell with the wrathful. But unlike the wrathful who have to rip each other apart all the time. Calling. I doomed for all eternity to stew together beneath the surface of. You had a lovely way. they do. In any case my father. Fiercely resisted talking about our processing his anger and resentment. Choosing for whatever psychological reasons to keep them. Doing and stirring quietly within eating away at his own well-being. Laid in my life after his two massive heart attack. Is 5 bypass. And some psychological therapy dad told us boys in a rare. Confessional moment. But he was convinced his heart attacks were in fact in large part due to his inability. The process is anger. At home. And that work. And regretted that he never learned how to forthrightly process or express or process. These negative emotion. Before they took their toll on him he said it was poised i hope you. Process your anger better. That i could have. 8-24-24. I must tell you that because of the emotional dynamics of my childhood home wonderful as they generally where my parents were grateful. I've spent a lifetime. Trying to work my way into right relationship with my own anger and resentment. Simply put i did not learn from my parents. Especially my father. How to work with anger in my life. Just this week i had somebody mad at me and i instantly. Didn't like it i'm a reverse i'm angry averse to other people. Andaman coronavirus. To my own. Like most psychologists who have written on this issue. I'm persuaded that anger if not acknowledged process and handled an honest measured and loving ways. Can play a terribly destructive role in our lives and dust become. Not only physically. And psychologically dangerous but spiritual. Hazardous well. If you don't get rid of your anger it fills up halfway. Your psychic space. Or three-quarters of your psychic space. Anger takes up room that could be used for love. Or for service or for other things anger. Robs you of essential. Psychic. Room you all know this is. And that's why i arrive at the most important thing i want to say about anger. Seems imperative. Then we think about our spiritual and emotional health. Human beings. We not regarding. Something. Sinful. To be avoided or denied or squelch. Steered. Yes. Ralph is no good. But anger. That we experienced in the normal course of life and relationships when we feel we've been hurt or disregarded or wrong. Is austin a good and natural thing and helps us to process the stuff with people. And get to a better place. So angry it seems to me. Can either be a virtue or a vice virtual it's process advice when it just becomes red. But let's look at the other side of the emotional equation patients. And forbearance. With the early church fathers said was the heavenly virtue. That offset the sound of anger and wrath. Surely no one will disagree with don schwager when he speaks. Positively of the virtue of patience i quote him. The virtue of forbearance. Meekness patience. Moderate anger and its disorderly effects. It does this by controlling the passion of anger. And by not letting one sanger to be aroused over trivial things. It prevents a person from taking too much revenge. I know it's revenge with him. It restrains inordinate movements of resentment at another's character or behavior. It has nothing right. Weakness. Or timidity. Enables one rather. To endure present evils without sadness or resentment. It helps us to handle difficulties. Without giving into sadness. Or reacting with a growing. Sense of rage. I agree with trigger that patients or forbearance. Is one vital and virtuous pathway that can enable us to. Control and master. Our anger and resentment but. Just like anger if taken too far. Patients also has a dangerous and unjust potential. To turn us into passive doormats for others to wipe their feet on. As they please. Over the course of my lifetime i have known some people who are so. Systemically accommodating and suites. And slow to take offense or get angry or stand up for themselves. That others who are inclined to such bad behavior. To learn they can do almost anything. To disregard or disrespect or take advantage of these individuals. And not paying interpersonal price. If you know someone is too patient. Someone will take advantage of. Patience and forbearance the generous quality of being long-suffering in the face. Of inappropriate or unkind behavior of others is no virtue. If it turns you into a doormat. Just like anger. Patience is taken too far. Becomes a sin. Does all this make sense. The early church fathers wanted us to believe that. Anger is always wrong and patience is always right. But that simply doesn't stand up. Tubi. As true and helpful in the real topsy-turvy lives we lead in this messy world. I am persuaded that to be ethically. And emotionally and spiritually successful in the real world. We need to know how to moderate. Imbalance are anger with patients. And how to moderate and balance our patients. With anger. In other words as we move through our days. Anger is not all bad. And patience is not. All good. We need a mix. And if we are to successfully tread. Our way through this crazy complex world we need to dance on that fulcrum. Between our anger and our patients. Keeping them both. In our life. Skil tool box. Keeping both anger and patience in our life. Skil tool box. To be pulled out and used. Wisely. Inappropriately and yes. Strategically unjustly. Life as i know it anyway. Is often a delicate dance along this paradoxical fulcrum and so many others. You might want to eventually call me the paradoxical person. Because i see. So many things in life this way. The early church fathers who dualistic lisset the virtues against the vices. Wanted sure and simple answers as they confronted all the complexities. Of what it means to be human. But we will find ourselves alive. In the 21st century. Need a more nuanced. Approach. Demanding lives that. So. Have patience. Dear friends. It is a virtue. And sometimes. Be bad as hell. 42. Is a pathway to a full. And authentic. And responsible life. You need both. These emotional and spiritual qualities. In your life toolbox. The key. Trick. Is knowing precisely when and how. Employ them. And it is. Send you on your way. With these words of unitarian universalist poet. May sarton. Return to the most human. Nothing less will nourish the torn spirit. Remind. And from the ultimate the rest pierced with the breast of anguish. Speak of love. Return. Return to the deep sources nothing less will teach. The stiff hands. New way to serve. To carve into our lives. The forms of tenderness. And strive that ancient. Necessary. Pain. Preserve. Return to the most human. Nothing less will teach the angry spirit. The bewildered heart. Carmine to accept the whole of its duress. And pierced with anguish. At last. More love. Go in peace.

uufvb_org

2012Oct14Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. It is a wonderful world. The wind coming off the atlantic this morning the sun coming up welcome. 2 each of you. We're glad you have chosen to spend a part of your sunday with us here at the unitarian universalist fellowship. And want you to 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 were feeling. On top of the world this morning. Or 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 charm. We hope you will find our service meaningful this morning and enriching and it will give you. Summer dude energy and zest for the living of life in the days and weeks ahead. Let us worship. With our eyes and ears and fingertips. Let us love the world. Heart and mind and body. We feed our eyes upon the mystery in the revelation in the faces. Of our brothers and sisters. We seek to know the wistfulness. Of the very young. End of the very old the wistfulness of people in all times of life. We seek to understand the shyness. Behind behind arrogance. Fear behind pride the. Tenderness behind clumsy strength. The anguish. Behind cruelty. All life. Flows into a great common life. And if we will only open our eyes. To our companions let us worship. Not involving.. Not with closed eyes. Stop it. Let us worship. With the opening of all the windows of our being. And the full out stretching of our. Life comes with singing. Laughter. With tears. Fighting. With a rising wave too great to be held in the mine. And heart and body. To those who have fallen in love with life. Let us worship. And lettuce. Learn. To love. My theme today is the spiritual nature. Of our creation. So i had a meditation written by john ruskin. The dresses that. Feeling. Listen to these words and the one minute of silence that will follow. Let us enjoy the silence. He writes. There is religion. In everything around us. A calm and holy religion. Indian breathing sings in nature. It is a meek and blessed influence. Feeling in as it were. Unaware upon the heart. It comes quickly. And without excitement. It has no terror. No gloom. It does not rouse up the passions. It is untrammeled. Bike reeds. It is written on the arched sky. It looks out from every star. It is on the sailing cloud. And then the invisible wind. It is among the hills and valleys of the earth. Where the shrub list. Mountain top. Pierce's the thin atmosphere of eternal winter. Or where the mighty forest. Fluctuates. Before the strong. When. Dark waves of green foliage. It is spread out. Like a legible language. Upon the broad face. Avalon. Sleeping. It is the poetry of nature. It is that which uplifts. The spirit. And which opens. To our imagination. The world. Spiritual beauty. Today. I want to be a little more bold and personal than i offered him in this pulpit. And share with you in the structured format of this sermon. My basic theological understanding about life on this planet. At this hopefully wise and mature point in my lawn ministerial career. But before i do that i need to discuss an occupational hazard. That is vexed to me my entire career namely. That's some people in every congregation i have served over the years get upset with me. When i take a clear personal position in this pulpit any position. Theological. Ethical social philosophical economic or political. If it differs from their own. I've always been somewhat surprised by this. First because in our free church tradition one of the most. Time-honored and sacrosanct principles is. Freedom of the pulpit that principle is written right into the contract i signed with you two and a half years ago you said i will give you as a carnation. Freedom of the pulpit. Freedom of the pulpit guarantees the minister and any others who deliver sermons here. The right and privilege to express always in a responsible manner of course. But still full and unafraid to express. What is truly on their hearts and minds. And secondly i was surprised when people get upset with me. When my position differs from their own because i have never assumed. As a minister. But when i speak from the pulpit that i speak for anyone other than myself. Yes. Ministers are automatically invested. With incredible authority whenever they step into a pulpit. It's part of the time on a roll of being a minister. That goes without saying. But what is a unitarian universalist minister in this. Free tradition. Affirm something from the pulpit. That fact the fact remains i do not speak. For any of you. Nor do i speak for the church. Or the denomination and heaven forbid i do not speak for god. However you understand it. I know i have a great tool authority but i don't speak for god. I speak only for myself. As hopefully one earnestly yet thoughtful religious leader trying to make sense of the world. And discover for myself what is good and true and right in it. But alas it never fails. When i do speak clearly and passionately from my personal perspective again about almost anything of importance. Set a few at least in the current location. Come up to me and say either in exasperation or anger. I strongly disagree with everything you said this morning. As if. Though is if my job as minister is to always give voice to their understanding their beliefs their opinions. That's not my job. When i'm in this wood box. Let me give this one example. About 10 years ago. At the last congregation i serve just outside of washington dc one sunday. I preached the sermon. We're in i confess that i'd slowly. Come to a mixed moral mind. When it came to the death penalty. I simply was no longer ethically sure i said. How are you you principle of the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Was best on earth. Well. Several people that sunday were so mad at me. For not expressing their categorical and absolute opposition to the death penalty. They threatened to leave the church. Annette occasion. One person came up to me pasay city. Patently disagreed with my ambivalent conclusion i said. Good john i've done my job this morning. And he looked at me for plex and i said to him john. By expressing honestly and clearly where i am ethically struggling with this very complex issue. I've apparently help you. Clarify and reconfirm your own beliefs. And that's much more my job helping you discover what you believe. That it is my giving perfect voice or lip service. To what you believe. This observation did not mollify him. What did sean have. 4nr free uu tradition. When a minister says something you don't agree with. It doesn't mean i am right and you are wrong off and you're wrong and i'm right but it doesn't necessarily mean that. And it most certainly does not mean you have to change your beliefs or understandings to conform to mine. All i'm saying. Is it in our free tradition you must never invest in me the power to speak for you. Or the congregation or unitarian universalism. That is never what i am doing. All of this. It's by way of carefully practicing what i want to spiritually say to you this morning. I probably have you're terrified already just by. Laying all this out. And just a few minutes i will share with you that i personally do not believe. Anything supernatural. In this creation nothing. I personally do not believe in any supernatural being. Or forces or powers or reality. None nada zero. But if you believe. In any spiritual natural forces being the realities and i'm certain there are those of you out there who do i say. Good morpower to you. This morning by my sharing my personal spiritual beliefs. As your minister. I am not i assure you dismissing or denigrating or denying any of your spiritual. Or your right to have them. I'm simply affirming how high is 1u you spiritually sees the universe. And started a conversation in the car gation about these realities. My point here is that no matter. Where you met personally fall at a spiritual continuum. You can use my present articulation of my personal beliefs as a reference point. To examine. Ponder and clarify. Your own conclusions at this point in your spirit. This morning if you will you can creatively bounce off my thinking. To reach a clear personal understanding. Or yourself wherever that is. You won't get what i'm saying to you this morning. It feels important for me to have you understand when i. Where i'm coming from. If we are to be a successful and synergistic as minister in congregation. You must know that i will speak my truth. But always idiosyncratic lien gently. As a way to help you reach. Your own spiritual. Alright. Let's get going. This morning i want to offer you as i've said. The personal spiritual perspective i've slowly moved to over my long ministerial career. About the life. And creation that we also mysteriously find ourselves in. I have long looked for a simple label that would accurately describe this faith perspective i have moved to. And i finally arrived at it is simply. Spiritual naturalism. Let me begin by defining the second word naturalism. Because that is where the foundation of my faith. Must begin and end. What i mean by the word. What i mean by this is that the word spiritual. As i'm using it. Merely modify. The core word naturalism. The anchor word. Which primarily define. My faith. As a religious person when i try to understand. My place and purpose and destiny is a human being on this earth. And at the same time give shape to a face that will guide me as i strive to lead a life. Of dignity and compassion responsibility joy love. I must do so i must do so. Based on my direct personal experience. With the natural world that i find myself. I begin my faith journey by accepting untrusting all of the known scientific laws. The facts if you will. About the way we know. Through our science and our sensory apparatus. How our natural world infect operate. What are some of these natural scientific laws that i trust and rely on. Intriguing website called howstuffworks you can google it if you want. And here is a list i thought i looked up natural laws cuz it said she would are some of these lots. List 10 foundational. Laws natural laws. About how our world actually operates. Pops up popped up according to the people at how stuff works. They are. And i'm going to read them. The big bang theory. That of course describing how the universe came into being billions of years ago. Hubble's law of cosmic expansion don't ask me to give you more than 20 words on that but. But the universe is expanding. Kepler's laws. Of planetary motion. Gravitation we all can rely on that everyday. Newton's laws of motion. The laws of thermodynamics. Archimedes buoyancy principles. Principal. Evolution. A natural selection. Einstein's theory of general relativity. Heisenberg's uncertainty. Principal. Of course i make no claim. As a minister. 2. Entirely understanding all the nuances. Of these known scientific laws about the way our creation. Came into being and how it continues to faithfully work. But i do know. What i do know is that as i strive to make spiritual sense. Of my world. I must begin. With science. With the world as it actually is. As i adore all of you physically experienced it reliably everyday. Including and this would perhaps be my 11. Law of nature. The law of mortality. The fact that all living things on this planet as far as we know. Will eventually die. Almost. I am. Including all most existentially and then escaped. Myself. So. I am a true believer. In the physical laws of nature. That eyewitness. Participate in through my sensory apparatus. Everyday i awake. What i do not believe in. Because i have absolutely no first-hand or direct. Or reliable experience with such what i do not believe is what is called the supernatural. Which i also could call. Transcendent or otherworldly forces. That's somehow operate beyond or higher than the visible and quantifiable. Laws of the natural. Let me be very specific about what i do not believe supernatural. I do not first believe in any supernatural beings. I do not believe in god the father sitting on a throne. In heaven. I don't believe that. I do not believe saint peter is waiting for me. At the pearly gates. I do not believe that. All the stuff was easy to find on the web. I do not believe. Jesus is someday coming back literally. To set things right and fix everything in the world. I don't believe. In the devil. And his minions. Similarly i don't believe in angels or ark. Guardian angels beyond those good guardian angels that we all have in our lives. Call garden inn. I don't believe in ghosts. Other spirits. And i don't believe in fairies. Well at least not this time. Nor do i believe in trolls. Well i had to put that in there paul. North roles are gnomes or elves are leprechauns are other magical little people know i don't believe in any of that. The only things i believe in. Are the natural physical biological beings. All the utterly amazing and diverse plants and animals. Including humans. That i see. Here smell touch and know everyday i awake. And beyond supernatural beings. I further do not believe in. Other so-called supernatural forces. Or realities are processed. Including but not limited to the so-called psychic powers. Paranormal phenomenon reincarnation or eternal life. I don't believe in magic i don't believe in fortune-telling i don't believe in astrology numerology i don't believe in miracles. I believe my world works. Gay. After day after day by predictable natural processes and principles. Even though our world. Perpetually filled. With chaos. And random circumstance. An unexpected grace. And tragedy and absurdity and unpredictability. All of which of course. Are perfectly natural. So. When it comes to my world. As a person of faith looking for meaning. That will help me live my life well. I simply believe that what-you-see-is-what-you-get. Nothing. More and nothing. I am i guess a hard-nosed realest. Who wants to work not with a perfect or fanciful or other world i might dream of. But rather work hopefully free of illusions. With the actual world i do have. Just as it comes to me and all of its bittersweet tumble. So. First and foremost spiritually i am a naturalist. Who insist on taking the world in all its natural knowable truth. Even or is it more most especially. When i want a better deal. Then this creation. Escape. Giving me. What this means is. The winning miworld heartless terrorist strike. Or a good friend develops terminal cancer. Or a tornado wipes out a town i know. Or sweet child tragically dies. Or a new unwelcome painful limitation is placed on my life. Or the life of someone i know. I seek to work. What's the world. I have and move. With the world. And the facts. The world. That i have. Nothing more and nothing less. And i aspire never to turn. Toward unverifiable supernatural hopes. Or magical expectation. That's just me. But this fierce and insistent naturalism of mine. Is modified. It's modified. By my spiritual. Buy a spiritual sense in me. The fact that i'm a natural. Does not mean i do not have a deeply spiritual or mystical relations. With my world i do. For my personal faith stats as a unitarian universalist as i said is not just naturalism. But spiritual naturalist. Which means that with them. The rather insistent confines. Of my no-nonsense scientific natural approach to the facts of life. Is an abundance of spiritual richness. And opportunity and emotion. Which i can only call holy. And wonderous and sacred. The fact that i am a cold hard and unbending scientific thinker. I never asked my mortal world. For a better. A deal that is capable of giving me. Does not mean. Good when i open my eyes in the morning i do not see a magnificent world. Of holiness. And grace and beauty. I do. When i watch the sunrise up red. And hot and pure out of the atlantic ocean as i did just. Few hours ago. My little human brain does not launch into some cold astronomical analysis of the rotational timing of the earth. The degree of particulate matter in the stratosphere or the cold chemical makeup of the sun. And deceive rather. When i wake up. See the sun coming up. My whole being breathes in the wonder and the grace of what. For me son. See. And. When. Wavering. Palms. Soaring. Pelicans. Which conspire in a holy dance. The lifts the heart. Calm. The mine. And blesses the soul. Just because i never doubt or deny the quantifiable realities of the natural world. Does not mean. That as a religious. And spiritual person. I cannot be swept up. The holy healing. Of this amazing world. Harsh and inhospitable and cruel as. Canby other time. So. The fact that i say i do not believe in the supernatural. That is to say that i do not believe. In a transcendent god sitting on some throne. Waiting to judge me. Does not mean. That i cannot. Do that i cannot or do not say the word god. Or experience something i understand is divine. Or holy in my life. We regularly do and i do with great meaning and joy. That which i called god is not some distant. Cosmic. Parent. Or judge. But rather mysterious. Yet real and life giving spirit graciously sunk right down. To my world. Am i being. My now-deceased colleague clark do we wells once described his god as. That dearest freshness. In deep down. That dearest. Deep down. A sacred presence that is right here with us in this world all the time. Even when it is obscured by pain. Justice life come. God taught me. Is an elusive but terribly powerful and present spirit. A spirit of holiness. Healing and loving grace. Which i find dwelling. In everyday common thanks incarnate. Is the word the elote. Used. Describe. Deep down in incarnate. An indwelling presence. Another way of saying it. A presence of the most high. A present. Which is natural. And here in the world. As a positive spiritual resource for me. As i strive to live a life. On this mortal earth. A life of purpose. And peace. And compassion and love. Let me say this. Another simple. Way. That's which i called god. Truly. Something super. It's wonderful. It's a saving presents in my world but it is not super. Thatcher. Rather it is. Holy. God rather than father king or ruler to me. Is a holy natural presence in the world. That's things to me out of the daily stuff of my life. And it's sings hope. Beauty and blessing. Compassion and love and justice. I see this god. In the pure twinkling eyes of an innocent. Laughing child. I see this god. In the last breath. Of a brave 92 year old woman. Who is lead a life. Generosity. Grace. I see this god. In a stand of stately palm trees happily astir in the morning when. And in the flock of graceful. Coordinated pelican. Lida. Let's aim for. I see this god and communities of people. Who willingly share their resources so that others. Might breathe more easily. No. Anomic. Individualism. And i know this god. Every time something unknowable stirs within me. And beyond all expectations brings out my noblest. Aspirations. And my most generous impulse. I passionately. Want you to understand this mystical sense of god. Which enlivens my spiritual and natural life. The spirit. Holiness alive in my world. That i know unreliable. Is not in charge of the universe. That which i called god is not transcendent. Not a willful force or being with a master plan or purple. Design looking down. On everything. That we know. Things in my world happen. Not by the will of god. But rather by the laws and the rules. Of nature of the natural flow of life. Hard though these can. 4. When i do a hard-nosed analysis of this world i live in when i look. What's happening in my world. I left. Conclude that there is no all-powerful all-knowing all good god that is somehow in charge. Whatsapp. How could that be. For the world i live in and please tell me if yours is any. When i look at my world i freaked. I see almost as much violence. As peace. As much. Hatred is love. Cruelty of goodness. Tragedy is blessing us. Depravity. As nobility as much death. How's life. So it makes absolutely no spiritual sense to me. That sounds spectacular supernatural something like a parental god. Could be directing. Or designing. Or allowing even. So chaotic. An ambivalent world. Does god really want or allow a mother. To run over her child in the driveway because she does not. That child. Behind the minivan. But again. That can. The god is not. Does not mean i do not believe there is holiness. This world that can bless and strengthen us i do again when i say god. I am describing. A real reliable presence in our world. A spiritual presence. Not supernatural. But naturally. By the very. Noble essence. Of creation. Itself. And this natural knowable. Holiness i observe and no here's a real kicker. It invites my human participation. In the sacredness. And beauty. And love of this world. That which i called god invites me. On a daily basis. Through the natural knowable everyday pathways of my little existence here on the treasure coast. To know and participate in and even to sometimes help create. Life. Deepest holiness that. Dearest. Freshness. And deep down things. Let me see. All this slightly different way. As i am. I personally have a deeply mystical and spiritual relationship. With my natural world yes. First and foremost i am an insistent empiricist. Imma just the facts ma'am kind of scientist. When it comes to understanding how my world began and how it works. But i am a spiritualist. What it comes to feeling and embracing my world. In all it's utterly amazing grace. Beauty and holiness. This is the only way i know how to spiritually move through my world. Never denying the hard-and-fast rules of the mortal world. And yet never closing my eyes. To the abundance sacredness and grace. That is always singing around me. Inviting me to sing. So there you have it my friend. As clear and honest and explanation of my. Personal faith stats as i can offer you. Unnecessary. October. In the year 2000. + 12. I am deep to my core a spiritual naturalist. But again. What is most important. Is that you nazi. The. World through the same spiritual lens that i do. What is important. That you do the hard and joyful work of figuring out what it is you believe about this world. And even more importantly how that understanding of the world obliges you and inspires you. To live and love in the world. We are truly best here in this congregation. Not when we necessarily speak with one voice. Spiritually or ethically a religious and we can't do that will never do that thank god. But when we are truly and openly engaging one another. And respectful conversations about our personal beliefs letter standings. And the covenant group. For example is a place where those deeper conversation. Genuine respectful sharing can occur where no unanimity. Of spiritual perspective is required. When we engage in these kinds of conversations with one another. We thereby collectively deepen our relationship with everything that is so. The question becomes. Not with scott alexander believe. But what do you believe. About this creation. And your place in it. I've shared what. I believe how icy thing. How about you. What do you believe deep to your soul. And what gives you the strength. To live the best life. With that question. I leave you with the words of mystic. Thomas more. Let nature's curious wisdom. Fill you. Let the world mystical heritage guide you. Paint your canvases. Play your tunes. Give your all to the worlds. That are born from you. Give your all. To the world. That are bored. From you. Go in peace.

uufvb_org

2014Feb23Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. From the looks of the weather this morning looks like i'm going to have to spend another day in paradise. What can i tell you. Welcome. Unitarian universalist fellowship of zero beach we're so glad you've chosen to be with us this morning. Graphic said during the prelude of open minds. Loving hearts and helping hands. Even as together we work to make for a better world. Please know that you are 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 shade of humanity. Regardless of how you are suffering any medical or physical condition. What are you feeling on top of the world. Just as you come to us this morning. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful enriching 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. In the days and weeks ahead. Who come with spirits. Seeking rest. Come with trouble that are too much. Unafraid. We bid you welcome. Open your heart. Who come proud and joyous. Who come to probe and explorer come to learn. Answer this call as a homecoming. Who have found here for your spirit. Who find in this people or family. Whoever you are. Whatever you are. Wherever you are on your journey. We bid you welcome. In just a few moments will be sharing a dialogue about feeling at home in the world at home here. Scott russell sanders has long as in indiana professor university of indiana. He's long talked about. Finding your place in the world. This is axl excerpt from his book staying put making a home. In a restless world. In a world is this jointed and disrupted as ours we are called healing. Inner and outer. Healing of the mind through a change in consciousness. Healing of the earth. Through changing our lives. We can begin that work by learning he right. To abide in a place. I am talking about an active commitment not a passive lingering. If you stay with a husband or wife out of laziness rather than love that is inertia. Not marriage. If you stay put through cowardice. Rather than conviction you will have no strength to act. Drink. Healing comes. From aligning yourself. With the grain of your place. The grain of your place. And answering to its knees. And then he goes on. The man was often thinking. Communicate. We are cautioned by thoreau that notorious stay at home. The metaphor is religious. To withhold yourself from where you are. Is to be cut off from communion with the source. It has taken me scott rice. Lifetime of searching to realize. The ultimate ground. Leads through my local ground. I mean the land itself with creeks and rivers is. Weather seasons stone outcroppings and all the plants and animals that sharon. I cannot have a spiritual center. Without having a. I cannot live a grounded life without being grounded in a place. And then he. Cuba in belong to landscape one steals a rightness. At-home a knitting of cell. And the world. This condition of clarity and focus is being fully present. Is akin to what the buddhists call. Mindfulness. What christian contemplatives refer to as recollection. What quakers call centering down. And then he hands i am suspicious of any philosopher. Any philosophy that would separate this worldly. From otherworldly commitment. There is only one world. And we participate in it here and now. In our flesh. And in. Our. Place. Hirons. I want to thank first of all kathy cordova's one of our snowbird members she spends her life. Our associate minister home i think all of you know a story. And the stories about how this morning has come with this cancel dialog. Has began months ago a months ago catherine lee and i. Kathy said to me. You know this title congregation members about 40% are basically gone for half a year. There must be some issues about how to. Build community and fellowship. And so's we talked about having a service on the title. Flow of the current location. That the issues were much larger than that. Shear in vero beach. I give it a wide array of intersecting realities. The real overarching issue is not about how to integrate. Seasonal members or how to how to make year-round members get along and understand each other. But rather is about all of us. Finding a scott russell sanders said belonging at home.. Coming to terms with the grain of a place. Here is a powerful reality i think in the state of florida this is a fluid state water everywhere. And by the way this is the dry season you wouldn't know it from the last two days i got dressed on my bike last night. But. It's a fluid state it's a place of perpetual transition. Rootlessness dislocation. Arrivals departures churn cummings in. Like no other place that i have live. And given this reality there are issues for all of us i think about how to. How to get that at home message scott russell sanders says is so essential to spiritual grounding. To some extent most if not all of us even the florida natives and old-timers. And there are very few. All of us feel in a whale i think here like an orphan or a refugee or an outsider. With feelings of impermanence. Dislocation isolation tentatively. Just came clear as a bell to me. A new couple came to church about four weeks ago they happen to be a gay couple from pittsburgh. They came to the front door they looked me square in the eye and said. We've just moved here from pittsburgh. We don't know anybody where arfons. And so we came to church. Light went out of my head. That's the way we all come here. Almost all of us arrived as orphan. With barely the shirt on her back. Vero beach is a place of many transition. People moved down here from up north usually retire and usually without any context beyond the fact that we did at 12 city tour john and and like the fact that there weren't skyscrapers here. There are many title people. Title people come here and just as they're getting fuel at home. They go back up north again. Some people move down here to spend the last chapter of their lives in a pleasant place. And some. When they get sick. I can't even finish their lives really have to go back to. Note to a son or a daughter up north somewhere when they get sick. We also have people who move down here with. Their beloved spouse of 40 years. And then suddenly find themselves orphans. Root down here thoughts. The happy. Waited under marriage and. I'm just in a. We have great incredible steady turn here in this congregation. This is a photo directory we published three and a half years ago. Well don't use it because i went through it last week and i crossed off everybody would either died or moved or lost interest. 28% of the people in that directory argo. Interest meaning. Almost 30% churn. Florida is filled with strangers. And people who are just here for a few years. More than any other place. 42 years ago. It was founded in 1911 by aaron and emma's putnam. And i told you this before i didn't realize it but the first. Was a family chapel. Almost everybody in my car to gation there were related. Drew erin and her name is putnam they were one. Damn family. Dealing with each other for four generations god help. Nobody here in florida has to deal with the four generation family he's not doubt anybody here in this church. Does a 4 generation history in florida. And so that's that's a telling thing this. Is a very impermanent place. In the larger life picture of eva heifetz. We involve you in this conversation you're going to send email. About this transition quality of our allies everyone is in transition all the time. If we are not changing. growing. Our life. Attracting. As we get older threads. Better run through our lives fray and break. And if we are not constantly weaving new one. Evil reminds us at some point there will be nothing left. Has actor michael j.fox was dealing with parking. He's in his own life advise. Say yes as much as possible because when you say no you are not growing. So this idea that. Florida and vero beach. Uscb our places of radical transition and dislocation. Was a real revelation to me. You know almost everybody who goes to coffee hour. Probably think you know i'm the only one who feels out of place. I'm the only one who doesn't know everybody. You know what the secret is. Even the minister. Who's been here for four years and will maybe retire and five more years. We're all temporary. All. And lee your first. It's interesting a couple nights ago i went back to my old neighborhood of my old neighborhood for 6 months. We live there for 18 years old party. Do you know that 30% of the people at that party i didn't know. Since i moved out that's in 6 months. It was just amazing i couldn't believe it. I thought i was pretty flexible about change that the change and transitions were something that i could kind of go with the flow. I wasn't going with the flow so well and i was finding my old neighborhood. And some people find it even more difficult. Is that it is stressful. Interesting is react to change. And i saw youngest granddaughter's graduation from kindergarten. Last year she and some of her friends were very excited. We're holding onto their teacher and crying and not wanting to move. And and we all have to move on whether it's something that we want or not it is very very stressful. Part of this stressful for us i think is. That when we have to move on we leave. We leave but we've made so far feels secure. And we're moving into the unknown. How's it going. We all face it and what i've been talking about this with changers on transit. Of course as we all know there are terrible changes that come into our lives terrible losses. We all experience. And those things. Those experiences are really ghastly. Involuntary. Whether it's a small change or whether it's a dislocation in our lives expend energy. Negotiate that transitional period to come out the other end as some kind of equilibrium. Some kind of satisfaction in our lives. That takes a tremendous amount of work. And the worst part is of course no guarantees. And sometimes we can't see the end something hoping that something good is going to. Be produced as a result of our efforts. Very difficult stressful kind of situation. But. I also have to be fair about this. You know i've been talking about change as being always negative will change is always negative sometimes it can be positive and situations where change is difficult to accept. Change brings with it. Opportunity. No maybe under very stressful circumstances one can see that we are going through transition. wherever whenever something is something opportunity to grow. To come out of the transitional period with happiness perhaps even greater happiness than we had before so wild. We also have to look at the side of opportunity and keep that in mind. Coming down here we moved in here permanently or whether we're seasonal. I think. Secure where we came from where we were routed where we where are where we were sustained and what we got. From where we live. One of the things that sustained geographically i happen to and i think of natural beauty in terms of mountains snow. And pine trees so when i move to florida i looked at scrub and i look at palm trees and i went. Oh my gosh. I don't like this i had to adjust what i considered to be natural beauty. For me and maybe for some of you come from other parts of the country as well your love of scenery of where you're from. Adjustment that we all have to make and that is why we move away even seasonally we are saying goodbye but temporarily to the people that we love that we are leaving. You know maybe it's only for six months or 4 months or so for dinner. Too far away. It's very difficult french and our loved ones are family. Most important things that we have where we can from epsilon we come down here. We've talked about this weird challenge. Can we make new friends are they going to be as fulfilling it is wonderful and as lovely as the people that we have known in the past and occupancy for a while. And let's face it. I have to face myself i'm getting older some of the things that i used to love to do. You know i can't play tennis before hours anymore forget it. I can't run marathons anymore i have to accept the fact that my body is 20 years ago. I'm going to turn this over to cats. She has her own thoughts and feelings about what it's been like for her. Talk about transitions. And here i am up here so that's the transition. As someone who is here. But also there. I i think there's a number of you who have a home somewhere else. And yet trying to make this home. We are seasonal here part of the time on the treasure coast and they're somewhere else. It's so. Our challenges is a little bit different. Sometimes. So you would think that when you choose. As i do i'm very lucky to be able to choose to be here part of the year that should be simple. That should be easier. But it isn't necessarily so. The tester different but you we still have to find the grain of the place. You probably know what it's like to pack the car and get all your belongings in up there and you have this and you're trying to remember what it is or the apart. To have. Here with you. And i think we're like nomads coming down route 95 and route 75. Coming from a colder place. Let me settle in. And you stock the fridge. You can always tell the seasonal people where the ones with the grocery cart that's full of toilet paper and paper towels right. And you get all that settled and squared away and you start your newspaper subscription. You still feel what lee is called a sense of dislocation. You're still you're you're here but you're still a bit there. I think it's because we need to ship not just our belongings. But the harder task is shifting our spiritual center of gravity. That's the only thing i know to call it but. But. It comes close to saunders notion of. Of being in the grain of the place. About the highwomen. Wellesley and i've asked our first reactions to florida artwork colorful canvases. In the school of the highwaymen painting. And it first those vivid pink sunset. But when you're here long enough to see them for yourself. You find them beautiful they are authentic just as authentic as the muted pines and the adirondack mountains and the rocky shores. That were used to. Shifting our spirits to in an in an important way. In my case i think that. Ira look back to the first time that i attended you. And i remember. Feeling. Like i wasn't really in the church i think spiritually i was somewhere out in the parking lot you know i was. Carrying a really good basket of spiritual provisions from a home church. A church building 1825 that of course. Is vastly different than this. All of a sudden i'm looking at a teal. Hymn book that i never seen before. It was. I wasn't sure about this church and i was a bit out in the parking lot i think i would still be there if it weren't for earl kirkbride. One of those who pulled me into dinner. And gradually. I began to feel at home. Now there is some people who are more gifted at the ability to shift heard from. There's people who can't wait to get here and they're back in the choir and their. Parking cars for the emerson speaker series and they are. Much at home in the breakfast groups in. It's is easier for them to shift the spiritual center of gravity. But i do see every sunday. Somebody out there in the social hall. Not sure. Is it. You know maybe this is where i'll be at home but maybe not. Is a bit of that tentativeness. An in them. So the question really is how do we belong. And. That's that the questions that we are going to ask your help in. In preparing for this service we talked with dave and rosalie shanks and was john mayer. To begin to get some pieces and eva contributed. And everyone with whom we spoke and it's helped us to understand that the task is moving from newcomer to belonging. First for the host the people who are longtime residents. You know how important it is to linger. Over the back of the pew to really ask not just about whether pleasantries. Florida but something. To share something about yourselves and ask. The newcomers opinion. It's very powerful. Powerful act. Of hospitality. But i've come to believe that we guess also have a responsibility here. It is the responsibility that eva talks about about. Being brave enough to weave new threads. To try something new. To go to a service b might be different a book club discussion or a covenant group. The try that out. Dang brave enough to to be open to the noom. Sometimes we are finding what we didn't even think we were looking for. And so guests are responsible for that too. But more than anything i think it's. For all of us to be sharing the stories of our own transition center own journeys. We have stories. All i lie. No matter where we are. They are. Who we are and they define us. No matter what. Vulnerable when we stand in the social were holding our stories were we thinking about our own life journey. Will anybody want to listen. And these stories stay with us our whole lives you know it's it's our journeys. Whither were in the hospital or even. When the time comes that everything we own is in a drawer and a. Bedside stand in the nursing home. That we still carry those those journeys those stories. Sharing those. Listening to one another and hearing one of those life transitions and journey is is probably the thing that has moved newcomers into belonging. So that's where were. We're hoping you will come into. And so the takeaway i hope. You'll all have is that we're all in this together. Variously. This is florida. Is this peninsula hangs down off the rest of the united states. Different. Different place. And we need to make a special effort to practice at that fragile art of hospitality that with v talks about. Can we do a great job and positive. Why don't you come to lunch with us on thursday that's kind of. Positive gatekeeping churches congregations need. So whether you're what are you been here 25 years or 25 minutes. Hopefully were here for at least an hour and we're going to wrap up. What do you been here twenty-five years of 25 minutes. Make the effort to weave your way in and. Take the risk because we're all tentative. We're all feeling a little dislocated we're all feeling a little lonely. And we need that. Connectedness with one another to have the full. Grounded. Holy life that i believe god intends for us we're to be at home in the world were to be. We're to be at home with others in order to be at home in the world leave you have any last minute thoughts. One of the things that i think about alot. Because i'm here a lot. Are we providing as a religious institution. Environment. The welcoming environment. We're newcomers or even all comers can put down roots roots me a really important the roots of friendship the roofs of. Tivities all the routes that we need. I don't have that answer. But you do. And it's going to have a brown bag lunch tomorrow and we invite all of you to come and share your thoughts thoughts are much richer and fuller than anything other than the three of us could possibly come up with. And they don't have to comment. We can enhance what we're doing here so much the better it will enrich all of us so please come tomorrow around noon. As scott mentioned bring a sandwich we will have beverages. Come with your thoughts and your feelings in your craw mention. Just share them with us all there. Thank you so much for listening to our dialogue. We will keep a place for you. Will sustain, faizon love. You come to know. Bring home. Two hearts that urine. We'll keep a place for you. Return. Smiles and. Our blessings. Voices now a memory. Call southway to us here. Go in peace bring home two hearts with urine. We will keep a place for you. Until you return. Blessings with you.

uufvb_org

2014Jun29Sermon32.mp3

Good morning. And how is everybody today. Universalist fellowship. We're so glad that you have chosen to be with us here this morning. Loving hearts. And helping hats. 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. What are you young or old gay or straight. What do you have. What do you were a visitor this morning. 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. Fendi. We hope that you're going to find this service meaningful this morning and enriching and that you'll find something here today that your spirit. Hen feed your soul. Nude energy enjoy 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. They are 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. Her reading this morning. Comes from a book called. For 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. Corner store. Or as a parking lot attendant. Then you could 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. 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. How would this affect all the places in your life. Were you are endlessly trying to be better. What is 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 is 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. 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 it rise 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. I first arrived in florida. In 1998. My father. In new jersey. Became ill. 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 have come. As poets. Linda pastan. Question her moving poem the death of parent. Front-of-the-line. A voice says. 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 lost. 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. Toward the richness enjoy that still await you. I have read this somewhere. 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. Beacon. 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. Did 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. And that which does not kill me. Makes me stronger. This isn't something that just happened. 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. 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. 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. The best human beings weekend 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 forced 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. When i agree with my pain. I know that it is the right response from me to that situation. In that moment. It is singing. Yes. Not only to the pain but. 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. Hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it. When the time comes to let it go. To let it go. Priest 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. Denial. Bargaining. Depression. An 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. Have a spouse. Have a sibling. For a child. Alcoholism. Drug addiction. Mental illness. Sexual abuse. Financial hardships. Emotional. Neglect. 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 for a moment to hold these sorrows. Realizing that grief. Sadness recognized are often stepping stones. I'm the pastor 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. Wish you will be reflecting on a difficulty in your life. Sit quietly. Feel the rhythm of your breathing. Allow yourself. 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. I treated this difficulty so far. Treated this difficulty so far. How have i suffered. From my own response and reaction. To it. What. This problem asked me to let go. 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. List. Homemade 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. Then help us adopt that higher and larger viewpoint. From which. To look at. Our own pain. 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. 3 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. And you as well. Need it. And you know what. The pain. Mypay. Cuz 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. 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. 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 true life. Saying yes to life. How incredibly difficult. That can be. How exquisitely rewarding. That is. Let me conclude. 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 multitude 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. 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. Is to risk the spare. To try. Is to risk. Failure. To live. Is to risk. Dying. Let us all go out together. Risking. And blessed be.

uufvb_org

2015Jun28Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. What a week. In america. Praise be to god and we'll talk a little bit more about that pete and i will at the beginning of our question sermon. Cuz i said pete. You got to ask me a question about this week. Good morning and welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so pleased you've decided to begin this summer day with us. Republicanism is primarily an economic theory of social issues that we have economic issues and there is no reason that an economic conservative should not be comfortable in a unitarian universalist social conservative. If you have a conservative view about them you may not fit when you hear people in coffee hours saying that they're pro-choice and that they've and that there. They they love to have their gay children at home with them. They may not be comfortable but in but i've said for a long time and every congregation that i serve one of my parishioners in in bethesda was a famous republican red patterson wrote the book about how the white house works he was in the nixon and and kennedy and the johnson administration was in the white house for many many years ardent ardent republican economically and he was a great wonderful republicans as a part of our denomination but that's sad. With that spirit that that god is. But that's what i mean by that it's very much a verb and it's very much mystikal. And it's very much not answer for morphic. Okay and it's not in charge of the universe look at what look at all the acts of terrorism 39 people killed on the beach by a madman with a gun that is not in control there's nobody in control. Pretty pretty open and chaotic universe that we bring. Our relations are a deepening relationships in our love to and. When that happens god dwells with us. And i'm happy if you don't want to use the word. But i use it. And i also want to use the word humanist because i believe the humanism is right that we are. Is responsible for how we live our lives and the and how we save or not save our world in my last church somebody said i stay or leave this church. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. Let's take a question about our fellowship. And it reads why is our children sunday school so small and what happened to all those children who advanced out of our sunday school in past years. We don't see them here. Well our sunday school a small fry think three couple reasons one this is a retirement community in we're pretty old congregation thanks for the boards in a few and we've got about ten families and maybe if all the kids show up at once about 25 kids now there are almost 20,000 children in the indian river school system so there are kids around efforts and her wonderful program. To bring them in the other problem we have is it when a new family comes in they don't c6500 children. It's a question of critical mass it's the same problem we have when an african-american walks in here you know we have three or four african-american members and friends but if we had 20 we get the next 20 you know when people come to a church they look around to see if people like them are already here. And if you're 80 years old that you're in great shape here because they're a lot 70 and 80 right here your your foot your people are here but young families and african-americans and latinos we don't have them in and and people do look around to see our people like me welcome to your will they are welcome here but there aren't enough of them to make that welcome feel like a real embodiment so that's that's the same problem. Worship style of the african-american church is also very different from ours you know. We grew up a new ar faith grew up in new england where we were called god's frozen people in the 19th century and nau what you watch that church service in charleston with all that beautiful swaying and singing and there's a difference. So there are plenty of kids in this town and. Let's talk about youth group you know community church has like 60 or 70 i think kids are church in arlington massachusetts has a usable like 78 kid. When you have 50 the next 25 come they've got a hino halftime youth director and they've got all kinds of wonderful programming they set aside part of the building for the youth. And again it's a question of critical mass if we had 10 or 12. Teenagers we get the next 10 or 12 it seems to me but so we we've got this. Critical mass problem here. Now the other thing of plays into this is it. Every unitarian universalist church that i know of our congregation says why can't we keep in our kids and sunday school they go to what's 14 and then we lose them what happens will they go to soccer league and they go to theater stuff and. There's this natural tendency i think for teenagers to lose interest. In going to church with their parents it just happened. We have to trust that the excellent programming that claudia arranges for our kids. Cease them back into our it back into the unitarian universalist.. When they get to college or maybe after college or maybe when they it's awesome. True that we don't see them again till they become 28 and start having kids of their own and they say you know i'm going to go back to church. It is just is a difficult if you fi. If you talk to cliff melvin at grace by the see my good friend who did the bike ride with me. They have the same problem. It's very hard to keep. Adolescence in church it's pretty uncool and i want to reiterate that i feel that claudia. Yeah it does a wonderful job that it it's not a question of the wrong material being used the wrong ideas or inadequate boring programming it's just that week that kids are hard to kids are hard to hold onto amateur. Etc. Etc. That's alright. Comment please. On pope francis encyclical on climate change and what steps you personally or take. Help reduce the crisis of climate change and what is the uu's stance on the subject. Okay well i like the first of the last part of the quest in the middle part of it when i'm personally doing i'm less favorable atkins. We could all do a lot more but let's start with the encyclical. I hope you all saw i hope you've all read or looked at it or at least looked at the new york times analysis of the encyclical. It's an astounding document it's an astounding holistic critique. A worldwide laissez-faire capitalism. And the way that the poor suffer in the world by neglect by the powers-that-be. I thought it was it was an absolutely stunning document that the unitarian universalist are very excited about to have. The roman catholic church. You know we've been concerned about this for 30-40 years and longer actually. With were the original spiritual environmentalist with our view of the of the interdependent web of all existence of which were apart. Which we put into our bylaws in 1970 or so. I-75. So it's terrific opportunity for us to work with roman catholicism and other. Religiously orthodox people who now understand. That are the moral issue. Is our saving our planet and 10,000 people died in pakistan of the heatwave the of the. Power companies couldn't keep up 10,000 people died last week. This is about global warming and about the ed about the economic structure. Of the world to 10,000 people were allowed to die overheat. His critique it is is a is too radical for even some of the more moderate capitalist in the world he he was against carbon-carbon banking and all of that has been pushed back and maybe positive going peace blessings.

uufvb_org

2013Nov10Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. And welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach on this veterans day weekend we hope you are all. Going to enjoy our good morning with us we're glad 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 together we worked to make for a better world. And please know that you're 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. Whether you were feeling on top of the world this morning or. Down in the dumps or somewhere in between we welcome you in all of your particularity and charm. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. And then 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 in the days ahead. Back when i lived in salem massachusetts we had a contractor handyman and friend named jim harrison. Who was in addition to being a real new england character was an active member of the first universalist church. In that city. Every sunday as he came in the door a front door of church he would tell marta flanagan who was the minister who serve that congregation. And anyone else in your shot that he was there for his spiritual tune-up. I left out loud the first time marta told me about jim's loud sunday proclamation. But the more i thought about it more i realized jim knew exactly what church. Was all about. All of us during the week put lots of miles on our lives no matter what the model year. So what better time with better things to do on sunday then to come to church for a quick tune-up. To make sure that our hearts are all gassed up. And running at full capacity. To make sure our minds and spirits are hitting on all cylinders. Paying attention. To what is really good. Important in life. And making sure we are lubricating our lives with as much joy and integrity and compassion. As we arcade. And to make sure that we have enough love and joy to fuel our lives for the coming weeks so. Welcome to church this sunday and. And welcome to your spiritual tune up because. It's free. Welcome. Let this be a time when we forgive ourselves and each other. Let this be a time when we look into our hearts and reflect on those we have hurt. And how we may ask for forgive. Let this be a time when we look into our hearts and reflect on those who have hurt us. And how we met work. Towards forgiving them. Let this be a time when we look into our hearts and reflect on how we may restore our relationships. With those. Who we are alienated from. How we make cross the great divide of anger and resentment. And how we may become at 1. With those we love. So who do you need to forgive. Who has hurt you so badly. That they are living. Rent-free in your mind. Taking up valuable space and trashing the joint at the same time. There you go. Who has hurt you so badly. That your anger and resentment resentment too often make you an outcast from the. Joy of the present moment. Yes who do you need to forgive. Norman cousins wrote that life is an adventure. And forgiveness. And there's no doubt that forgiveness is one of the most. Challenging of adventures because it's one of the most difficult and yet rewarding acts. Of our. Entire lives. I found it there are some religious liberals who feel uncomfortable at the idea of forgiveness because it involves. Guilt. And guilt is a four-letter word for us. But i want to encourage you to see forgiveness in an entirely different perspective. As a way of affirming preserving and renewing our relationships. And there's a different perspective right there. I couldn't find you can always get them with kittens kittens always work. Forgiveness is the process that reshapes our relationships from the straight line of anger in retaliation to the curve. Of compassion. When i talk about relationship i mean not only how we relate to other people but how we relate to life itself to the earth to the past and the future. And to god however we may define that powerful term. Amore theological way of talking about relationship is communion. We learnt we all want to be loved to be in communion to be at 1 or to use the ancient hebrew term to enter it into atonement. Or at 1 men. We seek communion with that which is greater than ourselves whether it be our family or humanity or our god. The fact is that to live outside of communion as hell. And to live at 1. Is heaven. Think about it when someone hurts us whether physically or emotionally we get angry in our immediate responses on i-4 an eye. We want to get even. We want to hurt them back. But what does that do. To us. When we lash out in anger we become someone who is a stranger someone whom we may not even recognize. And we are at the mercy of that stranger no longer able to make our own choices but being controlled by this. Alien entity. When we do react out of anger it may seem that we have no choice but to retaliate. But we do have a choice. There was always the choice. To respond. With forgiveness. Now this is important to choose to forgive does not mean. That we can't. Be angry. In fact anger is a vital part of the process of forgiveness. A woman who was a victim of incest. Came to her minister and said. It's not enough for me to say that i have to forgive my father i can't do that until i experienced the rage. And the sadness and the anger over how my childhood was. And that's what i have been. Afraid. Too many times forgiveness is just a nice word for denying our pain and anger. But if a goal. Is to heal the relationship into make it as whole as possible then we must first of all claim. Our pain. And our anger. To say that we're willing to forget that we've been wrong does not heal a relationship. Only truth. Heals a relationship. Only truth. Heels. A relation. The only way to reshape a relationship into the curve of connection. Is to communicate are hurt and yes our anger. But. And this is especially important the purpose of the anger must not be to hurt the perpetrator of our pain but to bring balance. Back to the. If our intent is to hurt rather than heal then we have jumped onto that hellacious merry-go-round of retaliation. That will eventually. Destroy our spirit. This now this is a way that we can retaliate i like this oscar wilde always forgive your enemies nothing annoys them so much. So that is a good way to retaliate. There's a buddhist story that tells of just such a situation a man is struck by an arrow from an unknown assailant. Rather than tending to the wound. He refuses to remove the arrow until the archer is found and punished. In the meantime the wound festers until finally the poison kills him. Which is the more responsible for this death. The archers letting go of the arrow. Or the victim's foolish holding on. To his anger. So which is the more dangerous to you. The poison of someone else's anger or the poison of your own anger. If i'm hurt that does not give me the right to hurt another. And if i choose to do so i'm hurting not only the person i'm angry at but i'm also hurting myself. Isn't this what happens when we get angry. It may be someone we loved very much and maybe someone who is long dead and yet we continue fighting with them holding on to our wrath. And that's keeping ourselves trapped in the past. During memorial services i often use these. Healing words written by a powell davies the famed unitarian minister. He wrote. Maino heart be troubled by things left unsaid. Or by past mistakes. For the goodness of life is great enough to heal. And to forgive. The living o the dead only loving remembrance. But not remorse. For all human relationships. Ar. Purple. All human relationships. That's so true. This guilt when a loved one dies is one of the most difficult of dragons many of us most battle. And the only way to overcome it is through the process. Ginuwine. Forgiveness. Now to forgive requires that we have the. Courage to communicate our anger to the person who has offended us. But in a non retaliatory fashion then we need to listen carefully to their response. And then we need to enter into a dialogue a conversation a relationship. What that purse. And it takes work it takes. A vast amount of courage to do this. And it takes a lifetime. We're always working on being more forgettable giving no matter how old we may be. This is a spiritual practice that needs to be taken. Seriously. Even then sometimes it doesn't work. The person you were angry at maybe insensitive to your pain and. Disinterested in bringing about a resolution. And all you can do then is to communicate as best you. Can. Know how that you've been hurt and then. Letgo. Forgiven. And it's not easy. But it's a lot harder. To have to hang on to that anger. Hurt. And let it poison your soul. The key. Is not to take it. Heart. Because your heart. Should be a sanctuary. And not. It's also important to remember that forgiveness does not require forgetfulness. We like to say that we will forgive and forget but in reality we need to forgive. And remember. We remember the hurt in the pain and yet we choose we choose to try as best we can to forgive in spite of those men. The most important person to forgive. And usually. The most difficult is. Ourselves. Our expectations for our sales are usually so high that we can't help but fall short. Repeatedly. But we cannot love ourselves or even really stand ourselves very much unless we learn to forgive our multitude. Of imperfection. Sometimes we hurt others so badly that we must ask for forgiveness from a higher source. Only by laying our soul bear by being totally honest with ourselves about how badly we've heard another can the grace. Have forgiveness be received. And sometimes we need to forgive god. Even if we don't believe in god. A hospice volunteer told me once that she was struggling with how to help to patients. One a young man in his thirties was dying of aids. And was wrestling with a question why me. Why do i have to die so young. The other patient. Was a 96 year old woman. Who had little quality of life. And was angry at god for not letting her die. What can you say to these two people who are both suffering not only. The extreme physical pain but the spiritual agony of not understanding why they are being treated so unfairly. I'm not sure what i would tell them but my hope is. That they were able to forgive god. Or life. For the anguish they endured. And malcolm gladwell's recent book david and goliath he tells a. I really tragic story about a canadian couple whose. Young daughter was brutally raped. And then left. Tied up in a shack where. Froze.. The night they. Heard their daughter was dead. Amman. From their community visited them and told them how the murder. All about the murder of his child. And how it destroyed his life leaving him depressed and angry and hopeless. After the man left the couple resolved never to let that happen to they'll never. To give up on love or give into hopeless. Being mennonites they were fortunate to have a. Tradition of forgiveness and reconciliation. And they resolved to use their tradition to help them overcome their torment. And anger. With the help of their religious community they use their grief. To motivate them to reach out to others who had suffered. And to live. Full and loving live. Spite of their grief. And pain. And that's what your religious community can do for you. Forgiveness is not. Asolo events. It's about relationships. We need a religious tradition that teaches the values of forgiveness and reconciliation of love and relationship and raises up these values as the most important part of our lives. And we need people around us who can be models and allies and helping us to live out those values. Our unitarian universalist tradition can and does offer that support. A wonderful leader. And one of. My past congregation. One day. Pulled into a burger king drive-thru for lunch and was accosted by two men with handgun. They told her to move over to the passenger seat. But she refused knowing that the chances of survival would not be good if she did. The man standing next to her door responded. By shooting her in the head. She somehow survived. And went through a long process of physical and emotional recovery. She was and is an amazingly strong and resilient woman who worked hard to become. Healthy. Again she did not want to. About a year after the attack she came to the decision that in order to let go of her anger and sadness she needed to meet the man. Who shot her. Both men had been arrested and incarcerated in. After some resistance from the prison officials they finally did meet. It was the beginning of a long. Healing relationship for both of them in which. They share their life stories along with their. Deepest hopes and fears. When the van finally did get out of jail with her help. She helped him. Find a job and he was able to start a new life. And her life. Was transformed. And the process. Now we hear stories like this every now and then and they they're hard for many of us to even comprehend how could someone reach out to another person who tried to kill her. How could she have the courage to transform. Both her life and his life so radically. But. Remember my friend was a part of a religious tradition. That pot forgiveness and reconciliation. And she had the amazing support. Of her. Religious can. Rachel naomi remen tells the story of a babled baby girl who is being blessed by a rabbi in front of. The congregation. When she felt his attention shift away from her she reach forward and grabbed his nose. Gently he freed himself and continue the sermon. After a few minutes she took his tie and put it in her mouth. The entire congregation chuckled. The rabbi rescued his tie and smiled at the child. She put her tiny arms around his neck. Looking at us over the top of her head he said think about it. Is there anything she can do. That you could not. Forgive her for. Throughout the room. The people began to nod and recognition thinking perhaps of their own children and grandchildren. Still smiling he waited for silence. When it came he asked. And when does that stop. When does it get hard to forgive. At 3. At 7. At 14. At 35. How old does someone have to be before you forget. That everyone. Is a child of god. Think about it if you knew. And this is something i've been thinking about 4. Several weeks. If you if you knew all there was to know. About another human being. Could you forgive them no matter what they did. If you knew. Their empire pass. Their struggles and pain and accomplishments enjoy. Could you understand. Why they did what they did. And then let go. Of your anger. This is a very difficult question i hope you contemplate it. During. The next week. When we can open our awareness to the pain we have caused others. And seek to restore our relationship i asking forgiveness. We move towards peace. And. At 1 month. When we open our hearts to our own pain and are able to express the sorrow and anger. In a non retaliatory way then we can give the gift of forgiveness. To another. And when we can see life as a circular web of connection with all beings. Interwoven into that web. Then we experience grace at its deepest level and forgiveness comes to our hearts. And we are home. May this be. A religious community where forgiveness is taught and learned and celebrated. And may you be both one who is held. And one who holds others. And that great. Adventure. Wonderful and lettuce in with these words by peter ustinov i i love this quote. Love is an act. Of endless forgiveness. A tender look. Which. Becomes a habit. Maelove being act of endless forgiveness for each one of us. A courageous adventure of letting go of our anger and resentment. Anna curve of connection. That brings us back. Into. So may it be.

uufvb_org

2012Nov11Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. Good morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach my name is pete kersey. I serve this congregation is a member of the board and the chairman of the worship committee. And we're so glad. 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. What are your young. Old. Gay or straight. Black or white. Or some other wonderful shade of humanity. Weather on top of the world or down in the dumps. Or somewhere in between. We're delighted. Proceeded. You are here. And you are welcome here. Just as you come to us at all of your particular attack. And your charm. Welcome. We hope that you will find this service meaningful. And enriching. And 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 a. 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 given. Something. Is taken. Society acquires 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 club aspira mat. An undivided 20th of a shed to sleep under. The civilized one has built a coach. What is lost the use of his. He is supported on crutches. But lacks the support of muscle. He has a fine geneva watch. But he fails to have the skill to 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 dial in 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. In-ear remy abell. And this enormously frustrating the managers. Take. The 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 dragnet. We changed the names to protect the innocent. 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 believe that 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. So when 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. And then the poetry of mary oliver. Her poem the journey. One day. You finally knew what you had to do. And began. Though 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. You didn't stop. You knew what you had to do. Do the wind pride 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. Could do. 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. Capelli's at sibelius please. And the way it was used as an. Anthem of national pride in finland during the occupation. But the words that are connected to that him. We're written as the youth him. Renew 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 youth. The used from two different religious movement. With long histories. Long institutional memories different practices came together in 1955 and said you know what. We can do more together. Any of us can do 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 futura promise. No course most of you who know the history of unitarian universalism have some inkling. That at 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 youth did it in 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 the 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 in 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 forgotten. 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 to. 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. Do 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. And all those who knew her. All those who knew her well we're started mystified. Don't you realize you're being offered the entire east end of the island. Won't this be wonderful and she's that 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 at its heart. Change is about loss. All kinds of lost. 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. Said one of the problems for modern-day north americans. Is that they are beginning to think the death is optional. Do i 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 check. 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. To when you were children. You all were children right. And you remember it. Begley right. Each year it slips a little further away. And then you're reminded by grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Of what you were like. And what was one of the great moments. Of childhood. Losing a tooth. Remember those days. I go back to the nickel era. You know what i mean. And that seemed a big deal. Because for a nickel. I could get a three musketeer bar that i could cut in three pieces and share with your friends. The lost. Evette. 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. Lewis i hope there's going to be something. Growing in its place. Is it weird kids knew about this. We knew 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 and 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 had 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. Shooting at trees and all that. If i'd stayed in. My old. 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 a meaning. Ever again. And then surprise a new meaning. Walks into your life. Your work. For 40 years. And keep bull 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 but ultimately. If you allow yourself into that change. And thoroughly invest your self 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. Just waiting for you when you're not so busy. With the work. The paid a salary. Los. But therefore also opportunity. Did you know that that opening him we sang enter rejoice and come in and 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. That you're 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 thing. 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 lippold. Here is what i've learned. Across. Nighttime in ministry. In counseling with numerous people. But 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 than i had before and that was what makes. Change. 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 core 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 been doing before. What are willing to risk doing something different and different. So that new things might come in if all you're doing is 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 change. But you make some real. Important. Been the balance sheet. Begin. Most people are not afraid that there will be too much change. They're afraid. That there will be. Little. That 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 functional. Be afraid of the thumb change this just tinkering with life. But grab for the change that will make a difference. Pete mentioned before that we've changed 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. Would be a congregation would be a center. And 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. 2000 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. Fire os 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 to you suddenly have more but other people are joining you into that. With hat sale i 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 pinkard. 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 changes 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 tim. 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 spouted 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. Bear the pain bare. To let it out. To be a one of the rare places in our world where being in pain and openly admitting it was okay. Donation 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. Was be radical enough. To be with one another. Even when things. Philadelphia dance. And not just a 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.

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2013Feb10Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. And welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach i've got some spiritual advice free this morning this is the conversation not to have. With family and friends in the northeast. Hi it's 74° in a light breeze is blowing to the palm trees it's sunny and gorgeous little white puffy clouds how's the weather by you. Do not gloat. Welcome. Wera congregation that always stands on the side of love. Seeking to become our best selves even those who 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. Peerless 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. On the human duality appropriately enough this sunday. Generosity. And greed. Now as i 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 these sets. Is not how is the church fathers seem to think they are. Standing in stark and absolute moral contrast one another but rather. In real life how intertwined intermingled and interrelated they actually are simply put. The virtues aren't all that virtuous. The sims art all that simple. 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 beings. But i am persuaded. Good life and even more obviously our human nature. Are much more complicated than that. 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. What it really means. To be a human being. Alright let's take a look then at the fourth pair. Generosity. And greed. Qualities. That have been set against each other is virtue and vice. Now. Let's begin as i have in all three of the earlier series sermon. 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. To 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 and was fined a hundred million dollars after being convicted of illegal insider training at that commencement speech. He famously touted the virtue of greed. When he said in part to that year's business graduates. Greed 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 there it go there it goes. 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 shamelessly proclaimed 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 greed 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. No. Well neither of these quotes i pray and hope is in the end morally or ethically persuasive to. The fact is that both boesky and gecko are on. Do something that we human beings. Cannot and must not ignore and that is i think the universality. And naturalness. Of 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. But this i think is 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. Your rationale. 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 avarice. Or covetous. Here's the definition. Green. Is the inordinate i underline the word. Desire to possess wealth. Goods are objects of abstract value. With the intention of keeping it for oneself. Barbie on 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. Them one needs. So greed. Is not acquisitive. But rather excessive or irrational acquisitiveness. It is a quisitive this 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 are 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 dante wickedly doom the souls who had been greedy in their earthly lives. They were bound. And laid face down on the ground. Punished justly. 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 face down bound in hell. Play was not a. 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. A focus. Agreed is 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 sleek mercedes parked in the driveway of a 4 million dollar home on the ocean. North of the 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 love 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. Who love and treasure as you all know this. 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 and our earthly lives are constantly focusing our attention. On singularly acquiring more and more wealth and stuff. We will miss the subtle richness. And glory of the world around us. You will know this is. Let me see all this slightly a different way. When we fall victim to greed it is a radical and m. Returning of one's attention away from the world. And toward the self it is a radical empty turning away from the world. Toward the self. Read therefore isolates and impoverishes us. Because it causes us to shut out other person sun life. Unless that's 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. So greed unbounded acquisitiveness is a sin. Because it takes you away. From everything you were put on earth. To know. Enjoy. 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 can 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 second aumack 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. Turns 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 and always diminishes our connections with life and persons. Generosity i think ultimately and always enhances our human and worldly connection. And it is those. 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 those 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 a portion. 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. How much of what we 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 could be also negatively ass 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. I think it can be sad. The emotional generosity which i think is the giving 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. Will 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. So it 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 and don't. Skip over that part we must reserve a portion of ourselves. Just. For ourselves. And that need to protect and attend. To the self. 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 giving. Are you all knew i'd get to this because this is stewardship sunday after all that 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. But i'm going to 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. So i think it is 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 for 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 times 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 earned. 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. That you're more than welcome to. I'm the only priests of 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. Established tithing as a spiritual practice. In our own lives we faithfully give back at least 10%. Of everything we learn. To our community distributed in our case among the various charities we support. This past year. I just figured this out i did my taxes this. Sweet figuring-out i've given we've given / 12. This year. The bit 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. Diesel 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 things. I have one ministerial colleague the minister of my hometown church back in wisconsin. Who gives half of everything he runs away to charity every. But then again he drives a beat-up gremlin. So 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 words 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. It's a good. Ancient figure. 10. 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. To 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. When 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 his 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. And 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. Anna saying mean to you on the 6th. I send you on your way this week with this poem it's a little long. From latino poet. 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. Butter 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 even 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 humanity 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

2012Jul15Sermon32.mp3

When the people came to this world. The fourth world. They came because they wish to start anew. Uc mini had forgotten the words of spider grandmother when she brought them to the third world which. Paula the sun spirit. Had created for them out of endless space. They had forgotten that's how i had transformed them from beast. The humans. The spider grandmother had charge them to live. To live in harmony and to forget evil some in their arrogance. Even came to believe that they had created themselves. Sorcerers work today tricky magic created. The kivas became gambling houses children wandered in the street dirty and unfed. To help them to the right ways. Who had forgotten tawa. For deeply. Trouble. These who have not forgotten what's hollis it came together and they decided. What they might need to do. The spider grandmother came to them while they met. She brought a message from power she said you must prepare to leave this place. Defined another far from the evil one. The people were further trouble that this i did not know where to go. Some of the elders had heard footsteps in the sky they decided to investigate. So they made a bird. Out of clay and they say the birds to life. Sending it flying. Up to the top of the sky to the stiffer the opening. In the place above. It's ruler and only inhabitant. Spirit of death and owner of fire heard the message this bird carried and days. Whoever just desire to come and lives in the upper world. So the people made plans to depart they did not know how they would reach the doorway in the sky. Spider grandmother and her twin grandsons the warrior god to help. Chipmunk. Planted a bamboo stalk that the people saying to the top of the sky as they climbed this longstock. They emerged into the new world. Mockingbird assigned each a tribe and the language. Since each group in a different direction. So came the people to the fourth world according to hopi language. They came still charged with their original purpose. Did forget evil and avoid injuring others. To live in harmony. And to ponder the meaning of seems even today each of their kiva's the gathering place for religious ceremonies. And helmet achatina society. Still there's an indentation in the floor. Physical reminder of the original. Tiffany. For the opening play. In the sky. Distance from the. People at the pueblo lose its are pueblos it's in the woven spirit of the. You know what you and i cannot climb out of an opening in the sky to escape from a world of disorder. Of war. A relationships fraught with fear and mistrust the reality is this. If we want. A better world a new world a beloved community we have to create it. Today. What are the first things we have to do is to acknowledge that it's maybe it's fear that's keeping us. From moving in the direction. Of peace. The greater good. That blessed community. Beer. After this realization we must work like a heron in a hurricane. I keep a steady grip. On our dream or a vision of a new better world. Fear. This d. It lurks in the darkness and it doesn't even when the lights are on this thief way to destroy our hope for harmony and peace. We shiver. With fear and dare not move rest we get beaten down by it. So why do we fear. Are so many cliche dancers we're afraid of our shadows. We're fated people who are different than we are we hear rejection. We fear fear itself roosevelt. Afraid of god. Raven afraid of our own power. If you might recall nelson mandela said the words of marianne williamson is not the darkness we fear. But our like our ability to be powerful beyond measure. Well all these beers. Don miguel ruiz. Who passed a week has passed away this spring. He wrote many theories and books on toltec wisdom. Including one titled the four agreements. And he promoted the idea that what we really fear. Is imperfection. Imperfection in. Others and in ourselves. Our image of. Perfection is the reason we reject ourselves. It is why we don't accept ourselves the way we are and why we don't accept others the way they are. Because we have been born into a belief system that existed before we arrived we buy into the system but we never had the opportunity. Choose. What to believe or what not to believe. Even when we grow into adulthood and decide to ditch the ideas. We were raised to accept. We still carries women. And those beliefs and then suffer. Some of us more than others. Some guilt you're no longer agreeing to accept. What we were taught when we were young. Therefore. Many of us walk around with his muddled conversations in our heads over what we've deliberately chosen to believe as adults and what we were taught to believe as children. Since we were raised in a system of reward and punishment we have acted accordingly. We have added a layer. Called monkey chatter. It's sometimes called monkey cheddar and this monkey cheddar is keeping us from. A peaceful exist. And it's inside offense we behaved in a manner that keeps us law-abiding. Just as the government has a book of laws that rule our society stream our personal belief system. Rules our dreams. All of these laws exist in our mind. And we believe them. And the judge inside us bases everything on these rules said miguel ruiz. Even if the rules constructed in our society or our own personal beliefs. Are wrong we often experience a sense of shame or guilt or fear of punishment if we do not follow them. So all this mental strife. Referred to by the toltecs very ancient society it was referred to as mitote. Or mind fog. It's present at a conscious and an unconscious level create distress. And disease. So i think this word is helpful mitote when people are coming at you. Asking you questions and you need a moment to think about what you truly believe or how are you going to answer. Mindful. Red sprites your mind. Is a dream where 1,000 people talk at once. Nobody understands each other. Everything you believe about yourself and about the world. All the concepts in the programming you have in your mind. They're all mitote. Is metal mask of feelings and notions these are just intense like. Unwanted ivy wrapping itself around a perfectly healthy. Tree seedling. Choking it. Out of life itself. Is threatened by a creeping killer. Called intersection. So what hinders this growth of peace and love and harmony. It's this endless cycle of suffering tied to awkward thought patterns that have been influenced by our attitudes are behaviors and even our upbringing. Traditions throughout the world have offered helpful guidelines. For living and for promoting ethical conduct in the public. Example we have the ten commandments in christianity. The eightfold path in buddhism. The five pillars of islam and even the seven principles of unitarian universalism. And to follow what is their answer. When. Because we are human we do not follow the precepts we've adopted how to reactivate the anxiety associated with the guilt and the shame for our tendency sometimes to be merely human. To be merely human means to fail to beeper. According to the buddha the human mind quote in its normal stage generate dhaka. Which can be translated as suffering. And in christian teaching send. Is the word but it's kind of missing the mark or this kind of dysfunction. It is interesting to note. That's an literally in the ancient greek meaning just means missing the mark. Missing the point. It means to live on skillfully blindly maybe and dust to suffer and cause suffering. The racing should have. That accompanies missing the mark. Failing to be perfect. How do we recommit ourselves. 2. I renewed life of ethical living. Spiritual balance. And ultimately a renewed commitment to creating cheese. Within ourselves. Within our relationships in our community in our country. In our world. Well we have to continue studying the teachings were offered by our religious traditions in addition. Four agreements with us. These came from ancient mexico i consider them cliff notes. Or the essential bare-bones easy-to-remember rules. For maintaining peace. Within and with others was well-respected and his and his life or his. We don't hear a lot about the native indigenous traditions in mexico and how they live well the toltec were men and women who were scientists. An artist. And they gathered thousands of years ago at tessa heekin the ancient city of the pyramids. Located outside of mexico city now these toltec. Wanda society to explore and conserve the spiritual knowledge and practices. As the ancient. These ancient ones for. People also known as. The nodwell p. Turn the oswell is from vanuatu language derived from early mexican language it was spoken by the people now regarded as the aztecs. And their predecessors the titanic. Aztec mythology. Spirit. Present in the shape of an animal or a planet. Every god and human had his personal. Who. He shared his faith until death. So the term was used maybe some of you remember this. Carlos castaneda and his books he used to describe the person who was able to lead people to new areas of perception. Currently the term novel is being used to describe a shaman. Or one who follows a path of knowledge. Such as. The toltec path. For miguel ruiz's. Okay so here's the meat of what i'm trying to say to you cording to resin others who have carried on the wisdom of an earth tradition. Entities contemporary times. He said there were four key agreement. Available for assisting developing. A more peaceful existence. Now want to reiterate. That these came a good shamans ability. A true shaman disabilities take ancient wisdom and share it with us. And contemporary. Method and language that's what you're receiving today was this power was in the simplicity of this message. And it's followed these four agreements. If we choose we can choose to adopt. Will assist in the making of a more peaceful. World. The first one. The impeccable with your words. Impeccable with your word. I had this idea when i was little bit what if because i felt like people were wasting their words i thought what if we were all born. With so many words. And when you use them up. How many people would still be talking. 40. Be impeccable with your word that means following through with your convictions. Let's have lunch don't say that unless you mean to have lunch. It's about being accountable. It's about follow through and with that follow through your building trust. The word is a force we was dead it is the power you have to express in communication. It is the tool of magic. The impeccable. With your word now words. Or to destroy. The destroy the lives of others. How can one person change events. By their words. Let me just say the word hitler. Now consider jesus. And buddha. Mother teresa. Consider martin luther king jr.. The word impeccable. Encourages. To speak. From a place of love. Rather than from a place. Fl will if you choose to come from a place of love and rita maine to stay in that place any negativity that comes in your direction. Well-bound sausage. You have to work hard. Colette. Any words. Have negative consequence bounce-off. You may find yourself amongst a thousand people who have chosen to live in hell hell on earth. By adopting negative words and intent however. Through your agreement to remain impeccable. With what you say. You will be closer to finding a place. Peace. Because you can fully trust. Yourself. The second one don't take things. Personally. Don't take things personally whatever anyone says. The person is speaking from his or her own places pain. If it is a hurtful comment. It's from a place of pain. Even if it's an appreciation or compliments. Consider that it might be that they like your blouse. Maybe they would love to have a blouse like that or maybe they want to compliment you because they want to give you something and then that way sometimes we might expect a thank you. That makes us feel better so. Everything. Everything that is said don't take it personal. Nothing other people do is because of you. All people live in their own dream in their own mind a are in a completely different world. From the one we live in when we take something personally we make the assumption that they know what is in our world. And we try to impose our world onto them. The i'm going to bring up this one about traffic. How many times i've been in the car with somebody who's dead. He cut me off you just didn't want me to get ahead. You don't know that. But don't take it personally. Right watch what you say in traffic. It's not about you. The third one don't make assumptions. We have a tendency to make assumptions about every. The problem with making assumptions that we believe the truth. We could swear they're real we take it personally and then we blame them. And react by sending emotional poison with our word. Assumption status up for suffering. We don't ask questions for clarification we start gossiping. About our assumptions and we start to believe our assumptions when in reality we cannot possibly. Be entirely sure of another person's thoughts or actions. Buddhism promotes the idea of non-attachment. It is about refusing to allow your mind to become attached to the behavior. And outcomes especially. To remain focused on keeping your word trust in your ability to remain unattached. What others say and do is to keep a real healthy delivery mm. Avoid assumptions don't fall into the narcissistic trap of plains negative ideas. Imagine. The opinions of others both good and bad imagine that their leaves. On a river floating in front of you. You you see that you would knowledge them and then let them go. Both good and bad. Have a attitude but let them go. See them. Let them go out of sight. For always do your best. Always do that this is what's important to understand about your best. It will not always be the same. Your best today may be different than your best 10 years ago. Your best today may be different than 10 years ahead of you. Always. Everything is alive and changing all the time. So your best will sometimes be of high quality. Other times not as good remember this remains true. Oh here me on this. Remember this is true for other people. Their best one day. May not have been their best. 10 years ago. How many times could i say this to people who have been divorced. Forgotten out of relationships while we hang onto things that we assumed and that we remember but we have to say truly is. That was the best he or she could do. Doing your best. Is to do as well as you can with what is available to you and seek to enjoy the doing. The action rather than praise the reward or the final outcome. Here is another quote action about living fully in action is the way that we deny life in action is sitting in front of the television everyday for years. Because you're afraid to be alive into risk. Expressing who you are. And i will add the inaction keeps you from. Because we're worried about being hurt. Or having people avoid us. Or reject us. We kind of decide what will step aside i'm asking you to take these four agreements and participate in life. Participate in a relationship. But hang on to these four ways of thinking that really can help you. To keep you from getting off-kilter. Hang on to this final agreement. Always do your best when you're unable to keep any of the above agreements be kind to yourself. Allow this internal judge to speak to you once and i'm talking about that area of forgiveness. Experience the guilt and the shame if you've done something that you wish you hadn't forgive yourself and then. Understand that life has a pass. A present and a future. Answer the wrong from mistakes that you made in the past or that others have made. Foster's self-projection. Incel. Abuse which inhibits growth. Will inhibit growth and it will inhibit your ability to love to love yourself and to love others you cannot forgive yourself. And love yourself. Again you cannot love other. The four agreements i have listed for consideration require work. And persistent attention but they're not impossible to achieve. To become aware of the times when we have the opportunity. To be impeccable. With your word. Look for opportunities like this and i can do this. If you are getting ready to say it and you thinking stop. I don't i really can't follow through with. Don't say it. Avoid taking things personally. Thank you very much this is a nice road. Yes thank you let it go not about me in this robe it's about what somebody else is saying. Thank you if somebody says your hair is not looking so great. Don't lash out. Say that's interesting that you noticed me and let it go. Mexico abstain from making assumptions. Don't assume because somebody didn't invite you. Some party or something that is something you've done wrong stop the assumptions. If you're not sure ask. Be brave. Strive to do your best. Always. And then look back and you think that was the best i could do with the time and let it go. You know what to do all this. It's like a fixing a ladder to a burning building. We can stay on the ground and go oh look at that awful burning building. Oh too bad the world isn't a nasty state affairs we can grab a ladder. And a water hose. With our actions we can assist others to a place of safety and security. Allow then peaceful coexistence that is fueled by the desire to make. Heaven on earth. And violence and mistrust. These are all elements. Not impede the presence of peace. So. Go in peace. Quite literally.

uufvb_org

2015Jan11Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning on this second sunday of january. Ic9 of our january snowbirds back for the first time this morning i'm not going to name you but you know who you are. This wonderful weather here maybe why guess how many people move to florida every day 365 days a year right now guess how many. 800. Correct. Welcome to paradise. When welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are so pleased you've chosen to begin this beautiful day with us. We are congregation lithographic said of open minds loving hearts and helping hands people. Seeking to become our best individual selves even as together as a congregation we work to make our world. If more humane place and please know you are welcome precisely as you come to us this morning. 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 whether you're a visitor with us the first time this morning. Or have been coming for decades. Whether you're feeling emotionally on top of the world this morning or. Down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We welcome you as you come in your particularity and your need. And we hope you will find our services morning. Meaningful and enriching at you will find something here this morning to take with you into your lives in the days and weeks ahead. That will make your life better and more meaningful and more responsible. Welcome to this place of possibility. This is loves hard. The home of hope a refuge for mines and search of truth unfolding. Ever beautiful. Everest range. Here compassion is our shelter. Freedom our protection from the storms of bigotry and hate. In this place. May we find comfort. Encourage. Here may our site become vision. To see the unseen. To glimpse the good. That is yet to be. This morning i want to address the question of whether or not truth is relative or absolute. Alright so maybe i have had a little bit too much intellectual time on my hands lately. But that's incredibly big philosophical and religious and moral question has been on my mind lately for reasons i will spell out in just a moment and i hope you've had your brain wheaties this morning. For we will do i think a bit of heavy lifting. This morning. Because i passionately believe that how we answered this complicated question about the nature of truth. Has a direct an important impact on how we live our religious and ethical lies out. And whether or not we will succeed during our lifetimes and serving our deepest beliefs. And most cherished values. What is got me focused on this question as to whether or not truth is relative or absolute. Or even more vexing. Something in between. What does where i'm actually headed this morning. But what got me thinking about this is a group of vociferous conservative television and radio commentators. Who have repeatedly of late. Try to blame many of what they perceive to be the evil. Of americans the evils in ills of american society things like crime drug abuse. Out-of-wedlock pregnancies to them gay marriage which is now legal here in florida. And further things like abortion and assisted suicide in the high divorce rates among. Heterosexuals. Nevermind i think that's not in the text i should have said that. The fact is you know that the best friend that heterosexual marriage has right now are all these gay and lesbian people were struggling to replicate the model for everybody but that's another sermon for another day. These commentators are blaming all the evils in ills of human of american society and what they call moral relativism. These commentators who include but are not limited to bill o'reilly. Sean hannity rush limbaugh and william bennett. All suggest. But if our society were simply guided by unbending and clear moral absolutes. Drawer moral wheels if you will. That unflinchingly teach right from wrong. As opposed to relativistic or situational perspectives. That is a non legalistic approach which suggests that truth and morality are often nuanced and fluid and complex. They argue that if we just had clear eternal absolute america would once again be upright godly and a moral nation. What is conservative commentators are saying in their aggressive attack on the idea of relativism. Is the truth morality and goodness always and only flow from eternal law and unbending principle. Never they say relative or situational or evolving understanding. The take. The particulars of any given human situation into account. They accuse american liberalism as morally believing with. German nihilist frederick nietzsche that god is dead and therefore. Everything is permitted that's what they're saying. In a liberal say everything is relative so that means everything is permitted. It is this foundational philosophic and religious idea that absolutist thinking is always good and relativistic or situational thinking is always bad. Remind me to push back against this morning. For my understanding as a free and i like to think of supple thinking unitarian universalist. Is whether you were talking about science. Or ethics or social policy or politics. A healthy dose of relativism. Along with a clear set of firm principle. And that is the key nuanced point here. Relativism along with principals. Is needed if we are to ever fully come to serve what is most real and true and good. In most situations. In a nutshell what i hope to persuade you this morning of this morning is. The relativistic thinking. And the situational decision-making that result from relativistic thinking. Are crucial in this profoundly fluid and complicated world of art. And generally this relativistic thinking serves us better. An absolutist thinking does in the real world. Let's begin. In this critical analysis of absolutism versus relativism. Just by taking a quick look at the realm of natural science. While i make no claims to be a true philosopher of science i believe after consulting with. Many scientists friends are doing a great deal of reading in this field. I believe it is accurate to say. The centuries ago when sir isaac newton and the other early scientists first articulated. The basic laws of physics and the unending laws of other natural sciences. The scientific community thought it had identified once and for all the forces and mechanisms like gravity. And mass and the nature of things like light and sound. That were quote-unquote absolutes that the laws of nature. We're already fully known and always and eternally true. But in the centuries since as science has evolved and matured including incorporating einsteins. To paradigm shattering theories of relativity. Into its operating understandings as well as what i shall loosely call the new physics scientists who study the natural world have realized. But the ones apparently clear and immutable scientific truths and laws that were identified centuries ago are in fact. Imprecise. Mysterious. Contradictory not fully understood subject to change. Vulnerable to cultural bias. And dependent upon each context in which they operate in other words. They are situational. Let's take for example the hang with me here folks. What physicist today call. Call the wave particle duality i know you already about that this morning. I realize it's kind of heavy stuff as wikipedia the online encyclopedia which is very helpful with many topics. The wave particle duality which is a relatively new scientific understanding is quote. The concept that every elemental particle quantic entity. Exhibits the properties of not only particles but also of waves. The duality of this duality addresses the inability of the classical concept of particle or wave to fully describe the behavior of quantum scale objects. And then i wrote it seems as though we must use sometimes the one theory. And sometimes the other. Wallet times we may use either. We are faced with a new kind of difficulty einstein one on. We have two contradictory pictures of reality. Separately neither of them fully explains the phenomenon of light. But together they do. What the physicists are saying. Is it how we describe or understand every elemental particle. Is it away. Or is it a particle. Is relative. And not absolute. The truth. Of what you were looking at in the microscope or whatever. Depends on the changing natural circumstances another word. The physical reality of life at its most basic level. Is situational and can and does change and canada's and should be seen in different ways. Similarly here's what wikipedia hang with me again folk says about the new physics which is also called the physics beyond the standard model. The new physics they right. Refers to the theoretical developments needed to explain the deficiencies of the standard model. Such as the origins of math the strong cp problem whatever that is neutrino oscillations whatever that is. Matter-antimatter asymmetry whatever that is and the nature of dark matter and dark energy whatever those are. Another problem lies within the mathematical framework they write of the standard model itself. The standard model is inconsistent with that of general relativity. To the point that water v series breakdown under certain conditions. For example. Within the known space-time singularity like the big bang on the black hole. Or event horizons now i really don't have any idea what most of this means but the bottom line is that they're the new businesses are telling us. This stuff is all situational is not eternal and absolute and clear. No. If you're like me most of this new physics stuff is way over your head. But the bottom line here is his 21st century physicists learn about the complexities and subtleties. Of the forces and basic elements of our natural world. The less they talk in absolutist terms and the more they use relativistic language. The last few congregation i served river road uu. Was located just blocks from the national institutes of health. And i had a flu in that congregation of very. Write theoretical scientist with a coon actually talk to me about this stuff. One of them who basically ran the famous genome project. Which took on the challenge of mapping 20 years ago of mapping the entirety of the human genetic code. She once said to me when we were discussing absolutism and relativism in science scott there are so many forces and factors that scientists still do not have control over in their experiment. Or complete on stander standing of it is virtually impossible to said to make absolutist statements about the nature of reality. Science and scientific understanding she said which is always partial. Evolve. And must always be done in the context of current understanding. All of that will chain. So. Most working scientists today hesitate to make once and for all. Absolutist statements about the quote-unquote eternal laws of the natural universe in fact. They see the world as increasing and increasingly complex and relativistic term. Where are understanding of what we're looking at. Depends upon the context. So. If we now in these modern times understand. A great deal of unfolding scientific. As being relativistic and contextual. How much easier it is to understand. The truth. The human and ethical realm can also and are also relativistic and situational. I guess i will speak just for myself here for the moment. In the human and ethical rounds in which i live and move and have my being. Almost everything. Important. Resists and denies simple answers. An absolute understandings. Life to me seems to be one big bag of complex reality. Interdependent factors and contradictory forces that mock are understandable and natural human attempt. Control everything once and for all with absolute certainty. Including. How we should always live and ethically act. With one another. I know many people try. And some imagine to persuade themselves. But they alone do. Have all the answers i'm sure you've met some of these people in your life. Always and absolutely once and for all. But in my world almost everything moral and ethical and human. Defies absolutist answers and categorical clarity to me. Life at its core is fiercely situational. And therefore frequently demands situational truth to guide us as we search for what is best. Let me give one very concrete and i think compelling example. Almost every society and religion i know of a firm's as a central moral principle. The sacredness and the value of every human life. One of the most universal laws. Human societies around the world. Is it nothing purposeful should ever be done. The prematurely or unnecessarily and the life of another. Apparently diastase for example except for a handful of progressive states. That have recently allowed what is called assisted suicide for individuals. Facing painful disease and death. Most states including this one. Have an absolute prohibition. Against assisted suicide and euthanasia. And showing most places in america. If the spouse of a person who is dying a horrible painful death. Assist that person in ending their own life. By helping for example him and her. Just swallow a fatal dose of pills that he or she is accumulate. If you was a spouse assist that person in ending their own life. Given the absolutist wording of the law in this state. You can be tried for murder. And imprisoned for the rest of your life. As a as a murderous criminal. But it seems to me as a unitarian universalist whose ethics are much more situational. Then they are absolutist. That the absolutist position here is always wrong and always immoral every way to help someone suffering. The vistas not in many situations. Serve the universal principle of the sacredness. And worth. Of every person. I do not believe. In the case of terribly sick and suffering person. The cause of the sacredness of human life is served by absolutely refusing. To allow that person to choose their own painless exit. I believe there are many situations. When the best way to honor the sacredness. Of a human person. Is to allow that person's life by hastening. To go. Thereby preventing unnecessary suffering. But the moral absolutist in our culture. And there are many of them out there as you know. Believe that if we allow even a little bit of situational ethical decision making. Based on particular medical facts that will be a slippery slope you've all heard the phrase that will lead to a more relaxed by greedy families of dying individual you know i want to get rid of crap for his money or something like that don't know what they're saying. But as a moral situation list. As i've already said i believe the sacredness of human life is sometimes serve. Best and most lovingly. By intentionally and mercifully ending. That. The life of those who suffer terribly and who wish to die. And here's where the work of ethicist dr joseph fletcher is helpful to me. Are there he there he is. It is clear and concise 1966 classic situational ethics. The new morality. He makes the case as i am this morning. That any and all legalistic. Or absolutist approaches to ethical and moral decision-making. Worcester quote-unquote prefabricated rules and unbending regulations. Of necessity he argues fail us in the face of the complexities and nuances and the contradictions of the real world. And real decision-making. Here is dr. fletcher's simple formulation. Four situational ethics. He says that by. Utilizing. Principle of love. Combined with our human reason. And our human freedom. We are able to make the best and most moral and ethical decisions in each human situation. Here is how dr. fletcher makes his case. For relativistic and situational. Decision-making i call him at some length. I'd like the legalists an absolutist who enter into every decision-making situation. Encumbered by the whole apparatus of prefabricated rules and regulations. The situational is he right. Answers to do every decision-making situation. Fully armed with the ethical maxims of the community. And it's heritage. A treat them with respect as illuminators of the ethical problem. Just the same the situation list is prepared in any situation. To compromise some of those ethical maxims of the community or set them aside in a situation. If love. Seems better served. So he goes on in situational ethics. Even the most revered principle. Maybe thrown aside. If they conflict with any concrete case. Of love. Too many people fletcher suggested. Many people too many people. Longhorn ethical system of prefabricated pre tailored morality. They cannot trust themselves. To use their human freedom to decide what is right. They want to lean on strong unyielding rules. The situation is how ever. Cunningham herself loose from the dead hand of unyielding law. What is false promise of relief from the anguish of decision-making. Can only determine that is a person of good will he or she will live freely. With the ambiguities that go along with that freedom. And then he ends. The moral life takes on the shape of an adventure. And ceases to pretend to be. A blueprint. What fletcher is saying. And this is something i believe also. Is it all wise ethical and moral decision-making in the real world is of necessity. Situational and relativistic. Because life on this earth. By its very nature is situational. And relativistic. We are always commanded to act lovingly fletcher rights. But how to do. But how to do it depends. On our own responsible estimation of the situation. Love is the only constant he right everything else is variable. No. It might occur to some of you who've been thinking ahead on this. The doctor fletcher himself is trapped in a bit of absolutist or law bound thinking when he declares again and again in his book. That love is the first principle and proposition of all ethical and moral decision-making. He nobly wants love whatever that means. And by logical extension compassion. To become the universal law of the human heart. But what makes his proclamation. On the primacy of love. Relativistic. And not absolutist is his insistence. The because life is forever situational. We must in every moment. And then every contact use our reason and our freedom in addition to the principle of love. To decide how the principle of love is best served. He says. When we say that love is always good. What we mean is that whatever is loving in any particular situation is good. Fletcher's point here is it when it comes to doing what is loving and right in human affairs. Ridgid legalism and absolutist laws. Will invariably fail us because life is so vexing lee situational. So no matter how much we want to baber have fall back. I'm simple legalistic once and for all absolutes it's the truth and that's all there is to it. In real life there is i think. No avoiding. Using a reason and our freedom. In the ways that are morally best. So let's return for a moment to my example of the many laws against assisted suicide. Or what we might call. Humane and compassionate euthanasia. Which still exists these laws as i said all across america including here in florida. The absolutist. We're home truth is always cut and cleared. Will categorically tell you that every terminal medical situation. Regardless of the level of suffering or sorrow or even the wishes of the patient. Society must continue to prohibit by law. Any purposeful hastening of death. To the moral absolutist life no matter how compromise. No matter how sad. No matter how cruel. Is always sick. To them sacredness is always sacredness. The law is the law. And to intervene even to end suffering even to honor the wishes of the patient. Is always wrong. And always immoral. Always. But the situation was. Will tell you. That at the end of life there is a choice that can and should be made if you use your reason and your freedom. A humane and moral choice sometimes. That we must have caring and thoughtful human beings face. In the face of life impossible complexity. We have to use a reason in our conscience and our freedom. To best serve. The preciousness. Of life. No. Let there be no illusions about. Being a relativist when it comes to moral decision-making. Is often very hard and challenging. Even as we struggled to do the right thing for love in fletcher's terms. We will sometimes never know for positive or for sure. If we alternate lee did do the best thing if we chose the right thing. But that is the risk doctor fletcher would say the acceptable risk of being fully human. Enso nuanced and chaotic. Creation. And that's why i finally arrived at what i really want to say to you this morning. Not only do i believe the truth. Whether we are talking about science or religion is frequently relative. Fluid and unclear. I further believe with fletcher. Then if we are to be fully human and fully humane. We must regularly use not be afraid of our reason. And our freedom. And every unique situation. Conservative legalistic thinkers suggest falsely. And disingenuously. I believe. That you take a relativistic approach. To truth and moral decision-making. And each situation or context. Is somehow equated with having no moral standards or principles at all that's what bill o'reilly believe. You know. If i let you have god's final moral law you can't possibly be good. Nothing in fact could be further from the truth. What's a conservative columnist do not seem to understand or do not seem to want to understand. Is it both the absolutist. And the relativist arrive at affirm. Moral decision-making. What they both did and they both do so in a purposeful and principled way. The difference is how they get. So that moral decision point. Absolutist asked only what does the law say. Where is the relativist given all of life's nuances in particular says. What is the best and most loving outcome possible. So here is the all-important bottom. Line. I am right. The truth. In this complex world of ours is almost always relative and subject to situational nuance. The new and i is unitarian universalist have a lot of work to do. As we strive in our daily lives. To live lovingly and morally and incorrectly. The fact that truth and morality are frequently relative. And elusive realities means that we are obliged and paul you alluded to it this is work to work on these principles. That the struggle with lice shifting complexities in concert. Contradiction. To do the hard work of trying to discern. What is good and right and true. In every situation. Two-way and in our hearts undermine the values and the principles which demand our allegiance. Yet often come into conflict with one another and then finally. To act. To act. Not with certainty. But with clarity of purpose and principle and heart. If they are given to us. In doing the hard work considering life relativity. Is the scary. Yes. It is imprecise. It is momentous. It is fraught with danger. And uncertainty. And it is fraud. What's the possibility of error. You bet. It's very hard. But his doctor fletcher points out. In a world like ours in the end we have no other choice. Legalistic absolute never work. In the real world. Principal relativism principle. Relativism. Alone can best serve us. As we stumble toward that which is ultimately. The best. For all of us. Principal relativism. It's the best. This is all the reassurance that i can offer you. We are human being supplied by a messy and uncertain world. To use our freedom. And our reason. And our highest principles situationally. Relativistic. And again and again and again we must do this everyday. I do not believe the world gives us any other choice. We simply must use. A reason. And our freedom. We simply must in this messy world of ours. Feels fully and bravely human as we can. In situation. After situation. After situation. I'm in. 20th century uu minister john w bring them whom i knew. Set this to his congregation once. Go your ways. Knowing not the answers to all things. Yes speaking always the answer to one more thing. Then you know. The searchers with your companions be adventurers and ways untrod. Hold the hope of discovery high within you. Sharing the hope. And whatever discoveries may come. With others. Go to your week. Bf open mind. Work hard. And be a good person.

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2010Nov07sermon128.mp3

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2011Mar27Sermon32.mp3

Some years ago i read that a sociologist at ohio state university. People go to church.. Years later i learned that a government researcher had concluded that the more frequently you go to church. I'm glad to hear and i'll bet you are too. And i'm especially glad to be here in vero beach at one of the very few congregations that has a hundred percent of almost 100% membership in uusc and. Had the good sense to call my friend scott alexander as its minister either one of those behaviors. Would be cause for applause but the combination not to. Permanently inoculate from the rest of the country. So scott and jack seifert are wonderful uusc volunteer rap for 26 years uusc volunteer rep in this time. The service was running for president of the equipment if i lost the election. People could save me what gladstone is reported to have said of disraeli. He is the young man with a brilliant future behind him. Now the question for me at age 61 is why would. An old man with a limited future in front of intake up a new president of the unitarian universalist service. Uusc is quite literally the most effective. To put unitarian universalist values in the world. To make justice unitarian universalist are in the vanguard of the torah. I'm going to tell you about our work in just a moment. Because uusc get no money from the uua that's a point many people are confused about. Provides no financial support sc is entirely dependent upon the generosity of unitarian universalist like you. I hope that you're in a coffee hour you'll go to the table set-up and if by chance you're not a member and i know there's a lot of new members hear a new folks. Like most of you already are giving $100 or more because a hundred dollars more every dollars match dollar-for-dollar by our congregation in. New york. But first i want to tell you about the 8th. The seven deadly sins were first systematize in the year 590. By pope gregory the first and they're not catholic. You are an are a very attentive and guilt-ridden. I'll bet the most camp name all seven. Though perhaps if i give you a hint. You can come up with one of them. It is associated with frequent church-going. You got it. But those of you actually who were thinking to yourself. You might be right to because pressure is making you you might be another one of us. Right. And then of course there are rats. Greed. Pride. Envy. The seven deadly sins where the early churches roadmap to hell. And by the way i should say. Christians who worry about the afterlife familiar with the story. Orthodox jew close to death. Moisture they said is there anything we can get you. Yes he said. Get me a ham sandwich. Naturally the family was. Distressed the gas but they ordered up a ham sandwich and moisture. Eagerly. I'm about to die whenever i get where i'm going all-in all you've been a good man. Remember the time your stolen apple was a boy. Remember the time you raised your voice to your good wife. Remember the time you were mean to that no-good son or daughter married against almost over. So what's your thrusting to me what is interesting to me about the seven deadly sins. Well imagine circumstances. In which every one of them could be construed as a perch. Without raft evils of the world. There would be no social progress. Without lost the human race could not procreate. Type a personality. If we feel insufficient pride in ourselves we are said to suffer from low self-esteem. If you are in a refugee camp with no food or running water who would really be greed. But there is one. Very common which we all probably at one time or another trump's wall is worse than all of the others. It's hard for me to think of any circumstances in which. Could be construed as virtue. And your cruelty. What's not included in the seven deadly sins. What was the first place it is because the god whom the early christian church worship. Was unashamedly accrual.. This was the god who told moses to slay all non-virtual women in midian. Had cruelty been included in the seven deadly sins. Jesus. The early church fathers believed that it was their duty to torture heretics because otherwise. Those heretics pernicious doctrines would spread anyone. Coming under their influence. Would suffer.. Fires of hell was a small price to pay to save people from danger. Is not included in. The church's official list of sins was because as i say virtually everybody doesn't. Not every one of us can be accused of being angry or lustful. Taking an extra flagon of mead at the dinner table. Everybody knows his or her heart that. At some point we done something me even even jesus had an off-day every once in awhile remember the time he was hungry and coming upon a tree that was out of season and therefore no fruit. So. Cruelty is very common but. That makes no less a reason true cruelty is despicable. Well the reason is not just because it causes suffering those out of courses. True crime because it makes the whole world. List. That's the connection beetner is drawing in the reading i shared with you this morning between the beauty of the world. And the imperative. Between. What she calls during in the blood at the sound of rain our celebration of the world. Graciousness and beauty. Thickening of the heart. Impulse to do justice. If unitarian-universalism. Teaches us anything. And privation and disaster and the world is still full of blessing. The complexity of our minds generosity of our hearts with every breath of life itself. Creation presented to us for the taking we did not earn them we did nothing to deserve them they just are the gracious gift of an ever. Giving universe the rating. Creation what the theologians call. Manifestations of grace. If you have too little water. Drink. The sun. Becomes not a blessing. If you just spoil the earth. Ruin the environment no longer have reached. Theros majesty. If you have. To littleton. Your complex mind your generous heart. If you are tortured the very breath of life which otherwise. Agony threes and cruelty. Is not just because it causes it is because any wrecks roblox. It turns the awesome. Gracious about life so much more difficult to see. Soap. Universities job. With your help and on your behalf is to combat cruelty in order to set the world's radiance free. Women in refugee camps in darfur sudan. Are not supposed to be raped by the united nations police who are designated to protect them in the camps. But until uusc introduced a training program and an accountability system for those police. Whenever women in the camps would leave the camps to collect firewoods they were at risk of rape not justify militiamen but by the police themselves. You get that you change that you and you usa. Access to clean water is about as basic as i can imagine anything. Is a gracious gift to be had by all it is water but. In too many places on this planet including in this country water is priced out of reach of the poor and people who can't pay for it. You and uusc are working to ensure that the human right to water applies to everyone. Over the past 40 years most of the mayan indians forgotten about them. Few of their killers have been brought to justice virtually none of them but today uusc and its partners in guatemala. Could you just bring at least a few of them. No one in this country should have to live on $15,000 a year that's what earning the federal minimum wage makes the federal poverty line for a family of three. Uusc is working to raise the wages of poultry workers in arkansas of restaurant workers in georgia are set at $2.13 an hour. So that jobs will lift people out of poverty not keep them in it. Muslim countries. If you speak out for religious tolerance or the rights of women you are harassed and even arrested through our partners in the muslim and arab world is working for a more tolerant progressive islam as well indeed our partner in egypt has been instrumental in the recent amazing transformation. That a comic book. Comic books at uusc translated into arabic. To teach people in the middle east about martin luther king and nonviolent action for change. That you usc's comic was being passed around tahrir square in the middle of the egyptian revolution. You are doing all of this you and uusc you are making justice roll and nowhere. Know where are you doing that on a larger scale or in more effective ways than in haiti. In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake unitarian universalist gave $2000000 to put haiti back together again. Uusc and its partners are focusing on the forgotten people who live large agencies often overlooked children in refugee camps for example to care for them or who were sold into slavery before the earthquake or now the bottom of the food chain when it comes to aid and recovery. And thanks to you and may we will begin sending medical teams to haiti followed by dozens of unitarian universalist volunteer mission people who want to put their skills at the service of the haitian people not in the same way that hundreds of new orleans. Building skills education steel health steel agricultural skills. Uusc unlike so many other people so many other agencies we will not forget. Haiti. We will not forget we will be there at least for two more years. Well. All these ways and in many more that i don't have time to tell you about. Uusc is your vehicle your vehicle for what. The great preacher reverend ike. Used to call. Ninja militating. Sandra militating your unitarian universalist values. And in the process of combating cruelty get a lot more radiance in the world. Grayson second consider this you've heard of carbon offsets. Carbon offsets in which. People pay for the planting of trees let's say in order to neutralize. Their own contributions to greenhouse gases. Usc. My own personal cruelty. The next time you whither a fig tree. Send a chat to uusc you'll feel. You'll feel a lot less guilty cruelty offset you see. When you joined. Uusc you not only saved the world you saved your own sold for $100. I love the unitarian universalist association our religious movement i work for it as scott said for 15 years it deserves. All of our support i give generously myself to the use ua exist to serve the interests of our congregations. And who you would exist to help unitarian-universalist serve the needs of the world that's the difference. Because you see in the battle against anguish and despair. It's not enough to wish. Not enough not enough to worship not enough to pray not enough to hope they're all good. But they're not enough. In the face of tyranny and oppression and greed and fear what is required is to join hands to use our power to combat. Deadly santa make. Our voices count to join our sisters and brothers to join the vanguard of the torrent to make our values list and support uusc. Everywhere. Around the world. Electronics.

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2011Apr24Sermon128.mp3

You know. Unitarian universalist via rather curious spiritual. Especially when it comes to celebrating big christian sundays like easter. Let's face it we are in a bit of a theological pickle but it comes right down to for heaven sakes. But you do with easter. More than a century ago most unitarian universalist move past the spiritual singularity of are distinctly christian roots. Embracing us. A far more eclectic open humanistic an interfaith spirituality. So while we do still have a few congregations in our denomination all in new england. Still proudly identify themselves as liberal christian. Today most unitarian universalist feel. Well they feel uncomfortable with the intricate story in theology. That has grown up around the historical personage that was jesus of nazareth especially. The dramatic easter tail. Just trial. Fiction death. And most problematic of wall. His resurrection. Like channing and parker. Basically denied and 18th. And yet despite our unitarian universalist spiritual hesitation concerning what most of our christian neighbors. And friends are celebrating this easter. All across the continent this morning unitarian universalist congregation to gather a lot of them with hats on a nice bright clothing just like the presbyterians and methodist fundamentalists. Sing the hopeful music of the season have easter egg roll. And put on a little easter finery so when it comes to easter sunday theologically speaking at these were all dressed up. The truth is most of us as religious liberals are pretty confused about what metaphors and meanings to take me to stay but we are not as confused as the kids from mrs. rogers fourth-grade class over at vero beach elementary. It seems that for mrs. rogers astroneer young students about the meaning of easter this week. The hand of a little leaguer episcopalian boy shut up i know i know he said confidently easter is when you put a pine tree and decorate it with lights and wrap present and sing lullabies to jesus. But that a little little roman catholic girl her hands shot up i know easter is when you fill the house with the smell of cooking turkey watch football all day and give thanks for our relatives to come to dinner. I thought he knew easter is when we decorate the front of the house and american flags for the parade and shoot off fireworks all night with dad no this is roger's getting really exist. Finally. Smart little unitarian-universalist kid in the class raised his head and he said. Easter is when we remember that after a three-year ministry among the jordanian people jesus rode triumphantly into jerusalem on a donkey he was put on trial by the roman authorities for being a troublemaker was crucified on a hill with two, thieves and finally buried in a cave yes that's right. As religious liberals sure that he's there can no longer spiritually mean. What does the word devout christian friends and neighbors. We aren't necessarily any clearer about what this day to positively mean to us other than some. Big cheer for april festival about the return of spring. So don't get me wrong. Celebrating earth's resurrection rhythms at this time of year is good as far as it goes. But this easter morning this unitarian universalist. Is looking for something a bit more spiritual. And more theologically sustaining. To affirm in my heart. That spring comes. I am seeking an easter that will make a difference in my personal spiritual life. It will last me all year long and last longer than a daylily. So what reliable used to reformation. Can arrive baseball spring to our unitarian. Universalist. Well after struggling with this question over recent days i want to suggest to you. As for us as unitarian universalist easter should not just be another festive day. In the spring calendar. Not one more convenient excuse for a family dinner though it's a really fun. Nor should be about. Historical fact. Or fantastic theological suppositions about the end of the earthly life. Of jesus. Easter rather for us should be ever and always. A decision. A decision of the human heart. That is not limited. 21 springdale. Easter decision to live with hope. Purposed. Eegee's. Agency. Even in the face. Easter calls us to light. Imbecile. Candle. Imbecile. Melville. Herman melville from his classic. Imbecile candle. Heart. Here. Is the story. 140 day while working out from their mother whaling ship. Small harpoon boat under the command of a whaler named starbuck museum the front there. Is separated from the other small boats and runs out of luck. Suddenly a wild storm comes up. At the same time as small craft encounters a big aggressive whale that swamps the boat and its occupant. Suddenly cold and alone. Up to water the boat is fighting for its life. Melville's protagonist describes what happens next. Melville. There we sat up to our knees in the sea. The water covering every ribbon plank the wind increased to howl the waves dashed their buckler's together the whole squale roared forked and crackled around us like a white fire upon the prairie. In which unconsumed. We are burning. Immortal md's jaws of death. In vain we hailed the other post. As will roar to the live coals down a chimney. Of a flaming furnace as to hale those boats in that storm. Meanwhile belleville with the driving scott and racking fist darker with the shadows of knight no sign of our ship could be seen. The rising sea forbade all attempts to bail out the boat the oars for useless as propellers performing now the office of life preservers. So. The lashing of the waterproof men's keg after many failures starbuck contrives to ignite the lab in the lantern. They're stretching it on a wave pool. And you get to quick wok. As the standard-bearer of forlorn hope. There then he sat. Holding up the imbecile candle. Of that almighty forewarned is. Sign and symbol of a man without faith. Hopelessly holding up hope. In the midst. Of despair. That is what. Easter is. But human being makes a certificate. Courageously see. Life and hope. Purpose. When our lives are threatened by death. Or just fear. Or meetings. It is similar easter bay and i'm deeply moved by eb white's description. Of his cancer-stricken wife catherine. Was out in her new england garden late october. Planning as eb white rice planning the planting of bulbs in her garden. In the last autumn of her life. There was something comical yet touching in her betrayal.. The small hatchet over figure for study absorption in the implausible notion. That there would be yet another spring. Oblivious to the ending of her days which she knew perfectly well. Sitting there with her detailed chart. Under those dark skies and dying october. There she was calmly. Plotting. Probably. Resurrection. Your last. Holding up the imbecile candle in the heart. In the midst of forlorn. Search our easter decisions. The decisions of hope and purpose. You're all free to make throughout our lives even in the face. Death of personal negation. Live with such intentionality info. Is to understand i think the probability. Promise and possibility. Of these drive a friend and colleague named reverend bruce marshall who draws the distinction. Optimism. And hope. Listen to his words. A friend whose wife was undergoing treatment for a serious illness told me that their physician advised them. To approach your situation with hope. Optimism. And this makes sense to me. Optimism as i understand it's an attitude or an expectation. That a particular result will occur. That a person will recover from their illness. Specific goal that the publishers clearing house bill pick my number from among the billions submitted. The dictionary brusco's on define optimism. Inclination to anticipate the best possible outcome. And we are told that optimism and optimistic outlook is a good thing but i have rarely found it so. Optimism often lead to disappointment. When the best possible outcome doesn't recur. We are let down we feel betrayed by life. Optimism that may become the opposite. An inclination to anticipate the worst possible. Hope the other hand. Is more resilient more interest more helpful hope is less specific. How big is an attitude. That looks for possibility and whatever. Life. Dlss. Attitude. Looks for possibility. In whatever. Life feels offended marshall and global. But keeps before russell possibility that something useful will come from this. Hope advises us to look squarely at the realities that confront us well being. Remaining america possible. Is the spiritual quality that keeps our eyes and our hearts. Focus on what is he at the hospital the matter what's been taken from its butt. Possible. Hopefully is not flying for the ensure fully believing everything will always work out wonderful. It is rather an attitude. Possibility. Whatever life. Let me bring this all closer. Couple of years ago one of my very best friends in the world a great guy by the name of. All horny. Died at the early age of 62 after a long and valiant for your battle. Terrible. Malignant cancer. First. There he is. From the very beginning of his illness from the doctors at the initial diagnosis told him frankly how very aggressive and deadliest cancer was. Call the scientist into veterinarian. In that false optimism fliprus perfect. With some line or cherry police if you could somehow miraculously beat the bad medical odds that had been dealt with. Old and not live with the optimism that everything was going to turn out alright for him. But what this brave and purposeful man did was live with hope. Active intentional personal hope hope focus. I hope you feel better. In the heart of the sea. Isn't life stillman. And that he had choices. And good possibility. Good deal to say about how life was going to be. For tomorrow. Knowing full well that someday the cancer would overwhelm his body. Another lesson lived today with intentionality and purpose he refused in this is mikey. Spiritual concepts. He refused to surrender. Is human agency. This capacity to act he refused to surrender his agency. 4. Need it. He was going to remain a purposeful player in life. Even as they grew sicker and weaker as the cancer march licious lie through his body. Call active lean intelligently participated in his complicated level three. Working with the doctors to fight for his life and maximize the quality of the range. Paul has his health and spanked allowed you to work in this veterinary practice. Continue to care and enjoy this wonderful family. Stadium cage. The joyful. White circle of friends. Call tiffany. Like belleville's rave wailers in the middle swappable for month. Paul hill that imbecile. In the heart.. Irrational. Rave standard-bearer. Personal purpose. Using to allow his life to be over until his body. One final story about paul will make the spiritual strength and wisdom of this van clear to you. It's about the last time pollinate i were able to cycle together. Paul and i hit the first marathon running buddies and then after we both got older it cycling friend. Enjoying two of us long challenging rides. Whatever we managed to get together throughout the year. Our bike rides were always fart with a lot of laughter and i must have met a lot of physical dependence who could get to the. Connecticut. Just months before he died just after his latest round of powerful chemotherapy which are profoundly we can. Downtown new jersey to our mountain holden west virginia we had a beautiful log cabin and a house on the side. Call mountain. Bias west virginia. Rolling mountains. Efficiently, this place every summer and we had so loved cycling together one day 78 miles. Anyway they join collins indiana rustic home. Paul absolutely love this place. And love cycling for the beautiful hills and the valleys a lot of the pike rose return. Lightning bolts down along the streams the hollows. That last october. He was still planning. He was so sick by then if it was just a shell of his former physical self and when he stepped out of the car and they arrived in west virginia. I don't see how it's possible. The place is brave and stubborn heart bicycle. So with excitement not his bald-faced right there in the dooryard of our own since scott. Obviously i can't do any of the rides. Downhill run. I'm all the way down together till. Mile run just like what you described. So the next morning. How's my bike. Debbie drove paul the pickup truck. The valley floor was a little country store there we going to have lunch and she waited. Trashy. Started out. Thank god we did that long fast beautiful downhill run. Ride along the stream. Cullinan going through all the lush. Mean. I will never forget paul. Skinny. Struggling. Lost. Nonetheless speeding downhill with 12 year old boy. Live happy creative on his face. What's the last time my friend paul gordon ever got a bike. And there is of course a good friday sadness. About that final memory. The larger spiritual point on this easter sunday. Large spiritual point everyone of us. I'm taking to our hearts and stuff we like my friend paul or. Human beings with agency. Being choice. We are players in this creation. We are always free to hope. Purposely well for as long as we are given bread. Your pictures of the server. Always choose to poop. Entropy. To refuse to submit or surrender our agency and our freedom as creatures of this earth to hold an imbecile camel candle. We are always capable. Meaning of positive purposeful presence in creation even on cliff. In purpose. And love. Enjoy. It is that. Hope. And makes our lives. What. Will we live in the present moment with purpose of clarity. Even under the eyes of the raven. Even in our last october. Even when the ship is sinking. Up to our knees in. Even as cancer. It's about over.. Living. And livwell. Some may need more of a theological promise than them. My heart. It is enough.

uufvb_org

2012Apr15Sermon128.mp3

Well as you can see i'm. I think i'm ready for my big cross-country bike ride the ride to be hungry i'm at least as ready. Has any nearly 63 year old man with an artificial knee. And chronic arthritis and a week back candy. To prepare my body for this grueling 3,300 mi 120 mi a day journey from costa mesa california. Back home to the vero beach have been riding about 300 miles each week. And over recent weeks i've been taking longer rides on the weekends with bill penney bill is here president of marine trust and bank and his wife and family is mark truman here. Mark will be riding the last 4 days with us also from savannah. And they've been helping me to train. Having crossed america by bicycle twice before for charity. I've no full well some of the physical and mental challenges. That any long endurance ride such as this one can be through all kinds of weather and hazards. Including storms like the ones that happened out in the the midwest. Last night. And the dogs lots of dogs chasing us. And to be honest. I'm a bit more anxious this time because there's no denying i'm a little older. And a little physical physically creek year than i was on earlier rides but here i am wild guizar jack that i am. I'm ready to rock and roll. Now this is not the actual bike i'm taking that carbon fiber trek bike. Is already in costa mesa waiting for me. And i will be riding though i'm not terribly superstitious i am riding with three good luck charms. A small enamel pin from la quinta casa del pueblo which is the. Free health clinic. I in washington dc that i did the first two rides for. And a beautifully smooth. Sea bean token given to me by deborah angela one of the members of my rotary club here in town. And the native american necklace here it is that i bought last time in the high hills above sedona from a native american crafts person. And it will also carry close to my heart all of your prayers and. Expressions of good wishes that i received over recent days. Some of you may not know that i come by this biking fanaticism of mine. Honestly. This is a picture. Of my grandfather. Mark clayton ewing. Was an outstanding endurance athlete in the early 20th century. In his early twenties he was a circus performer and trick horse rider. His scotia is show-stopping routine featured him snatching a later ladies handkerchief off the ground while at a full gallop with his teeth. That was sort of his. That's a trick that other people have done to. After his brief years in the circus he became a salesman for the climax. Chewing tobacco. Climax plug of climax minnesota. And there's their logo on his cycling and you notice his signature there truly yours mark clayton you and that was for the ladies who were very enamored with the star athlete. He toured the midwest is a bike racer and they usually had to handicapped him put in 40 yd back behind the other guys so that it was some sort of a race. In any case after that my amazing grandfather started several companies in wausau wisconsin. Including you know that the paper dispensers here wausau paper. That's one of the companies he helped to found. And eventually founded the wisconsin public service corporation built 5 dams on the wisconsin river and electrify the northern third of wisconsin that's all he did. But that's a story for another day. Cycling. Is in my genetics it's in my bones and i suspect that my grandfather who. Travelled his climax plug. Territory north dakota south dakota minnesota wisconsin and iowa mostly on the bike and the good weather. I know he experienced some of the same joy. That i will be experiencing so. I have a one-way. Airline ticket this friday to costa mesa california john wayne airport us air and by the way just a quick aside here when i made the reservation. The travel agent said one way ticket to costa mesa so how are you getting home. That's a while i'm i'm biking home. And i gave her the website address and she promised to look it up so. And she probably wasn't in a windowless room in topeka kansas or somewhere making these airline reservation that just love that story. So i'm flying out to the west coast on friday i'll be with i'll be coming to you next sunday via video. I'm having breakfast with joe and carla caldwell members of the church will also have a home out there and i hope to have them in the. Reef video i bring to you next sunday and every sunday i'm away. You'll be seeing 45 seconds of me on the screen so. That's just great and i will be. And i hope many of you will follow my daily progress on the website the ride to beat hunger and we got the website just in case just one word. The ride to beat hunger. I'll be publishing a written. A blog everyday and i'll be sending a video blog everyday thanks to jim daly. Will you'll be in touch if you want to be. And i think it'll be a lot of fun to follow my journey we're also going to have a big map in the foyer to show you with a little pin where i am. The purpose of course of this long trip. Is it you know to raise funds to address both local and global hunger. As i've said since the beginning of this fundraising campaign i've been at this for about 8 months now. Being free of hunger. Is humanity's most fundamental need and right. It is the obligation i've gone on in public gatherings to say. Of everyone who has the means. To do whatever they can to eliminate the scourge of hunger and starvation. Shrinking and everly in interdependent planet. So two very worthy organizations the harvest food & outreach center here in vero on route 1. Which addresses local hunger and other crisis needs. And stop hunger now and in the international organization i learned out through my rotary club. The package is many millions of. Dry packets their spice. Youtube the pallet of where they are going. I am we will be producing i'll tell you about that in just a second will be producing some meals here after i get back. Today. We have raised more than $20,000. And we hope to be much more than that perhaps over 30. By the time. We are done and i thank you for your many contributions and you can make a contribution directly on the website if you wish to do so. And. Don't forget that with the assistance of stop hunger now will be having a food packaging day. At the gifford youth activities center on saturday. June 9th. That is. About two weeks after i get back. And i hope you'll all be able to attend this packaging event. We will certainly package more than 30,000 meals and they'll be shipped. Very quickly to where they're needed most in the world. Now. That we hope you'll all get active in that. By the time that remains this morning i'd like to talk to you about as my sermon title suggests. How life is like. Riding a bicycle. This is an actual quote from the world-famous brainiac albert einstein. Jim daly found this photograph on the web i didn't know there was a picture of albert einstein on a bicycle. Did anyone look up the code. Baja what's on the web but i'll give it to you. Here's einstein's crow. Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance. You must keep moving. And that is a simple idea i liked well enough and it's certainly true we always need to step in. Two are unfolding lives to keep them moving with positive. Activity and genuine excitement. To tell you the truth. That's not one of them talked about in the time that remains. Frankly i use this einstein quote simply because i wanted to know how terribly erudite and intelligent i was. I am really not that interested in the quote. So you can forget about his crawl. But i doubt as i thought about over recent weeks about the challenge in the magnitude of my upcoming ride it seems to me. But there are four spiritual things that i should do. As i ride across america for spiritual practices if you will. The wisdom of which i learned on my two previous cross-country rides. And here's the amazing part. As i thought about this for spiritual practices that i need to engage in to have a really rewarding experience. I realize that they spiritually apply to every one of your lives as you stay back here on the treasure coast. Add the apply to you even if you've never thought about getting onto a bicycle seat. Every last thing i think i should spiritually focus on. As i ride across the vast expanses of these united states i think you should do. Diane and day out on your life so let's get started. The first thing i must do on my ride across the vast expanses of this great nation. Is simply to sit up. And pay attention. Set up. And pay attention. It is so spiritually important. Was that is me by the way that's one of the trips i'm not sure whether that was the first of the second trip i think. Whether you are cycling madly across america or just getting to another ordinary day here in vero. It's simply to sit up and pay attention to the world and the people around you. Mindfulness. Mindfulness. Pain purposeful. And keen attention to your surroundings. Both human and natural. Is the most fundamental and foundational of all spiritual practices. Because without mindfulness without being. Where you really are. The deep and caring connected relationships that make our lives. So rich and rewarding are simply impossible if you are not there. In the there that you're in. You simply are going to skate on the surface of your life. Let me see this a bit more positively. Simple everyday mindfulness enables us to experience life and all of its life-saving richness and depth. This of course. Is not the actual bike. But i'll be taking across the country that because i've said is already waiting at the lovely ramada inn in costa mesa california. But it's almost this one identical to that bike especially because it has. Flat. Across. The handlebars not the dropped ones but the straight across. No. That is so for me at least i can fully see and taking the train in the town. In the sky in the wildlife in the weather that i will encounter. I must tell you that the majority of the riders. Who will be with me on this trip will have the drop handlebars on some of those men and women. Will be down all day long like this training their necks to see things a little faster. Well. Go right ahead. Eat your heart out but. That's not. What i'm going to do. I personally have nothing. Against moving through life with speed. But. I want to be a little more upright so that i can take in. The wanderers. America around me said differently. I want to see. The america. Across. I personally think it's something of a tragedy to go across america with your head down. It doesn't make sense to me. Tell me a little slower. Cuz i'll be a little more upright in the wind will be a little more in me. But i'm going to see what i'm going through. And that is what. You. Should do also. Biking with your head constantly down. Is a perfect metaphor. For the sad habit that many of us having our routines of having our. Having our heads down and not really sitting up and paying attention. With keen mindfulness. To the world and the day. That we are in. And so just as i have purposely chosen a certain kind of bike. That allows me to see america. You need to purposefully choose practices in your life. Did will help you to be mindful. The will help you noticed truly notice the subtle glories that are always at hand. I take it on faith. The great purpose and blessing of this life. We have. So miraculously find ourselves in. Estherville deep caring and attentive relationships. With nature. With other persons. With the cell. And with god or the great mystery beyond. That is what we're here on earth to do. Not too. Go through life with our heads down. Not noticing thing. So. During the next month cuz i traversed 10 of these united states in about 3,300 mi. I strive to mindfully notice and to savor. Just as much of my world and my human companions as i can. And why don't why lime-a-way you renew your daily mindfulness practices. Slow your life down a little bit. Take that extra 10 minutes in the morning at the kitchen window. With your warm cup of coffee to watch the birds as they frolic emits the waving palmetto trees. Pause during your trip to a grocery store. To give her a cheerful greeting for the produce guy who is stacking lettuce. Cheryl lunch with that co-worker you-know-who struggling a bit at home in her life. Take a look take a little longer to tuck your kids or grandkids and every night or write a little longer message to your grandkids. Or on skype. And before you turn yourself in at night. Sit alone in your dark in living room. And remember the little blessings that came your way this day. Everyday i promise you i will be riding upright and alert across america. And you too. Can ride. Upright and alert. Through the landscape through which you will be gone. Alright. Shut up and pay attention. 2. The first the second thing i should do as i travaris america. Is to learn to appreciate the flats. That is a picture. Some of the guys some guys got a flat and the rule by the way you take a ride like this if you're running with five guys and one gets a flight y'all stop and you help. Flats for those of you who don't know which is a punctured inner tube are a regular occurrence i'll probably have 15 to 20 of them. Before i get back. In a month. The way a group ride like this works cuz i've said is you'll be riding with a smaller group i was with. Apparently. The five others on this that this moment. And sooner or later. Almost everyday. With a group several times a day when someone will get a flat. Do the courtesy inn, rotary rule as i said is it when one person in the group gets a flat everyone in the group stops. And helps the one is immobilize get back on the road. Now some riders especially the type a personalities you know some of these kinds of pee. Get really frustrated and impatient. With these unexpected time-consuming delays. They fume and they fuss and they grind their teeth and they growl while someone's trying to fix their flat. And i quickly learned to my last to ride. The lightest important spiritual choice to make every time someone i was riding with crayons that i've got a flat. I can either look forward. To this unanticipated interruption and complication as an opportunity. To chat up my companions. To get off the bicycle seat for a minute and look around at the wild flowers and the trees and the terrain is not a whole lot of terrain there is there. Or just to rest my mind and body for a moment. I could do that. Mindfully enjoy that moment or. I could resist and resent the flat as a cosmic irritation. In which which always allows you to ruin the 10 or so minutes that it takes. To get a flat fixed and get the your companion back on the road. On both of my previous cross-country trips i strive to learn despite the natural impatience of my personality. To appreciate the flats and the other inevitable interruptions you know breakfast that's low at whatever it is that they're things that go wrong on a trip like this. And i found the simple spiritual process of instructing my head. To appreciate and welcome the flats another complication. Made an incredible difference the way the day went for me. If i didn't get anxious about the inconveniences they weren't inconvenience. You know you're going to get to the next motel you're going to sleep at night why worry about it just go. Through. With an attitude of appreciation and patience and. I'm here to tell you. That the same spiritual lesson can of course be learned in your life. Without a bike. Whatever rotor journey you're on. Life for all of us everyday and always is full of unexpected and unwelcomed inconveniences in complication. A service vendor. Who is 3 hours later they train those guys and cable. Cable guy school never to show up on time. And unnecessary meeting at work that eats into your lunch hour. A long line at the checkout counter at the grocery store that the laser trip home. A sick child that requires constant attention. Life is full of unexpected and an unwelcomed inconveniences. But if we are emotionally supple enough. And i know it's a cliche but i'll say it. The go-with-the-flow. I suppose you might dismiss this as the predictable buddhist part of the sermon but really. If you can train yourself to just trust the moment and go with. The flow. It will really enhance your spiritual and emotional health. As it teaches you. To be right where you are. And embrace the unexpected and the inconvenient as both necessary and instructive. To the day. When i return in a month i'll let you know how i did. About appreciating flats but it's my intention. When i hear that oh i've got another flat. Did just enjoy. Alright. Set up a tension. Appreciate the flats. Number three. Participate in paceline. Now what in god's name is a paceline that's me by the way in the middle there with a colorful shirt. My friend bill is right in front of me i don't know where that is arkansas a timer. I told i told the you would have paceline wasn't in the box. 9 months ago in a sermon and any serious cyclist will know what a paceline is. A paceline happens when a group of cyclist anywhere from 3 to 10 people. Amore for that matter. Decides it when they're facing a strong headwind or other difficult weather to work together to achieve greater speed. That'll lower level of physical expenditure for each. The line works this way the group rides together single file as you see here. In recently tight formation that's all there's a couple of gaps are the shouldn't be wheel2wheel. With the ride leader the guy in the yellow. Pulling the rest of the group through the wind as a veal and much like a flock of geese. But every couple of minutes or so. Buy a mutually agreed-upon signal the lead rider who's working twice twice as hard as everybody else. Heels lost to the back of the line and then the second person he or she. Kicks up and goes faster and works for 2 minutes real hard and then his turn or her turn is to take the rear position and when you're in the rear position you're just coasting because there's all that are being pushed aside. And it and everyone takes their turn pulling and resting. Eagle 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5. Without stopping. The point here and by the way the efficiency of the group is increased by about 25%. The point here. Is it writers who choose to participate and cooperate and pay attention in paceline. Not only get to the destination faster. They do so more rested. For the radically shared the work the hard work of breaking into the wind. This highly synchronized and intentional cycling practice is of course a metaphor. A helpful metaphor for all our lives as we live in community with one another. Apace line is like. The rummage sale the garage so you had to paceline going yesterday when i walked in your twenty people working so that everyone would benefit more than any wood in splendid isolation. I think it is clear the first law of human community. Is it all individuals achieve. And benefit more when they choose to lend themselves. With others and active collaboration and communication and care. When human beings cooperatively combine their talents and their knowledge and their wisdom in the strength. There is a logarithmic expansion. Achievement. Especially in congregations like this one. So whether we're talking about me participating in a paceline getting to the next town faster. Across the deserts of arizona or whatever. Or you helping to clean up the indian river lagoon with a community group. The truth is that we human beings accomplish much more. When we lend ourselves. In working communities of people. When it comes to human life there really is no such thing as splendid isolation. There's no such thing as splendid. We all need to trust. The only one we eagerly join with others are our lives truly blessed and enriched as they were intended to be. So. You're supposed to stop and pay attention. Appreciate the flats. Participated paceline. And the fourth thing that i'm going to try to do while riding across america. Is stop. Complaining. And be grateful. Now. This is me on the first morning of the 2008 ride capturing pacific water in costa mesa. Which we then carried all the way to the atlantic. In savannah. In the ride booklet sent to all the riders by the coordinators of the ride which has all kinds of detailed information about logistics and everything. There's a simple paragraph in that ride book about attitude. One should bring to the ride and i want a quote that paragraph for you now. The attitude you bring to the ride the ride leader said. Will go a long way in helping you reach your goals. And getting along with your fellow riders and staff. It's all about choice. If you choose to have a good time. There's nothing. Not bad weather. Not eggs and pains not tough days in the saddle. That can spoil your adventure. And then the ride you the one on instead. We've seen people who embrace the philosophy that you're worse than the bicycle. Is better than your best day in the office. Whether it's raining. Sleeting. Sunny you got a flat or whatever nothing seems to keep them from smiling and being pleasant around everyone. Their attitude was. What a great day we have to ride. I'm free to do exactly what i want. While someone else there either goes on with a different attitude. Will make everybody's day miserable. They complain. If their room was not ready. When they arrived at the last motel if their eggs at breakfast work to dry. Or the road for today's route was a little busy or the lunch truck wasn't fully set up when they arrive for lunch well. You get the idea the ride leader said. If you are this type of complaining an unpleasant person who tends to be upset a little things that come along. You should seriously reconsider whether this adventure is the right one for you. end of paragraph. I am certain. Absolutely certain. That more than any other single factor or reality the attitude of heart that i choose to bring to everyday of this ride as i cycle with my companions. Today's they're easy and fun and some other days that are driving cold rain for 11 hours and we'll have a couple believe me. I am certain that the attitude i bring the weed stay will largely determine. How rewarding. And joyful the experience will be for me. There was one irritated and really irritating guy on the last cross-country charity right he was a german engineer from rockford illinois i won't say his name. Who complain constantly. About every last thing that was not completely right or perfectly to his liking. And often when he launched into. Some complained or another i thought of the great quote why should i be happy. When there are so many beautiful things to be miserable about. Whether you were riding a bike. The hot and dusty 112 miles from pampa texas to elk city oklahoma as i will be doing 17 days from now i hope. Or putting another routine day in front of your computer screen. Here at your home on the island. Or in the mainland. It is all too easy for you to let the normal irritations and complications of any day. Obscure your gratitude. For all those opportunities and blessings that are in fact yours. Let me give just too quick examples of how. Spiritually useful it is to refrain from complaining. On a bike ride like the one i'm undertaking. Instead of bellowing at some port waitress at 6 a.m.. Miss my eggs are cold. It is just as easy and spiritually more effective the same miss could you put this play to mine in the microwave for 35 seconds. There's no difference in the outcome. Well there is a difference in the outcome. But the eggs will come back the same way. Instead of cursing the strong headwinds that they're blowing right in your face across the panhandle of texas is like this. You can instead say to yourself. Well this wind is really going to make me earn my lunch isn't it. I'm going to earn my lunch today. And give me more of a time to notice the rock formations. On this ride. I truly want to be grateful. Braless right and not complain constantly. In anticipation of the ride and spike you still have your purple band on. Haha. A year-and-a-half ago without the several who else. A year-and-a-half ago thanksgiving i i told you about the complaint free world. And i had 300 of them and it most of you took them. The idea of this little band is to stop complaining. And the way this works is a city devised this. You put it on one wrist. And every time you catch yourself complaining or griping or saying something mean to people. You have to move it. From there one wrist to the other and the ideas to go 21 days. Without issuing any complaints are graves. And if you gone 21 days that's how long psychologist say it takes to develop a new habit. If you can go 21 days without griping or grousing. You have become a complaint three-person. And i am going to wear this bracelet. Every day on this ride to remind myself that i have a choice. I can be slipping this band back and forth. 12 times a day or i can find ways. I'm getting my needs met. Without complaining. And without. Griping. It made first seemed too simple to be true but i believe that if we discipline ourselves. To routinely live. From a place of gratitude. Rather than a place of griping. Our lives will be much more joyful and we will be much. More happy. Oh my time is it is up my goodness. And i have to be off. This is a picture of me and just a moment there it is. Of a savannah georgia where i'll be in and bill and i will be picking up our ride from there. I sincerely want to thank you for all your prayers you've told me to be physically safe and strong to ride. Hazard an accident free and do enjoy the good weather and. Plentiful food in abundance sleep and wonderful companions i hope i have all of that. But i also ask that you pray that i will sign the spiritual wisdom. To do these for spiritual practices that i've outlined for you. And i'm going to remind you you know that it when i went to preaching class way back and seven are they said tell him what you going to tell him. Tell him. And then what tell him what you told him so we're going to have it up here now there for spiritual practices. You got to set up and pay attention in your life you silly puppies. You got to appreciate the flats and all the other inconveniences that come into your life. You got to participate and paste lines and work with others and for god's sake. For god's sake stop complaining you're lucky to be here in the first place mary. Those are the four things i want you to remember. In six weeks i'll tell you how i did. We're all on a wondrous adventure samurai dear friends. I say to all of you as i leave go for it. And i say. Be glad.

uufvb_org

2013Sep15Sermon128.mp3

Good morning and welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of hero beach. Do we live in an interesting part of the world last night about 3 i woke up and listens as the lightning and thunder struck my house. What a beautiful. What a beautiful place we live in. We hear a complication of open minds loving hearts and helping hand people seeking to become our best cell. Even as we work to make a better world together. The know that you were 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 physically fit as a fiddle or struggling with many medical problems. What are you were feeling on top of the world or down in the dumps or somewhere in between you are welcome just as you come to us this morning. We're so pleased you've chosen to share part of your day with us. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. Hey google find something here to take with you. The nurse is your spirit and feed your soul and gives you a new purpose and joy for the living of life in the days ahead. You for not aware that summer is over. Baculum wearing a jacket. As many of you know i used to be a secondary school science teacher. Does fuel you know. Boarding schools. That meant that i lived in the dormitory apartment they were bold and beautiful. A two or three other adults in the hole. 1170. Teenage boys. You would be like. Although we called ourselves. Independent. Independent because our responsibility was to our clients and only. To our clients. World's most private schools are under some control light outside institutions. Wholphin. Religious. Affiliations. Great britain. My kind of school would be built as a public school. Because literally anyone from anywhere. Reply. Free admission. Where are the best country. Students are most generally assigned to public schools on the basis of residence. In an arbitrarily politically defined. School district. Which of these i lived with a greater diversity of students. Then essentially any public school in this country. And you turn that implied that much of my life. We spent working with people whose culture significantly different. Volume. Students and their families came from. 50 states. 2234 and country. Youth football races. Ethnicities. And socioeconomic levels. I loved it. What did i have the understanding and sensitivity. The end of my immortal. Without diversity. I was never sure. But surely added to the fertility. Am i sent. Adequacy. Myschools. American standard. Wonders, just prior to the civil war. The other was founded even as thomas jefferson and friends. We're congratulating themselves on having found appropriate language. Free document a petkin food which we now call. Our declaration of independence. My point here is it my chosen profession. Ensured that what i did. In and with my classes. Was only a fraction. A small fracture. Obligations. Responsibility. Herbicide riding herd on all my dormitory residents and sometimes the faculty members as well. Hypostatic to season of the three. I applied to an organization. One sort or another. And i had some 15 to 20 advisee. Like help with everything from course selection or college application. During summer jobs and how does suffer through all the aches and pains of teenagers. Rolling up. Yes. Many of you know what that could be like cuz you have suffered through the growing pains of her own children. But did you have 20 of them all at once year-after-year decade after decade. Because the woman intents and purposes i was acting in loco parentis. 9 months. I'll be over you. That meant that for most almost 40 years i lived with the perpetual possibility. It's something. Might go horrendous lee wrong. That any failure on my part. Would make me worley and possibly legally. Responsible as well. Well i did occasionally electric to teach summer school. I started. Delivery. Occupation. And seek ways to renew my energy. An emotional needs. Over the summer. My self-confidence. Sanity my sense of humor. They all needed time to remove. And that is how my annual migrations. Again. Happily i no longer lived with those gorgeous impossibilities hanging over my head. But that has formed over 40 years. i heart. So i still think of my summer. Is being a time to relax. To escape predators. Anupre punch. My physical. Emotional energies. It started decades ago when i found it convenient to spend my summers at my family's farm. In southern new hampshire. It was located on a shoulder of the second-most climb mountain in the world. So i can only. Fuji in japan. We had a lake. And i had some 55 acres of fields that by state law had to be mowed. Every year. Which meant i had to keep our ford ferguson tractor in good running order. Undercutter bars sharp. That's not easy. But you're cutting field filled with granite rocks. The other hundred and thirty or so acres were wooden. Because we had six fireplaces and a wood-fired furnace. The firewood salvage from the hurricane of 1938. Quickly. I never counted the number of cords of firewood by split but i. One quarter of our huge barn filled. Sprint hardware. For close to 30 years. Then one summer. Everything crash. I got a call two weeks before the opening day of the fall term. That one of my science instructors had resigned. You go to teach in japan. The chairman of the department i had no choice. But the head back to school. Searching. Yes. I found a willing candidate. And she proved to be a corker. Which was unfortunate. The last she was so good she quickly moved up the ladder toy teams you. Took her away for science teaching. Secretly had to be replaced. But by the time that happened. However. That interruption into my summer ended the fantasy. Lanier bar retreat. Would be essay. Retreat. Trailer for either way it was obviously attracted to the summer cottage i had just inherited from my father's will. It was in michigan. And it had no telephone. Joy hunter place to stay. But what was there in the near wiles of michigan that could refresh my spirits and replenish my emotional energies. I found an answer to that. Almost immediately. Or rather. The answer found me. Amanda was nothing less. Service. Play surfaces animals. Mostly small. 4 ft. Initially. Hilariously address. Critters. All kinds of critters. Red black and gray squirrels. Until one year we had one white squirrel. British girls with white tails and black squirrel with red tail. Stopping up them holes all around our property our neighbor's property and it happened doesn't rizzo. My cut. I'm sure we have the pool but we never see him. And i'm sure we have to go. The number. All kinds of birds watch canada geese parents hummers grosbeaks jays benches and woodpeckers galore. This year unfortunately. We did not see the family of eagles. Investing for years. To the point to our north. When we first arrived. There's no one around. By the time we have to empty the car. The first-years beasties have thrown up. Is it curiosity. But from their facial expressions it is clear that some gather. Or getting them because they remember that the two transom just arrived provided food last year. Would they do so again. This year. Then. What are frantic and gloriously jubilant show they would put on for. Front door and back all day long day after day after day jumping and squeaking and tumbling over each other. They even bathed. If i interrupt. They mostly scamper away. Then slowly. Hickory vet. What is my wife should watch this appears in your will. They came running. And if she fails to appear for too long the time. We will find someone clinging to a window screen. Hearing it out us physically and we know exactly. What is being said. Where's our food. Who's that. Animals. Entrapment. Can't talk. Yes or no. Look like anything more. The mere posturing. There is a pecking order. Almost no one ever seriously challenges. The critter that f**** the line. No one seems to take anything. Very serious. And that service. But we had some unexpected and it's to this past year. Like the mother miller at her for ducklings. North pasture bach morning but south every evening. A day after day. They will follow. What is this. Tiny siblings. But it got too close to her. The mother was aspirin dissing. I'm changing at charging and almost but never quite getting close enough. The catch. And then one day she brought her for up to six foot embankment. And they all started picking up the birdseed it was scattered all over our front long. And then little number 5. The next hour or so the mother washed over him just as she washed. Over her other children. Thank you sure that eats them. 34 share. Goody's. Peach. But when they return to the water. Instantly she was missing and chasing the 4-way 4-way and viciously as ever. It was exactly the same the next day and the next. What was going on. If i were there today. They're all around us we witnessed a marvellous you wonderful example. Ali miniature. And functioning. Web of life. Although better showing us without a work. That such a diversity could indeed coexist. Benjamin harmon. What's so wrong with humans. This somehow we can't get along even with each other. Let's listen. Behold wonderful weather. To be apart. Henry. Mumbai vs. I don't see much carmen. Motivations of the world. And truly members of different religious denominations party presented a history of peaceful understanding. Beautiful harmony. Or even mutual respect. Of course i am confident. Did the fairly oddparents we have occasionally seen in michigan. Mike will avenge your murder. In the department. Edith joined that circus of sick critters around arcado. But if he had. I'm confident it would have been because he needed sustenance. Not because of anger or envy or greed. Ford explorer. But killing something smaller. And more defenses. Set them self. Incidentally. Having seen out instantly a chipmunk and fly across our yard and disappear. Another all sure that i chipmunk. Is really all that. There is a shortcoming in a reading from george perkins march. Mallory covid. All organic life. Man alone might be considered an essentially destructive force. Industry. Hebrews 700 pages to support that claim. Be glad i showed you that. But is it true. Is it really true. His arguments were powerful enough to give him an instant international bestseller. I just woke is considered by many as i said to be the fountainhead of environmentalist and conservationist movement worldwide. My experiences in michigan neither prove nor disprove marshall's assessment. The human speech. But they do at least raise the question in my mind. If my tiny critters can get along together so jubilantly. Why can't we humans get along even. With our own karma. Paris really zack. What which outlines with my summers are all about. Without so much as one spoken word those wee beasties have become a major part. Nyiam. William. And don't get me wrong here they may not be able to speak. But they can communicate perfectly. Anyone. Willing to listen. Why do i migrate north. Every summer. Snow in summer. Have nothing to do with it. I need for renewal. Perry clinic. And restore sense of humor. I go because i need to. And i suspect that some of you may occasionally need renewal. As well. Let's face it. We all need. Just as our nation religion. I guess the whole world. You may not find what you need in michigan or anywhere else. It may not be a place. Or at least with music doesn't work for me. Play michigan out of the picture. But whatever it is don't analyze it. Don't agonize over the potential cost. Anticipate the game. Give it all you've got. Take all you can get. Michigan cost me of money in taxes. But so what. Because what i get for those outrageous taxes. Is renewal of a life worth living. There's any rules before i have returned. To this wonderful community. Great ideas. Wonderful friend. And provide opportunities. All of these are here waiting for me if i want them. And yes i do. But to be honest. If i have the inner resources to take advantage of what lies here for my taking. It is because i ever see strife. Summer after summer after summer. Foremost telephone group. What time you critters. I am comes with mayer and love especially as anything i've ever found in my life. With one exception. And she knows who she is. Show me. Next year i will leave again. Fleur-de-lis. Pythagoras wants road. Seek to learn about and how the world is made. And learn their from a better way of life. Therefore go forth and seek. Go forth and learn. Go forth to do what you can do. Going in your heart that working together. We can change the world. Our service here today is ended.

uufvb_org

2014Apr13Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach we are a congregation. Open minds loving hearts and helping hands people seeking to become our best selves. Even if together we work to make for a better world. And please do as i say every sunday 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 this morning or down in the dumps or somewhere in between. We welcome you just as you come to us. We hope you'll find our service this morning meaningful and enriching and you'll find something here this morning. To take with you. The nurse is your spirit and feeds your soul and gives you renewed energy and purpose. For the living of life in the days ahead. We a little later this morning we're going to have our annual congregational meeting but what is a congregation anyway. Well scott. Dictionary.com simply says that a congregation. Is it gathered or assembled body and assembly of purses brought together. Four common religious worship yeah i get that but what differentiates one religious congregation from another. Well i suppose it's the particular values and beliefs it is symbols around. Every faith tradition has its own distinct core values and beliefs around wichita there's every sunday exactly so i love these conversations i right. Breathing congregation as we gather close. Around the values and beliefs of our particular religious tradition. Promising to live our lives in accordance with these aspirations of the heart. So let's begin our worship this morning by saying together the seven principles. Which hold us together as a congregation. They're printed in your order of service and they're projected up on the screen. Let's say it together. Unitarian universalist. Aquaman compassion in human relations. Navigation. Search for truth and meaning. Weather crossett ar. World community littering and justice for all respect for the dishes which we are apart. It is good to be together. I don't know who wrote this reading i think it was one of our ministers. Who are we unitarian-universalist. Like the roman catholics we have a long tradition extending back. To the sun-baked deserts in israel. The small rural villages in transylvania on the rocky shores. Everly new england. Like the jews. We have our heroes and heroines servetus david on fuller marie channing emerson. Barton anthony and steinmetz. To name only a few. Like the baptists we have a system of democratic polity. With the congregation as the ultimate authority and elected board of trustees and a pulpit characterized by freedom of expression. Like the confucianist we have emphasized the capacity for reason. Possessing a thirst for the fruits of wisdom and knowledge and a reverend feeling for the achievements of the mind. Like the hindus we have an eclectic system of theology. Encouraging each individual to develop a personal faith. Which is not dependent on external demand. Like the humanists we have our roots in the experience of the world. As it is known through the medium of touch and sight and sound. And taste. Smell. Unlike the buddhists we have an accent on the individual and on the beauty the mystery and the holiness or needs man woman and child. As each is a sacred vessel. Who are we unitarian-universalist followers of a free fade. Grateful for all the world's great religious traditions. Which has taught us. So much. Here ends the morning reading. You know optimus that i am i'm not usually inclined dark thoughts but i will admit one came to me all of a sudden a few years back when i was present at the largest gathering of unitarian-universalist ever convened in the world. It was a remarkable sunday morning june 29th 2003 i went back and looked it up. During the general assembly that you're in boston. That's city of course is the home to our denomination. And the uu way our denomination had rented the 18,000-seat fleet center the old boston garden. And asked all the uu congregations within driving distance in new england. To come in. Cancel the regular services and come in for this mega festival service. Sleep center. Almost 10,000. Enthusiastic you use including most of our clergy from around the country showed up. Compact the hall with energy and here is a photo of the fleets that are on that occasion. At one point just before the service too crowded that wave thing need to see a pitfall game it was totally cool. It was the largest gathering since our movement had formed 200 years ago there's never been a gathering of the faithful. Even close to this one inside. The large gathering is possible in boston because our faith tradition even though it is represented in every region of the country. Is still heavily concentrated in massachusetts and new england. In fact some of you may not know what the old nineteenth-century saying. Which points out that unitarian universalist believe in the fatherhood of god. The brotherhood of jesus in the neighborhood of boston. United states. Right in the middle of this huge and festive event i had a very dark plot. What if a jetliner taking off from nearby logan airport crashed out the movement. At least three-quarters of the clergy and a substantial portion of our new england members. Causing irreparable damage to our movement. Well as i'm pleased to report. No aaron plane crashed into the fleet center that morning. All the happy unitarian-universalist including me in the rest of the clergy returned home. To continue to grow and strengthen our more than 1,000 congregations from maine to california. Thank god unitarian-universalism was safe for another day. But this dark and curious thought of mine brought to my mind another pesky and curious question which my sermon title asks this morning. What would i religiously be if i couldn't be a unitarian universalist. I mean think about it. If unitarian-universalism suddenly disappeared. Or had never come into being in the first place. What in the world would you or would i do spiritually with ourselves. Where would we find a suitable spiritual or religious home. Is there any other single religious spiritual tradition. To which we could migrate that would give us the kind of freedom hope. Meaning of purpose which we received from unitarian universalism. Is there any other religious tradition. Out there in the world. Comfortably settled into. Our spiritual theological and ethical authenticity. Passion and roy now. Hopefully and rather i should say thankfully this is a hypothetical question. Because our liberal faith tradition in the early years of the 21st century. Is stable and strong and secure. As a religious denomination are overall membership numbers while admittedly small. Are none the less study. For the past several years we've had about 1050 congregation. And we number about 220,000 adults and children. Study statistics at a time when so many other historic. American mainstream denominations like the methodist. The presbyterians episcopal zion lutheran. Are significantly declining both in terms of numbers of congregation. And adherence. So shirley ruu faith while small by american standards is going to be a viable. And around for the foreseeable future. We have. A distinctive and healthy progressive niche. In the american spiritual landscape. But still intellectually and spiritually the question of what i would personally do. If you your wisdom or not an option for me does haunt me. It haunts me because unlike most of you who discovered the space tradition. Sometime during your adult life. I am a third-generation. Unitarian universalist. I am uu. Through and through to my bones as i say. My grandfather mark clayton ewing an amazing man. Was the universalist in wausau wisconsin. And an industrialist if you use the paper products in this church it says wausau paper. He helped to found that come. I wipe my hands i think of my grandfather. In any case. My parents subsequently raised me and my brothers at the unitarian universalist church in racine wisconsin. Which was formed in 1840 to here is a photo. Of my old sweet home town church. I don't want to tell you a story about the weathervane the weather this is the church of the good shepherd. I'm going to return to that in a minute. That weathervane blew off during my high school years and someone stole it and the weathervane of shaped like a crook. What disappeared my father was in the steel industry he had one custom-made at a tool and die shop in racine we hired a cherry picker my family did and we put the new and that's that's the that is the weathervane that my parents paid for it and arrange. I have put back. And the beautiful. Old building. Luckily for me this liberal religious path. That i was set upon by my parent's house always felt. Like a perfect a natural fit. I have indeed devoted my life and my career to this religion. And is hopeful vision. For transforming both persons. And our world in ways of gentleness. Decency compassion and hell. What i'm saying. Is it being a unitarian universalist. Is central to myself understanding as a human being. And it is almost impossible for me frankly to imagine. Myself and some other spiritual path. Nonetheless i have occasionally spiritually ask myself. So what would i be if you you wasn't was not an option. Perhaps my ruminations on that question this morning will help you think about how you would answer. That same question all right enough introduction. So what would it be. If i couldn't be you you well. Right off the bat i must confess that when i began struggling with this blessedly hypothetical question. Of where i might otherwise spiritually go. I am trouble. Settling on just one face tradition. This difficulty shouldn't surprise you because you use have long believed that no one religion. Including our own. Has all the answers or has a monopoly on truth. We religious liberals love the spiritually and theologically shop around and other traditions. Or insights and truths and rituals and meanings that work also for us. As open-minded and curious you use we hate to restrict. Our spiritual search to one particular narrow place. Even as i said if that place. Is our own. Openness of ours to you wanting to be free to shop around to look at all religious traditions. Sits very well with the gen xers in the millennials the generations coming up. Who want as much spiritual freedom of choice as they do economic social political and sexual freedom of choice. So are you having a being open to all the world's great religious traditions. I think secures our future because people coming up or going to want that same openness and they're not necessarily attracted. The younger generations to crusty. And rigid religious traditions that demand absolute and fixed fealty. From their adherents all right but. My question still remains what would i be if i couldn't bau you well. A great deal of fussing and reflection i decided. I could pretty well comfortably fit into to tradition. One from the west. And one from the east now which western tradition do you think i would pick. Take a guess. Quakerism. Right quakerism is my western choice. And if i had to pick an eastern tradition what do you think it would be. Bingo buddhism. Alright. What could be better for unitarian universalist one western one easter perhaps the best. A both spiritual worlds so you see you can have your spiritual cake and eat it too at least that's what i'm going to do this morning. And is less why am i doing it because you can't tell me not to it's like it's like lesley gore said her famous hit it's my party and i'll cry if i want to cry if i want to cry if i want to you would cry too if it happened to you so this is so this is my spiritual. Quakerism first why. Well i'm attracted its although it's not a perfect fit for me. Because it's a bit more theistic and christian than i am spiritually inclined. I could cope could cope quite congenial with being a quaker. That is if the extroverted highly verbal soul that i am can never sit quietly long enough. To let god speak to me or the spirits speak to me as they do in quaker meeting. But i'm attracted to three aspects of quakerism first is a democratic priesthood of all believers. Secondly there's a practical ethical non-doctrinal christianity. And third it emphasizes social justice. And human. Service. I want to take the first from the democratic priesthood of all believers. Their structure as a religious. Or ecclesiology as a theologian would call it. Is a democratic and inclusive priesthood of all believers just like we are. Quakers as we do affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person. They believe that everyone has access to what they call the inner light. Of god or goodness. And the subsequent responsibility. To lead your life in accordance with the highest. But you discover within as you look for that light. As a result quakerism insist that each faithful individual. Have both the freedom and the responsibility to both shape their lives and then live their life out of that. How does that spiritual place. And quakers are spiritually focused. On this earthly life. And strive to make their own lives as one buddhist document calls it. A sacrament. Your life is as a buddhist it's supposed to be a sacrament. Goodness. Based on what is revealed to you. From the light within or the god within. So like are you you tradition. There is a non-dogmatic creed list tradition of searchers. Which gives each believer a great deal of authority. And duty. To decide what is true and real and right for them for a quaker you're not told what to believe. You're you're pulling a path. To seek that. Light width. No one in quaker tradition. Can dictate to another what the voice of god. Or the dictates of conscience should be. And yet they're not just rabid individualist as one quaker website puts it. Quakerism is not an individualistic path. Justice of holy spirit speaks directly to us as individuals. We also experience god speaking to us as a group. When we gather together in meeting. With the intention of receiving god's will. Together. So it's individualistic and yet there's a corporate dimension to it. I could be very comfortable with this. As i said to you i insist on the right and freedom. To spiritually an ethically decide for myself. What is true and right. And yet at the same time. I also depend on other unitarian universalist and the other ministers and rabbis in town. To help correct me in to help me find that. That truly right path. So my soul comfortably resonates with this first pillar. Of quakerism. As robert lawrence smith puts it in his wonderful little book. A quaker book of wisdom. Because friends believe that he's in each individual has access to god. To the powerful illumination of the light within. They worship in silence. Joined and waiting for god to speak to them directly and move them. To a vocal ministry. The second one. But that strikes me as a practical non-doctrinal christianity. This lies at the center of quakerism. And it resonates beautifully with my own progressive judeo-christian roots. Quakers while decidedly within the christian full. Have none that have never been interested in abstract. trial match nations about jesus or christianity. Because they're too busy striving to simply emulate. Jesus's life. Following his loving and compassionate teaching. Quakerism along with other pietistic protestant tradition. Insist on regularly answering the simple question. What. Would jesus do. And then strive to live accordingly. Well versed in what the scripture say about the life and teachings of jesus. Quakers drive to mold their lives in accordance with his compassion. His peacefulness. His generosity in love. And quakers have never concerned themselves much with speculative questions about heaven and hell. They believe that god's kingdom is manifest. Here and now and that we are all responsible. For contributing. To the creation of god's kingdom. This is a particularly comfortable religious place for me personally. When i was growing up in that old universalist unitarian church in racine wisconsin which again was called the church of the good shepherd. Every sunday i would look up from my pew. At the beautiful old stained glass window on the waist west-facing wall. I called them 2 weeks ago to send will you please send me a photograph. Of the window the good shepherd window. I looked up a jesus carrying that lamb every sunday in my boyhood. And that meant a great deal to me. To me this is what christianity and much of my own spirituality should be about. Living my life in accordance with the human ideals which jesus taught and lived during his lifetime now. Why was the unitarian universalist. I spiritually unethically insist on learning from all the great religious teachers. Not just singularly focusing on jesus of nazareth. I'm on the list. Personally powerfully inform. By his singularly powerful and challenging example. In my spiritual and ethical life. I want like the quakers to be a follower of jesus. And a follower of gandhi. And a follower of martin luther king. And mother teresa. And the dalai lama. And all the other saints and prophets of humanity. Who taught this one essential message. Do unto others. As you would have them. Do unto you. Lastly i am attracted to quakerism emphasis on social justice. And service. It is the quaker conviction that all persons are valuable and worthy. Everyone has a spark of the divine within them. That has led them like us to be a social justice and a service religious tradition. They work tirelessly for peace and justice and decency for all again quaker. Robert lawrence smith. The concept of quaker service you right. Start with the belief. That there is that of god in every person. And that all people in the world are there four members of an extended family of eco. Truservice. He writes. Quakers believe. Response to needs wherever they exist. Extended global family. I was very touched recently when i read a book called the abandonment of the jews which chronicles the very. Sad story about the religions of the world during the holocaust. But yet the author writes. The major religions of the us did nothing great. To relieve jewish suffering. During the holocaust. However the quakers. And the unitarians. Did 100% of what they could. Despite despite small service numbers. And over the last couple of centuries quakers and unitarian and universalist. Have regularly found themselves on the same side. In public struggles for civil and human rights. World peace and disarmament. Social economic and racial justice. You may be interested to know that way back in the 1920s and 1930s. Unitarian charles went organize something called the national federation of religious liberals. And what this was was the unitarian. And the universalist and the quakers as well as a central conference of american rabbis. They worked together for several. Decades. On social justice issues before the organization fell apart for god-knows-what reasons. So except for the rather singular emphasis on the on jesus. And again i highly value this but do not wish to spiritually or ethically limit myself. To that vision. I could pretty comfortably settled into quakerism. This reflective. Ppl center. Justice freedom and peace-loving protestant tradition. So let's move to the east. And take a really quick and i'm running out of time so i'm going to go through buddhism pretty quickly. I'm attracted to three things in buddhism also. Everyday mindfulness. The interconnectedness of all things which buddhism season understand. And their patient. Stoicism stoicism. As i've said i'm very much at home with quakerism but in the end. My spirit would feel truncated and incomplete if i could not somehow. Enrich and expand quakerism. Gentle and responsible path. With the parallel wisdom of buddhism in the other eastern traditions. Despite all of its wisdom and depth western spiritual tradition. Tend to lack some of the wonderful spiritual understandings and sensibilities. Then only come from the east. So if i couldn't be a unitarian universalist. Kind of want to be a quicker aligned buddhist or a buddhist oriented quaker. Kind of taking both of these things in her heart. One expert in world religion has suggested that rather than being a distinct and clear faith. What does it means more quote. Avast synthesis of teachings. It is now two and a half thousand years old avast. Synthesis of teaching. Here are the three spiritual aspects i'm attracted. First. Of course. Mindfulness. This is essential part of my spiritual practice. As a unitarian universalist. I am persuaded that mindfulness which is simply. Paying attention. And cultivating keen awareness. Of each unique and remarkable moment of your life. And accepting everything that comes in all of its fluidity flow and flux. That this mindfulness is the key that opens the door for each of us. To life-sustaining gratitude. Satisfaction. And peace i quote from my buddhist friend. James austin. Mindfulness. Is a kind of remembering. Remembering to be here. To be present in your own life. To pay attention to this moment of life. When we bring this awareness to this moment we know what we are doing. And we know that we are alive. Our mind easily wanders off. To some fantasy of the future or some evaluation. Judgment. A remembrance of the past. All this time we sacrifice. What is right in front of us gym right. This present moment. Without mindfulness. Includes we lose a sense of direct experience. With the richness of life. And then he points out. Being mindful is not only about becoming more receptive to the outer world. Our inner landscape is also more lush. When we are aware. Mindfulness is characterized. Buy a spacious snowing. Spacious knowing of what's happening. And you know it's not just a spacious knowing about the easy stuff. Mindfulness also means that if your swept into grief or in the sorrow or in the lost. You are mindful of that as well it's not just remembering days of being fully there in a day in the beach or watching your first grandchild before. It's about taking all of life and being mindful and present for all of it. Even the sorrow and suffering. Which helps us to move past. Lazzaro on cell. So mindfulness is crucial and then there's the awareness of the interconnectedness of all things. Explain the score affirmation of buddhism i go quickly to the teachings of my favorite. Modern-day buddhist the dalai lama. It is wonderful book. Ethics for the new millennium. He says it because human beings everywhere on the globe. Are striving. Define happiness. And to avoid suffering which is a key buddhist concept. Find happiness and avoid suffering because we are all on that pan. We are bound together in an end of soluble and powerful oneness. A spiritual kinship and relatedness. That impels us. To be compassionate toward one another. I quote the dalai lama. There is no denying that our happiness is inextricably bound up. The happiness of others. If society suffers we ourselves suffer. Compassion is one of the principal thing. That makes our lives meaningful and happy. Through truth and justice towards others. We insure our own benefit. The only spiritual practice we need. He concludes. Consist of nothing more. Then acting out of ever wider and deeper concern. For others and providing you undertake this practice sincerely. And with persistence. Little by little. Step-by-step you will find. That you enjoy peace. And happiness. Yourself. The buddhist affirmation. A human interconnectedness. And the interconnectedness of all living things. And the responsibility that comes with it. Resonates perfectly with my unitarian-universalism which as you know our seventh principle which we read at the opening. The interdependent web of all existence of which. We are apart this is a pure. What is conch. Finally. Patient. Stoicism. I want to incorporate patient stoicism. Into my life. Stoicism is the idea expressed in classical philosophy. Which basically says we have to accept. The laws. Of nature. If we are to smoothly move. Through our lives. Two and a half thousand years ago. Two and a half thousand years of buddhist teaching. Beginning with the writings of the buddha himself. Affirms that both suffering and change or flux. Are part of the essential nature of life. To live is to be. To be obliged to go through change. And suffering. And if one is to find true wisdom and happiness and peace. One must accept even embrace. This fluid and often bittersweet reality. For reasons i am unable to entirely discern. Are western minds tend to resist. Does buddhists sensibility. The unwanted suffering and change. Are inextricably unavoidably a part of life. That we must know. And embrace. In our culture we rail against and resist fiercely. Any unhappiness. Or suffering. Or mortality. Tending to view these things which are natural. Unnatural of france. Who are humanist. Rather than the natural and acceptable part of the ebon flow of life. That is life. To live. Western minds have trouble. Coming to terms with random suffering and tragedy. For many in our culture the first question the first spiritual quest and out of their mouth. When they suffer something is. Why did this happen to me. Well that's the wrong question. What is the frame of mind why did this happen to me it happened to you because it happens to everyone. Because suffering is a part of the way the world is. Broncos. I strive. Everything in my life. To place the stoical buddhist sensibility at the center of my life. I want the spiritual calm. Composure and maturity. To accept the personal difficulty and pain that comes my way. And comes the way of those i love. And i'm liberated and empowered by that acceptance. And i think more able to move on in my life. With contentment. And purpose and love. For what is yet to be. Stoicism. Accepting the laws of nature. Is tamia crucial spiritual. Alright so there you have it. My new spiritual home. If you use them or not available to me would. Lie somewhere spiritually suspended between east and west is kind of a. Quaker rest buddhism or a buddhist oriented quakerism. A mindful. Compassionate peaceful. Hopefully. Reflective. Stoical people-centered justice loving globally concern democratic face. We're the ultimate authority for deciding what is good and true and right. Would resist would reside. But even with this personalized hybrid stay even with. The complimentary richness of quakerism in buddhism. I still wouldn't quite have. What i wanted. For some spiritual treasures would surely still be missing. I'm so last i would undoubtedly find myself self still casting about. Respectfully going to empowering from even more faith tradition. To round out and deepen my new spirituality for example i'm sure. Visit episcopalianism. To learn some of their sense of hushed magic and reverend mystery i like incense. I would want to visit pentecostalism. And take home some of their sway and passion. I'd want to visit you slum. And take your heart and hand that traditions insistent. On charity. And generosity toward the needy. I'd want to visit christian science. And unity movement. To remember that there's a vital and saving connection. Between mine. And body and spirit. I want to visit judaism. And pick up some of their community solidarity and their compassionate. Generosity. I don't want to visit baha'i. Enrich my universalism. With their global ethic. A human connection. I don't want to visit confucianism. And learn what they have to teach about reason. In the human mind's capacity. Online i think my spiritual shopping list would go. And if i have the time or energy. I'd want to in the end visit every great spiritual and philosophical tradition known to humanity. To see if i could discover something there i wanted to take with me. And what do you know. In the end well mercyme and heavens to betsy i'd end up something very close. To the free open inquiring inclusive and compassionate. Face i now have. Unitarian universalism. So congratulations. As a unitarian universalist you're already in the right spiritual theological place. We've gone full circle and you're in the right place. What can i tell you. I might as well admit it this sermon on what i would be if i couldn't be you you was just one more thinly-veiled rhetorical device to remind you what a great faith that we have. I will admit that. I'm sure i could get along spiritually one foot in quakerism one foot in buddhism. With a smattering of wisdom for mother's day. But i'd rather actually be right here. Right now. Committed and caring in this religious tradition. Firmly rooted in this particular historical faith. Willits seven guiding principles. And yet also always open. To the truths that lie about us in all the great religions. So may we together here. A new usb b. Building open. And inclusive unitarian universalism. The truly explores and welcomes the wisdom and the goodness. Of all other traditions. That we ourselves. Micro diaper. And stronger. And clearer. In the waze. Of love. And i say i mean. In the middle of the night every clergy person in america was mail. First woman ordained olivia brown. Universal. Nicole richie. Today. 200 years old. Zailetsplay. Workforit and sacrifice for it. The world so important as being loyal to this state. Because places for us the luckiest ideals. Fusaro. Racing dogs for double duty and made the world beautiful. You're not some and immediate results. Rejoice that we are worthy to be entrusted. Great message. That you are strong enough to work. Principal. Out counting the cost. Find me ever to application. Cruise that ever knew. Enjoying this in their conversation. Always trusted. One god. Underway.

uufvb_org

05Jul2009sermon128kbs.mp3

No let me precu all the things i'm going to say by telling you that the opinions expressed in this presentation are purely my own. I do not report to represent any group or subgroup within this fellowship. I expect to have a lot of agreement i also expect to have some disagreement. So fasten your seatbelts. Global warming. Falling apart lookout chicken little the sky is falling the water is rising the temperature is blistering co2 is increasing dramatically. Wow. It may not be all that bad. But. There's no doubt about it. The sustainability of our life on earth is being questioned seriously these days. Armageddon. May turn out to be not a battle of good vs evil but rather a battle of greed versus a sense of. What's right. It's time for us to look around. And think spiritually about our world. And nature. A time to really look at ourselves as naturalist. As opposed to supernatural list. Most of us simply do not believe that god is going to stop us from destroying our environment. It's up. To us. You. And me. Hello. What are you do this. As a pagan naturalist. A god-fearing person or just because you have a feeling of. Oh. Something is wrong. It's time for us to turn our attention to. The seventh principle of unitarian universalism which reads. Respect for the interdependent web. Of all existence. Of which we are apart. The international you you were sociation of congregations last week at general assembly voted to reject proposed changes to those principles and sources of the principles that we hold dear. One of those changes was to alter the seventh principle word respect. Did the word reference. And add these words to that principle. And you heard them just a little earlier. Inspired by the beauty and holiness of the earth. We become more willing to relinquish material desires we recognize the need for sacrifice as we build a world that is both just. Unsustainable. And it went on to say we are called to be good stewards restoring the earth. And protecting. All beings. So that should could come up again in a couple years. The interdependent web. Of all existence. A witch we. Or apart. That's the environment. Ecology. Preserving planet earth. Are we all doing our part. Let me ask if you have a memory of a special time. Of communing with nature. And your soul experienced and inward glow of warmth. And you were left with a feeling of reverence. I'll never forget. The first time that i saw a waterfall. It wasn't the big one at all. But if loadout of a woodsy flowery set on. Down over smooth rocks into a pool alongside a north carolina country road. It was absolutely breathtaking as our family was driving along my dad at the wheel. And suddenly we came upon this idyllic scene along the road. We stopped. Waited. Lounged. Listened. It looked. We returned time and time again to swim and picnic and be mesmerized by the beauty there. That pond is gone today. Obliterated. My progress. No late 1970s i was a member of a local rotary club here in vero beach and interested in environmental matters. I became district chero preserve planet earth and travel the four-county area talking about how business. Could help the environment. The concentration was on business because rotary is complete. Excuse me is composed of representatives of various business enterprises in my business at that time was radio broadcasting. Now the amount of. Ho-hum reception. That my message was receiving. Was daunting to say the least. While many individuals and social groups were embracing the environmental banners business for the most part then visit was not too receptive. Now. 30 years later it's become easier to be environmentally aware more cost neutral and in many cases even cost-effective. So business is jumping on the bandwagon. Who the individual today. There are so many things that can be done to help the ecology. Will you come into the uu fvb office on sundays are after hours during the week and you start that copy machine spitting out paper for your committee's the board the congregation on sunday do you make a conscious effort to print on both sides of the paper. To conserve paper. Let's consider the bathroom for a moment the lovely vision indeed. When running the water at the sink doesn't really have to run so long. Are you aware that we here are stalking our bathrooms with green paper green ecology. That is paper that contains at least some recycled paper paper that's manufactured using fewer environmentally damaging chemicals in the process. As your committee leaves a meeting room do you check that the thermostat is reset to 78° and the lights turned off. And what about your personal habits. When watering the landscape around your home were you careful to water early in the morning so the sun doesn't come along and evaporate all that standing water thus requiring you to water even heavier. And using more of a natural resource. On my way home in a recent sunday 12:30 in the afternoon there's one yard with a sprinklers going full tilt. What a waste. Is your car. More fuel-efficient than the last one you owned. When you take off from a stoplight. Are you at the jackrabbit. Or a bit more conservative than that normally. If you're among those who smoke cigarettes. You casually flip the burning butt out of the car window paying no attention to where it may land. Can cause fires. Certainly adds to pollution to the landscape. It also pollutes the river. The bots are carried to a drainage ditch in many cases which leads to a drainage canal which in turn leads to the indian river lagoon. These are all good things you can do and pay attention to what they are a band-aid. Put on the deep wounds to our earth's ecology. One ardent environmentalist called shallow. Ecology. So. Should our congregation. Be out in the community. Cushing. Local government. Three more environmentally aware. And putting less pollution into the air and water. All these things and much much more we as you use can do on behalf of the environment. And put us in touch. With the spirit. The preserving mother earth. Help us to live up to our seventh principle and show that we believe in. Respect. For the interdependent web. Of all existence. I wish we. Bonaparte. I would like to quote for you a piece from rabbi warren g stone. We are grateful for creation. Get all of its majesty. The ever-flowing waters has your blue skies a complex life of earth's forests. The myriad of life-forms amoeba and falcon. Black-footed ferret and wild turkey human beings and soaring eagles. Rabbi stonewood on torah teaches us that creation and its great diversity is harmoniously interconnected. Like the trees. We to need strong and deep roots for nourishment. The uplifted branches of the trees point to where future god let us be strong as strong as the ancient trees and he finished we pledged to lift up our voices for them praise of you and in defense of your creation. Unquote rabbi stone. No. Regardless of your personal safe. In the system you believe in. The message is the same. There's a spiritual aspect. To which we say. We pledged to lift up our voices. Both in praise of nature. And in defense of all creation. Members of unitarian universalist churches tend to be a bit argumentative over the issue of a supreme being. But whether or not you believe in god or a god i think that most of us can agree. Or be comfortable with this font. Perhaps. Within each one of us. And within all creatures on this earth. There's a spark of the divine. Godlike essence. There's a word i've come to use. From the hindu. Namaste. It means in simplest terms. I recognize the spirit of the divine. In both you. And me. If the spirit of the divine resides in arsenal creators then it's only right and proper and spiritual of us to warship that spirit the worshipper holding all and respect this spirit we must also help preserve the creatures of this earth all of them. And the portions of the environment they depend on. For life itself. In reality we preserve the environment rather selfishly because ultimately we to depend on it because we depend on each creature. In the chain of life. As mother nature's design hold all of us. In that web of life. Even the first generation of man had to pay attention to the environment. Take the garden of eden for example. A self-sustaining ecology humankind story that i've heard this story says that. Was the first human being there not adam. And one day she was wandering around dejectedly in the garden of eden and she told god i'm lonely. I'm tired of being by myself. Okay god said. I'll create a man for you. Man. What's that. Well he's a creature with aggressive tendencies and enormous ego he won't listen very well he'll get lost easily. But never stopped to ask for directions. However he is big and strong he could open jars. And hunt animals that he'll be fun in bed. Sounds great. Oh and one more thing god said. He will want to believe. That i made him first. Then they ate the apple lost the garden of eden which took care of itself and we were out into the wilds of untame nature. Do taming nature became one of the first orders of business clearing and growing and tending to hers building villages growing into civilization creating cities and engines and burning all that abundant fossil fuel. The legacy of adam and eve. Turned into the conceit of humankind that all could be bent to our will with no care for the perimeter of our existence the earth and its other inhabitants. And ultimately. Our own well-being. And this has led us to where we stand today. With mother nature. On the cusp of disaster say many. It appears that most scientists today those who study such things say that global warming is a reality and humanity is a large part of the problem. We have ignored the good of the earth. And favored the good of our greed for the good life. Things are happening. And scientists are becoming more and more alarm than calling for action. A recent report released by the us geological survey paints abrupt. Climatic shifts. Including a more rapid climate change with global sea-level increases of up to four feet by the year 2100 and climatic shifts in the north american southwest by mid-century. The previous estimates anticipated of global sea-level rise of 1 1/2 ft. By the end of the century and not four. The current survey commissioned by the us climate of change science program estimated that the compounding effects of a loss of arctic sea ice will more than double previous projections by the end of the century. because that adds to the water level so much but the loss of the reflective. And hastens the meltdown of the antarctic. Glaciers. Now standing on the antarctic continent. Added to the glaciers of iceland. Agreement. The natural resources defense council describes the arctic as global warming this canary in the coal mine. Arctic ice melt. The nrdc warns. Will have devastating effects beyond the polar region. Well into the american heartland. The rising temperatures are already being felt across alaska geographic landscape. On the kenai peninsula scientist believe that the warmer weather has allowed spruce bark beetles. Do a chore and reproduce more quickly. Able to complete a two-year life cycle. In only one year. The insects so far. Have eaten almost 4 million acres of forest. At the national level president barack obama has named harvard physicist john holdren and marine biologist jane lubchenco to top science post signaling a change from former administration policies on global warming that have been criticized for putting politics over science. Both holdren and the pinko are leading experts on climate change. Holdren is obama science advisor as director of the white house office of science and technology policy of chinko leads the national oceanic and atmospheric administration which oversees ocean and atmospheric studies. And does much of the government's research on global warming. The state of idaho. Is hoping to capitalize on more than just the milk emerging from its cows. The state's mountains of manure are fueling dreams of pipelines linking waste treatment facilities at dairies large and small to central refineries that produce natural gas pure enough for homes or cars. State energy czar paul jellinger is pushing a package of incentives to transform idaho southern heartland into. Methane mecca. Not everyone is convinced about global warming thing though. There's a report from the opposing side that says the 10 warmest years turn out to be in descending order. 1934. 1998. 1921. 2006. 1931. 1999. 19:53 1990 3839. That report says if there's a trans there. We don't see it. And they go on the question so it was global warming man-made and an imminent danger. However. What they didn't say was it those temperatures were measured only in the continental united states. Rather than globally. Nasa's goddard institute of space science says. The meteorological year december 2007 through november 2008 was the coolest year since the year 2000. However they glad. That was also the ninth warmest year in the period of all instrumental measurements and that extends back to 1880. The nine warmest years and that time is fanol occur within the 11-year period of 1998 through 2008 and they are talkin worldwide globally. I offer you. The un environmental sabbath program prayer of sorrow. We have forgotten who we are. We have alienated ourselves from the unfolding of the universe and the cosmos we have become estranged from the movements of the earth we have turned our backs on the cycles of life. We have sought only our own security. We have exploited simply for our own needs we have distorted our knowledge we have abused our power. All the land is barren. And the waters are poisoned and the air is polluted now the forest are dying and the creatures are disappearing and the humans are despairing. We ask forgiveness. We asked for the gift. Of remembering. We ask for strength. To change. This is so huge. Can i do. How much of an impact on this problem. Can i. Does an individual have. My efforts would be minuscule in comparison to the whole issue so why bother to try. That's the same type of thought process used in germany prior to and during much of world war ii and then the next thing they knew they were in folded into that monstrous evil called the holocaust. Yeah it is big. It is huge. It's powering over us like a breaking storm and we are ants scurrying for shelter. Is that really the way that we're going to face this matter. I prefer to face such things by following the course laid out in the unitarian universalist seventh principle which calls on us to have respect. For the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. I prefer to listen to the additional words that were proposed add to that principle by the unitarian universalist association would say inspired by the beauty and holiness of the earth. We become more willing. To relinquish material desires we recognize the need for sacrifice as we build the world. That's both just. Unsustainable. We are called to be good stewards. Restoring the earth. And protecting all beings. We. You. And i. Together. Make a difference. Like the one word slogan of the obama campaign change. It can happen. But not without effort. One person can do the little they can do. But one person with a group. Can do a lot. Everything starts locally. We can start locally. Has a voice for the environment and indian river county if we so desire. Unitarian universalist congregation of eurobeat can. Be in the forefront assisting others and pushing for more environmental consciousness by business. Government. Social organizations. Each other. You wonder how to make yourselves felt in the community in a positive way. Hear something. If you get this voice out there with a clear message. People will listen. Let me offer a quote from our own uu district executive ken her till he said. Lead with purpose. Over and again. If you're on point with your message. With your mission. People will be comforted. And they will rally to make it so. Be sure to sound a clarion call though people do not give time nor money. To an uncertain trumpet. If. You decide to do this thing. Craft your message carefully. Pick the time and place to inserted into the public conversation. And then do so with bigger. Contacts. Let me take note. The all things. Are possible. And i'll leave you with a thought that environmentalism. It's not only practical. It's a spiritual practice. We can. Put our voice and our vision in front of the community. If we bought would do it. Let us sing together. Are him at this point as number 203. All creatures of the earth and sky. She would rise and spirit. Born actuality as a feeling grants you. Number 203. Join me in singing verses 1 through 4. All creatures author. And now we come to the point in the service where we extinguish the chalice. If you would read the words that are on the screen and also when your order of service. As we extinguish the flame. May faith in the spirit of life. I'll leave you today with words written by buddhist tick not han. Our true home. Is in the present moment. To live in the present moment is a miracle. Miracle is not so much to walk on water the miracle is to walk on the green earth in the present moment. Do appreciate the peace. And the beauty that are available now. Peace is all around us it world and the nature. And within us. In our bodies. And our spirits. Once we learn to touch this piece. We will be healed. And transformed. It's not a matter of faith. Tamara practice. So let it be. Go in peace. This day.

uufvb_org

2012Nov04Sermon128.mp3

Well good morning. Look at all you clever people who reminded remember to turn your clocks back an hour on my lips are sealed about who is here at 9. I will not tell you. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach and we're so pleased that all of you are back here with us again this morning. Please know you're welcome just 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 were feeling on top of the world this morning or 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 charm. We hope you will find our service this morning meaningful and enriching. And that you will find something here perhaps just a nugget. It will help you lead your life in the days and weeks ahead. With greater strength and joy. The reading before the sermon. I thought peace written. For the press journal was in the press journal about a month ago by former representative. Lee hamilton of indiana. It's a bit of a long reading. Very apropos i believe this sunday. Before our national. The conventional wisdom he writes about the subject of this year's presidential campaign. Is it about the proper role of government. In our nation's life. This is a good argument to have. But don't expect it to be resolved by the selection. Americans have been debating the question since before the constitution was drawn. And have not yet come to terms with it. Now we got a republican challenger who embraces the conservative conviction that government must be as limited as possible. In this few much of what government spends is wasted. Ronald reagan's comment government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem. Is its mantra. Conservatives want to reduce regulation. Make cutting taxes the highest priority. Propose handling medicaid and other responsibilities to the states as block grants. And consider a more active government as the wrong answer. And almost every. Against this view. We have a democratic incumbent back by liberals who seek. Perceived value in government's role. They are concerned about social inequality. Support a publicly-funded safety-net. They're prepared to levy the taxes needed to pay for it. In this view public spending is necessary to stimulate the economy. When needed. And regulation is vital. To checking. The excesses of the free market. The gap between these views. Lausanne. Seems unbridgeable. Especially in the midst of a presidential contest between two parties. Whose interest isn't highlighting their differences. Yet in the end this fundamental political golf is not as wide. This is because the real question and governing and he ought to know he was. Governor for governing. For many years. Israeli what is the idiot logically proper thing to do instead it. How do we run this country day today. And how do we get a diverse group of politicians to make progress. On our current problems while putting aside the problems they cannot solve. And then it goes on. Here is where most americans find them so. They don't consider government to be all good or all evil. They wanted to work well and efficiently to be productive as the private sector. To exert itself to keep the market functional but not so much that it over regulates business. And to get a handle on entitlements. So their sustainable over the long term. Most americans he writes believe. That is a nation we cannot prosper. Unless government built infrastructure. Protect property rights. Helps develop the economy sustains basic scientific research. Undergirds the development of human capital and protects. The social scene. And then he goes on. For most americans. Government is a tool. It is one of the ways americans me challenges that confront us. Fighting a terrorist attack. Or educating our children safeguarding our retirement undergirding commerce. And protecting the country's. National treasures for everyone to. And then he writes will probably never reach a. On the proper role of. We are more likely to work out solutions issue-by-issue. By issue. Trying to reach a pragmatic solution for whatever problem. And then he ends. The nation's currency. Physical difficulties were surely force government to do less. Then many people want. And the public sector will have to become smarter and more efficient. This is not bad. But no matter who is in charge. We are unlikely to veer too far right. Or too far left. Because the debate over the proper role of government will. Remain unsettled. Unsettled. In america. And that's not a bad thing. Here ends. All their friends. Here we are once again. As american citizens and voters on the eve of an important national election. Many commentators from both the right and the left. Curiously. Have declared this election. In the year 2012 is perhaps the most important decision point in a generation. In adidas takes do feel very high too much of the electorate. As evidenced by the passion being exhibited by partisans on both sides. Including countless and i might add frequently misleading and overstated. Political ads. The reason i think the stakes feel as high as they do. Is because the two national parties the republicans and the democrats have both staked out. Very clear turf and rather extreme ends of the political social and economic continuum. Which is what hamilton was. Before i discuss precisely what i believe is steak for all of us as voters this. Which because of the luxury of early voting here in florida feels kind of anti-climatic to me and others have already done this but in any case. I need to once again forthrightly address the issue of whether or not it is ever appropriate. For a minister or anyone else for that matter to discuss. Election. Politic. In church. Many of you may not know. From the founding of our nation. Tell 1954. 1954. There was absolutely no legal restriction of political activity imposed on american religious congregation. None. From the earliest days of this republic. And i'll get to that importance the most important specifics in the moment. Government. Was told to stay out of religion. What religion was never told to stay out of government. Here are the facts. The widely referred to an often misunderstood principal the separation of church and state which was first articulated. By the english philosopher john locke in the 1600. This principle was from the very beginning and the american democratic experience. And entirely one way street. Designed solely to prevent government from interfering. With the free exercise of religious expression. By both congregations in individual. There is absolutely nothing in the constitution of the united states that refers to this principle. But the first amendment to our constitution clearly and precisely states. That congress that is the legislative branch of our government shall quote. Make no law. Respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting. The free exercise thereof or abridging. The freedom of speech. Which thomas jefferson explained elsewhere means. Building a wall of separation. Between. The church. And state. So. The principle of the separation of church and state as expressed in the first amendment to our constitution. Andaz defended and clarified. Many times by congressional statute and supreme. Ruling. Is a purely one. Way boundary of protection. 4. Religion. Affirm insistence a government. Never interfere or express preference for any religious group. Expression. Now i must pause youtube releasing out the sadly over recent years there have been some attempts. Mostly initiated by conservative forces. To weaken the boundary. There's one of the amendments today on the in florida here. That wishes to fun. Religious organization by government that is an attempt. To weaken. The separation of church. State. By conservative. Republic. Legislator. In. This. Now. And what other examples. School choice. Vouchers. Tries to allow tax dollars. For the most part. The one-way principle of keeping the state. Out of religion. Has been honored. What this all means is it for the first two hundred years or so of the american experience. Religious institutions have felt free to tell government and cannabis. Precisely what they thought of them. Their policies and their laws indeed in the very early years of the republic. Immediately following elections the clergy were invited especially in massachusetts in the commonwealth of massachusetts. Clergy were invited to address a newly seeded state legislatures to preach to them about how they should run massachusetts and the other new england states did you know that. It was called an election sermon and they didn't after the elections. And those were pretty stern sermons. And for many generations to follow american church women and men. Felt free to bring their faith. Directly into the halls of government. But then curiously enough in 1954 thanks to you'll never guess. Linden. Bane. Johnson. That a freshman senator. The state of texas. The practice of the separation of church and state suddenly became a two-way street. When the united states congress under his urging passed the law. Explicitly prohibited religious congregation. From direct. Participation in political campaign why was this change made. Because in 1964 lbj was upset. But a texas nonprofit. Not a church but a non-profit. Rest. Opposition to his candidacy. And the peak of partisan rage. He persuaded the congress to amend the irs code the internal revenue code to henceforth prohibit all 501 3c nonprofit organization. Including churches from an anyway endorsing or opposing political candidates in election time if they wanted to keep. The tax. Status. It all happened. For now. As a liberal and progressive religious leader myself i happen to wholeheartedly agree. With this one clear limited 58 year-old restriction on religious organizations by the fed. I do not believe that ministers or congregations should at election time. Endorse or oppose particular candidates or parties. On a partisan basis. If they indeed want to remain tax-free. And i am perfectly. Willing to abide. By this irs restriction. As i understand it though as i think you know many. Conservative and liberal religious leader. Do not agree. With that and they're testing it. Testing the 19th. Law. But i will absolutely not be endorsing either covertly. Or overtly. Any party or candidates this morning. You are all thank you very much perfectly intelligent voters. And i will not insult your intelligence by suggesting how you should vote even though at times i want to. In my view ministers this sunday. Keep their mouth. Basically. Shut. But. None of this is to say. Did i don't believe churches and ministers. I i do not believe. Churches should stay out of. All political and governmental matters of. Nothing could be further from. I believe that religion. Most particularly our unitarian universalist religion. Mus. Must. Actively in regularly engage the many public policy issues. About what kind of nation. These united states is going to are going to be. Which both government and politicians address an advocate. As unitarian-universalist like all serious religious people. Be the catholic. Jewish. Baptist buddhist whatever. As unitarian universalist who care deeply about the shape and substance and future of american life. We should never ever hesitate. To regularly bring our moral ethical societal theological convictions. To the halls of government ended the voting booth. Our nation's founders had it right it's. Walt is terribly important the government at all levels. National state and local. Scrupulously and systematically stay out. Of all matters religious. Religious people must never stay out of government. And governmental power. I am passionately persuaded. That there can never be any successful or appropriate separation. Between our religious beliefs and lives and principles. And the political aspects and activities that we. Engage in. As members of. Religious people. Who care about the shape and substance of human life and community. Never leave their beliefs and values. At the marcus. Can i please persuade you. Right off the bat this. That no religion worth your allegiance. Can abrogate its responsibility. To speak of. Care about and try to influence the society in. Look just for a moment. At the seven princes. Our faith. That i read that we read together. Yeah this morning in the opening words. How could you take these justice and humanity centered principle seriously. And not have them systematically inform your democratic decision. In the voting. Adele. You can't. You can't be a serious unitarian universal. If you do not apply these prints. To your body. As unitarian universalist you must never. Ever hesitate. To bring your values. Balise the government. I can't say that strongly in. And that's why i arrive after this rather complicated. Undetailed preface. At this. Hard-fought national election. That i pray will be finalized. I hope that as a religious person you will bring. Full and total cell. To the voting booth. Speak your truth. 2 power. As you strive to express yourself as an american citizen. Look again just for a moment that those seven prince of. Which i incorporate into the opening words. But i already. Need to move ahead here. Alright. So what i want to do with you. What the time left. Is shareware i personally find myself as i strive to bring the highest principles of our faith. Of my face into the voting booth. Where i am this november. Is a pretty disquieted and dissatisfied place and i. Many of you may be in the same. Facing the voting booth i find myself rather dissatisfied. With the rather extreme choice i seem to be singularly presented with. When it comes. To the central philosophical divide that seems to be driving our national pallet. This year. Namely. Representative hamilton already suggested in the reading. The question of what is the proper size. Scope and role of government. Both parties republican and democrat are basically telling me in this election. I must decide. Between these two choices. The dominant republican idea that government and taxation are the problems that are holding them. Back. From prosperity and success. The government. Taxation are bass. Evil. That must be. Strain. Or collapsed. All costs. And the prevailing democratic idea that big government. Corollary spending. Must be protected even expanded. So that it can address. Almost every imagine. Social media. Honestly what. Iron 4 as a progressive and i think. Fiscally savvy. And conservative american. I really just. I want a far more balanced. Anew wants to. That recognizes. The clear moral need right now to control government and it's exploding entitlement program cost. Does rain in our out-of-control national debt. While at the same time not abrogating. Or gutting our collective responsibility for the well-being of all our citizens. Most particularly those vulnerable citizens in deprivation in need. Read the importance please of the affordable. Care act. And other humane and justice oriented program. Design. To help. The poor i want a more balanced and nuanced. Pitbull allowed both. This heartfelt need of mine. For more balance. A nuanced approach rather than the rather extreme. Polarizing take-it-or-leave-it rhetoric of both national parties. Is why i was so encouraged almost exactly two years ago now. When the bipartisan simpson-bowles commission on fiscal responsibility and reform named for its chairman. Republican alan simpson and democrat erskine bowles. Issued as you all know. A detailed. Report advocating not a doctrinaire. 1 take it or leave it approach. But a balanced approach to the role in the size of government. The called for democrats and republicans. To move to the center to work and compromise. In terms that in terms of ideological purity but you actually compromised. To pass what hamilton talked about. Practical legislation. That would both significant. Reduce federal spending including raining in at least somewhat. The costly entitlement programs that are so burgeoning. While increasing tax. An. Most particularly the well-off. To pay for those services. Truly needed. But sadly true to the divisive tenor of our times both republicans. And the democrats cynically walked away. From this bi-partisan. Vice presidential candidate paul ryan who actually sat. On the simpson-bowles commission walked away from it. By voting against. The plan. He helped. To draft. And president barack obama. As the national media observed at the time did not embrace. The compromise report because he apparently did not feel it went far enough. To protect. Social spending. So. Given their shared unwillingness. To compromise on the size and role of government for the social and economic good of the nation as a whole. I am not thrilled as i stand here today with either party right now. Nor the rather rigid ideologies they seem to be largely unwilling. To even consider straying from. I wish both parties could begin to show both the intellectual suppleness. And moral maturity to realize. Is best what is best for the nation. Lies. Between. The extremes as it always has an american. As i affirmed a few weeks ago on that sermon i preached on america divided. But i shared the thinking of social psychologist jonathan haidt. Both democrats and republicans today operate from clear and honorable moral values and i showed this chart. Which i want to put up again. The green is the liberal or progressive or democratic values and the purple are the ones held by conservative. They all care about the six indices of moral life. The only difference is the emphasis upon which they. Which other place upon these. It's not as though their sheeps and goats. It's just a matter of degree and nuance. It's so important to realize. The foundational moral concerns. Which drive the politics. Policies of both parties. Are shared by although there are real differences. The differences between liberal and conservative. Is not a difference of kind. It is a difference of emphasis. The crucial point here i believe. Is it both sides. In the great american political divide. I just realized that everyone. Liberals and conservatives alike value. A healthy prosperous and compassionate america. Neither is the devil neither needs to be demonized they just disagree on emphasis about how to get. So. Let me push this appreciation for the validity of the thinking of both sides even further. If i might is it possible. Is it possible. That the republicans could be right that burgeoning federal spending and the resulting expanding deficit. Endangers our nation's future prosperity. Is it possible that higher taxes especially unsuccessful american. Endanger entrepreneur risk-taking investment and job creation. Is it possible that some welfare entitlement programs negatively affect individual responsibility and initiative. Is it possible that some bureaucratic government regulations. Can make large and small businesses alike. That's productive. Yes. It is possible. And. Is it possible that the democrats could be right. The government must become even larger and more compassionate to address. All of our citizens basic human needs. Is it possible that all americans especially the rich. Must paint some more tax. In this era. For the benefit of the disadvantage. Is it possible that universal medical coverage for all citizens. And all other basic safety.. Did that programs are moral necessity. And is it possible. That government regulations are crucial. To protect this nation's environment. Food and drug supply highway and workplace. Safety. This sunday. Before our national election. Diehard progressive. An unrepentant liberal that i personally happen to be. I will none-the-less suggest you. As i have said before in this pulpit. The both liberals. Conservatives. Both republicans and democrats have something useful. An honorable. An intelligent. To contribute to the national conversation about our future. And i hate these ads. Which demonize the other side for being fools or. Being evil i hate them. Because that's not the case. Everyone loves. This nation. Liberal and conservative. I am persuaded that of america's to have a sound and prosperous future it will need. To heed the wisdom. Coming from both sides. Of the political aisle. More than anything else in this difficult and divisive our of american politics. This nation need leaders who will listen to each other. Way perspectives that do not come naturally to them. And compromise their idiot logically pure extremes. On the practical basis as hamilton. Suggested. For the good of the whole nation. So all this said. How do i sync you was unitarian universalist should vote. The select. Well. This sunday before big tuesday i'm going to repeat what i will tell you every election. That i'm honored to be. As an american citizen. You should vote. Your heart. And mine. And conscience. In the ways offend affirm honor andres. Retroflex. Promote humanity affirming principles. Of our faith. Always keeping in mind the justice seeking compassion history of our free faith. You should vote for those candidates and parties. You believe will best work. For the better and. Humane. Just. Society for all. And in this election in particular i hope you will add significant. Federation. To those men and women running for office who will show a willingness. And negotiate. And compromise. Cannabis. Maturity. An intellectual reach. To set aside their idiot logical purity. On a bipartisan basis. For the good of the whole nation vote. This november as you all know america is still not in the best. There's a great deal of tension. Anger and sadness. Sorrow. And suffering. In our land. We have many social. Economic and political problems. Proved both vexing and persistent. And will not be solved simply. Whoever whoever. But i have no doubt. That was wisdom. Maturity and goodwill are two historically dominant parties can begin again to work together. For the good of the nation. And all her pee. Pray that it be solved. And vote. Just do it. And one final and. Important. Many people. On both the right and the left have said. The most important election. With some breathlessly saying that the very future of the nation is hanging in the balance. Well i am reluctant to say that is the case. Much is indeed clearly. At stake. Primarily because of the widely differing visions offered by the two candidates and their respective. Parties both of them have. Duggan there he. But i want to share my beliefs don't matter which candidate or party. Wins. The national election on tuesday which is to say. Whatever party. Gains the upper hand. I am sure that america will not suddenly be radically different. Whoever wins. America's not going to get radically better and it won't get radically worse. Despite what you hear on talk. Radio. It may in fact remained radically the same. No matter who is elected president for the next four years no matter which party controls. The two chambers of commerce. Things will not suddenly go to hell. Nor will all our problems being miraculously fix. The three branches of our democratically established government congress the white house. And the supreme court will continue. To be balanced modified slowed and checked by one another. And the shape of our lumbering national destiny will slowly unfolding just as it has. 4 generation. All of this is my way of saying that i believe that no-one whether they are a passionate partisan on the right or the left. Should pack their bags for new zealand or france. If their candidates don't win in my last church i had a young family when george w was voted the elite get second time. They moved to new zealand. In six weeks they were gone. Took their baby with him. Don't do that. People on both the extreme right and the radical left and everyone in between needs to lower the volume. Lower the arrogance. And the asteria of their proclamations of doom and the condemnations of those who. Agree with some ice. And trust. That the checks and balances of power and ray. Possibility that were written deep into work. Tution will enable our nation to. My head. What's the bility. Reason. Common sense. As it always more. Or less. So dear friends next. Tuesday on election night. Root for the candidates. And even pray in your heart. Right minding people like. Right-thinking people like you. Will carry the day. And then. No matter what the numbers are take a deep relax breath. And go get some sleep for christ's sake. For america will survive the selection at his has survived every election. It's going to be okay there friends. Rush limbaugh doesn't think so but i think it's going to be okay. America. In all its beauty and its goodness will endure it shall endure. And we will be okay. And with that i say and mean. Bf good. And called hearts. My friends. And realize that regardless of what happens on tuesday. We all remain america. Americans. 1 people. Diverse. Get indivisible. Committed. To democracy and one another. May our nation and our people never forget the ideals upon which this good republic was bill. And then we ever were devote ourselves. To building a society. With as much freedom. And justice. Inequity is. Compassion. Possible. Go in peace. My fellow americans. Make sure you vote. And never lose faith. In one another.

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07Jun2009sermon32kbs.mp3

uufvb_org

2012Apr29Sermon32.mp3

We are a community of memory and hope which meats in the presents. Please be present to this day and the presents that it brings. It's warm. And while we enjoy the joy of human warm. We also enjoy a little space in our togetherness. Embrace that space. The space between the notes that allows music to happen. The space between the words that allow thought to happen. The space in the silence that allow your thoughts. And the deepest habits of your heart. Euchre. Wow that embrace it. Be present to it. We are a community. Of memory and hope that meets in the present. Please be present. And be blessed. Well good morning. I keep on learning new things. I'll be a custom pretty soon. Like when. Lee was talking about coffee hour. She said something i don't think i've ever heard before in a unitarian church. In a walkout and turn to your right. But that's good. Happy to hear that we are aware that we invite really welcome everybody so that's good. These are invited to a co-ed short lines. Modern translation of the 90th psalm. I'll say them in if if you wish if they don't defend you right but you to echo them. Let us value our days. Installing. Halloween each as a trust bestowed upon us. Acquiring a heart full of wisdom. And love for the living earth. Through all the days do we suffer. And all the years that we sorrow. Rejoice and be glad. For the precious gift of life. We celebrate earth we celebrate our part in it. And i want to talk a little about our part in it. Fingers back. I'm not sure how many now that i know it was. Before 911. I was visiting washington dc was a lovely day said it was before 9/11. It was before the economy went down. My lovely day. And while i was there i was renewing acquaintances with a. With a another clergyman someone with whom i work. The number of projects. Edwards i don't know if any of you know that name. Is the. Is the director of the show lamb. Institute for spiritual growth. And he's written a couple of books he's written several books that i would highly recommend if you want to get inside yourselves. Living simply through the day. And sabbath timer amongst book sister. Terrific and easily accessible books. Buy a terrific guy. It's lovely day walking by that lovely area that is around the washington cathedral. In our conversation. Was not about theology or church. At least it wasn't apparently about theology it was about our grown children. And about their growing up. And about our struggles with their growing up. And their struggles and our struggles with their struggles. And what they were doing and how we were dealing with. They were doing. In this world. Again before 9/11 before the economy went down. A world which had formed values for. All of us probably almost all of us here who are now living. And it seemed to us as we talked that. The draft. And the effectiveness and the availability of birth control. Significant bennison's blessings. Benefits of that particular era. And they have. Giving them a larger bit of control over there yet young lives. Well wasn't controller was it illusion. Or were they merely floating on a kind of myth about life is so popular and so pervasive. That it is not only taken for reality but some people assume actually. Is reality. Somehow or other we came to a theme and then like jazz musicians we rest on it. The theme was they seem to believe. That they can manage their lives. And then the rifts. Yes that's it managed life itself and all the times and seasons. It's become such a powerful belief they don't see any limits to it. I guess there's. Then there are going to have a very powerful shot. When they come upon a serious illness. Arwen death arises to meet them. There are some things you just can't manage. So we. Walked on and automatically each other as we continue the theme. The thing that life is something that can be managed. It's a popular myth of our time. Life is something to be managed. When i received a fufu this idea does that mean that. I believe in a life that's the thoughtless that's lived haphazardly responsibly. Course not. On the other hand i am not so thoughtless so haphazard or so irresponsible the thinker. As to believe that life. Can be managed. Wouldn't it be nice if i could be mad. Maybe something with all like rank above disneyland up there someplace. But can it happen. Ask joe. If you happen to be on the same mailing lists that i get on whether i like it or not. You get a lot of offers to attend seminars where you will learn how to manage things. I can hear the chuckling. You can learn how to manage your money how to manage conflict how to manage people. This is not to mention pain management which i'm all in favor of by the way. Absolutely. But what happens when you run into something you can't. Is it just a matter of. You didn't learn the right technique. Are you learn the right technique but you didn't get it right. It's like a matter of something we. Just have to learn how to manage. Or is there something a little bigger involved. And what about people who choose. Not to manage aspects of their lives that they could manage. Are they are suckers or fools. The writer and episcopal priest. Barbara brown taylor. Writes about a friend named matilda. Matilda had a real management problem. Here's what the taylor rights. Matilda had. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis better known as lou gehrig's disease. Which means that she gradually lost control of all of her muscles. Her face went first. Dinner vocal cords. Better legs. Talk about a management problem. Talk about loss of control. Facing such circumstances some people take what control they believe they have. They on their lives. Others seek someone to help. Assisted suicide because all it. And certainly any of us with. Any iota of compassion can understand that choice. And those of us who are ministers or carers who are want to be caring. Should bring our compassionate sells to people no matter what their choice happens to beach when they are in the valley of the shadow. Barbara brown taylor goes on a little more about matilda. For the last year of her life. Matilda communicated by writing on a slate one of those erasable things that kids. Play with. Sometimes you get so excited that you would write in the race faster than anyone could read. And when she couldn't talk anymore she taught herself. Paint with watercolors. Until our kitchen walls were papered with tulips and peonies and daffodils hibiscus. Something bigger than what i am emotionally could understand what's going on with matilda. Every time she lost something she thought she could not live without. She found the cheekwood. The day she died. She said her top down. And it was empty. There was nothing wasted. Nothing left over to spill of lament. She died clean as a whistle. And several of the people who watched who sat by her bed say that their fear of death died with her. Having watched her do it. They believe they can do it too. But she couldn't manage it. Or could she. Certainly by the reckoning of those who believe that the only way to manage one's death is to die anyway at the time one chooses. By that she. Didn't manage it. Unruh story like that. Mike murphy heather st. peter's hospice inn albany new york once told me the story of a critically young woman named maggie. Her chances of getting better wear slimmer than slim. That's was near. But her family didn't want to accept it. They chose to do what i have seen a number of families do. First of all to keep the prognosis from maggie. And then they decided they would manage her and they would manage her illness with diet. Well if i seen that. They virtually forced maggie to to eat. And all that did was make her more miserable of course. So mike confronted them with what they were doing and after some wrangling they agreed that mike wants to know the truth of her condition and decide for herself what she was going to do. And of course what they decided to do was let mike. Tell her. Situation more than a few times. Been there done that. Well mike been close to mag by this time was hard of hearing. Maggie. We can't fix it. She started talking about something else. And then louder tones he said we can't fix it maggie. Maggie stop talking. Charger head to mike and said almost nonchalantly. Oh i guess i understand stuff anymore. I am not against managing some things i'd like to be better at managing my time i talent my resources. A lot of things i'd like to manage but i don't want to be a person who falls prey to the belief that life. It's something that you can manage. Drawing on a phrase from the bible. I would like to be a person who is in the world. But not other. And what that means to me is this. That while i am a part of the everyday secular world that we are sharing. I don't aspire to be conformed to the values of the world that we share in. I want to be something or at least i long to be something the long to something greater than my own fleeting whims. Greater than the values of the street or the values of the marketplace. Are the belief that you can manage things. I would like to live out. The principles of my highest values i don't achieve that often. But that's what i do like. And i guess that's what all people of faith desire. It's a different kind of management. And it's tough. And it's not an illusion. Now earlier this month. Easter was celebrated. And according to the easter story. Jesus was a man who wouldn't. Or couldn't manage his way out of a terrible death. Not before i go on i need to confirm something for those who are these skeptical thinkers manyam. I'm looking at jesus from a liberal humanistic. Point of view. Do i believe that a man named jesus actually existed. Or that all the things ascribe to him actually happened. And that the accounts of his life in the small outpost of the. 1st century roman empire are factually accurate. Well no less the thinker and a religious liberal that albert schweitzer spent a whole book talking about this. And he said that we can never know. If there wasn't a storical jesus. But here's what we can know. Ancient judea was aladdin's great upheaval and suffering and incredible login. And in that land there were many men who claim to be. And there were many men who were put to death by making that claim threatening established order. And how does that and out of the incredible and persuasive and organizational. Powers of paul of tarsus through a religion of hope. And love. And the person of jesus was the magnet around which the essence of this religion collective. Now those are the facts. To the extent that the stories about jesus remained meaningful to us. They carry truth. The story of jesus is passion to me is the story of the truth is a man. Who couldn't or wouldn't manager. The truth is someone who belong to something that was greater than the management mode. Now you know the basic facts of his crucifixion. The man reputed to be a messiah was betrayed by a follow-up follower was arrested. And was given a series of trials and sometimes i seems to be confusing. He was dragged from pillar to post in in in the night according to the story. I don't remember if it's six or seven different profiles. All illegal of course. And then he was vilified by the citizenry. Tortured and put to death. And if we judge jesus by the myth that you can or should manage a failure. Just think. Based on what we get in the mail what we read we can own out. Just think how we could have been spared. If he had taken the courses that grow out of the current belief of salvation through management. My myself i could have directed him to a few that would have. What is helps him managing his team. First of all he could have personality profile test. Tesco writer psychological horoscope. And he could. You should see some of my ministerial colleagues whose or are you an infp. No i'm in ej something-or-other and lsmft i don't know. You do remember they keep going through all of these numbers cuz they figure out of personality profile. And that would have been a good way to find out who would understand his parables. Who should be at his right side and we should not trust with the silver. If you go through the personality management program. If he had taken the message management discovered which of his disciples. Were auditory which ones were visual and which ones were cerebro. And he wouldn't have any cross-communication. Because trust communications are things you definitely do not want especially when you are in a small advocacy group. And certainly if jesus and his gang had dressed for success they would have been in a lot less trouble. And if according to the way we seem to believe these days one of the prosperity churches. He would have realized that he had everything he needed and i don't like that everybody else had everything they needed. Are preach anywhere to save all the trouble. But he didn't. If he had. Studied as we can about management he would have learned how to deal with difficult people and in communication how to payson. And perhaps he could have appealed to the inner child and everybody. He couldn't manage it. Or maybe the situation couldn't be managed. Or maybe he didn't want to manage. Alone in the garden. Contemplating what is about to happen to him. He asked scott if this bitter cup can be taken from him. And then he finally says. Not my will. But sign. What are we to make. Of those who said that the something deeper and greater than themselves. Something they cannot manage. Nor wish to manage. What are we to make of human sacrifice. It's hardly a management thing. Just a few hours before his arrest jesus shared a meal with his friends. And he relished and reveled in the most basic things. The most basic human things. What are they. Something to eat. Something to drink. People to love. That's what he reveled in. Something to eat something to drink. People to laugh. Bread for the body. Wine for the blood. And what about loyalty. Translated this way cuz this is really what it means by the life that was lived. I'd break my body for you even as i break this bread. I pour my blood for you even as i. For this wine. And if those were the exact words that jesus spoke. They were indeed what he meant and how he know they were. Is because that's what he did. John carmody christian theologian. Died after having his body ravaged by cancer. Pain when she called crucifying. And among the words that he wrote to be printed on the order of service for his memorial service. Worthy's. We are most attractive. When we are most eucharistic. That is. Grateful for wine and bread. We are most attractive when we are most eucharistic that is grateful for wine. Thoroughbred. 4life. That's not smart. Clever. It's not full of good ideas. And it's not able to manage things indonesian tidy way. Grateful for wine for bread for life. Grateful to share wine and bread and life. Grateful for those who love deeply. But they not only share love but they are willing to break their bodies. Or for their blood. But that was they loved. Can we manage it. Well the truth is. That we are the humpty dumpty's of creation. We are noble fallen creatures. With egg on our face. We want to make things turn out right. Right by our own standards. We want to make things good. Why are sensitive what's good. We want to make things fit according to our plans we are manager. And we want to make. Man life manageable we practice techniques to do that. However. Life. Is 2 dynamic. Too powerful. Too playful. To transcend it maybe even too wise to be managed. As one comedian used to say years ago. Let's faces bigger than all of us. Life is not an object to manage. We are life subjects. Creatures of dustin breath. And life can manage very well without us. Life merely has to change. The subject. So that is value our days. Halloween each as his trust bestowed upon us. Acquiring a heart full of love wisdom and love. For the living earth. Through all the days do we suffer. And all the years that we sorrow. Rejoice. And be glad. For the precious. Unmanageable. Gift. Of life.

uufvb_org

2014Aug17Sermon128.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. To the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach florida and we are glad that you decided to begin your day with us here. 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 a 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 and joy 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. The best prairies of the heartland are being awakened by the touch of gentle august light. And the mountains and deserts of the west 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. Loli gargling in bed with coffee in the sunday papers for the sinners. Walking the dog jogging 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. Pain. And wrongdoing. As we begin our day may 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 this is a long poem. It's a lament about american the unfinished business it's a famous poem many 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 plain seeking a home where. 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. Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme that any man be crushed. By 1 above. It never was america to me. I'll let my land be a land where liberty is crowned with. No false patriotic wreath. What 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. Say. Who you are that mumbles in the dark. And who are you that draws your veil across the stars. I am the poor white. Fooled and pushed apart 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. Old stupid. Plan of dog eat dog of mighty. Crush. The week. I am the 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. 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. People. 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 dreamed our 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 mighty. Daring sings. And 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. Playing 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 shutdown when we strike. The millions who have nothing for our pay for all the dreams we've dreamt. For all the songs we sang for all the hopes we've held for all the flags we've hung. The millions who have nothing for our pay. Except the dream that's almost dead. Today. Let 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 whose 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 and 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 there must have been 25 noisy relatives in the house. I had occasion to have a long and rather intense conversation with a favorite cousin of mine cathy. And her husband steve who happened to be 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 topics. 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 christians. We're just cussing the present state of american culture. My cousin and her husband vehement lee express their absolute fear and loathing. Of the common culture. Calling in a foul pit. Of degeneracy and morality and sin from which they were purposely withdrawing. To protect themselves and their children from its pernicious influences. They echoed the sentiments expressed by paul wyrick. Hue. Was described in the washington post as the founder of modern. Social conservatism who recently counseled his fellow conservatives to quote. Separate themselves from quote the open sewer. 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. Acting on similar fears my cousin and her husband. Move their family to an isolated farm in slinger wisconsin. We're in addition to doing subsistence farming. Are homeschooling their children. Rather than allow them to be as they put it polluted. By the children and the cultural values they would encounter in public school. Additionally faith we attend several times a week a nearby fundamentalist church which also perceived. 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 callous creed of so much of american capitalism to name just a few of my complaints. Indeed if i was asked to cadillac 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. By the extent to 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 of the denomination in salt lake city i attended the 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 dependent. Golden 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. Sex 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 part of the statement who could 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. That it has become degenerate. And therefore must be rejected pronounced and resistance. Play golden wise people. As columnist geneva overholser recently observed in the washington post. Loathing the culture is as american as apple pie. We loathe it 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 writes. We hasten to assert. The socially and culturally we are still headed. For hell. In a handbasket. It has long fascinated and perplexed me. That 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. Who 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 a voided and challenged whenever possible. So this morning. I want to. Explore with you the question it might at first seem a bit esoteric or abstract 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 it seems necessary to try to define what culture is. 20th century theologian are richard niebuhr in his classic book. Christ in culture where he addresses. 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 has 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. Technical processes. And values. So which culture then whether it's here in north america or in africa or asia. Each culture is an incredibly complex and fluid human construct. That is fights very nature. Profoundly imperfect. Do all cultures are imperfect and frustrating. Human constructs. Religions on the other hand. By their very nature is religions are pure and idealistic human constructs. Woodstream of perfect things all religions dream.of perfect justice perfect love. Perfect order. Perfect morelli perfect life. That's what it is about. Be there conservative or progressive. All religions want things to be right but culture any culture by its very nature will of course never be. Just wright. There 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 urine. 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 deems of pure things. Being totally satisfied with any actual imperfect culture. Fiat 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 means. The 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 fall into accordance with our values and our dreams. No 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 conclusion that nazi culture was so evil. Does 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. To 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 be 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 that the new show. Great stuff i'm sure. While liberals might hate gun violence. On that same evening television time. But because they both take life seriously both the conservative and the liberal. They will at least have a lovers quarrel with the culture. So what i am asserting this morning is it to be religious. Ultimately and idealistic lie about the shape of life around you. Is to always be in a in 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 suffered cultural and societal realities and trent 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 ask you know where was the serbian community. Christian community during. The genocide. Cleansing of. Muslim innocence in bosnia. And where was a 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 african 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. Now of 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 is. What is the appropriate relationship for us as a serious religious people. To having 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 have been the christians like leo tolstoy leo tolstoy. Who saw culture. And the stand the government as the chief offender against life. Who 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. But the only responsible. Response of a true christian could 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. But if the other end of the spectrum. A religious response to culture. Are what niebuhr calls. The conversion list. The conversion ilist. 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 and culture. They do not take the road of rejectionist christianity. Into isolation from civilization. Or reject its institutions with with tolstoyan bitterness. What distinguishes. Conversion list seawright's. From rejectionist. Is there more positive and hopeful attitude. 4culture. They're more positive and hopeful attitude. Toward. Culture. So. 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 use to take these of the our culture. Do we like my conservative fundamentalist cousins. And liberal progressive dr. mary pfeiffer. Declare ensure and 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 to convert it to one that is more to our moral and social liking. Well tamia's at 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 the 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. Hugh. It makes me proud to tell you historically speaking that iris has always been. A conversion list faith. Tradition. From the earliest days of our unitarian and universalist. 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. Who are devout liberal christians i would remind you. We are the ones who worked with others of good faith to reform american prisons american schools american mental hospitals. And job places workplaces. Are religious forebears believed that they were. Working not to reject or condemn the culture but to move it. Ford 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. On earth that's what they thought they were doing. They stayed engaged. And move society. Torrid approximation. Of their purest. Dream. 4life. As a faith tradition we have never allowed ourselves. The convenient cop out of declaring our cultural pile of junk. Or open sewer. So that we can just live in some isolation of purity. So for us as a faith tradition. This rejection is. Escapist stance 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. Are you can and 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 don't have to watch. Or listening to misogynistic and gun-happy gangster rap or. Or just to name a few of some with some of the worst aspects of american culture. Obviously for our sanity and health we sometimes have to excuse ourselves. From the worst of. But in the overview in this is my main point to you this morning. To be a unitarian universalist means that you stay morally engaged. And an active spiritual conversation with your culture. Helping with others of goodwill who are also hanging in there. To cuddle it. Toward greater dignity. And humanity in worth on 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 expectations. For culture and the end for human life and if you doubt that just read the seven principles. They're in 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. Yet we know. We know are coming culture will regularly fail us. There is no way our present-day american culture on the 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. Enter declarative 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. Of an isolated farm. In slinger wisconsin. But as i have said in our tradition. This 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 worst 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 say 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 field good decision when you said i was just live in a culture of drunk. But these are i think vastly overstated and may. Mislead us in dealing with the actual culture we have at 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. That in america today drug and alcohol use both among adults and teenagers. Is substantially down. Violent street crime and murder dramatically down. Teen sex and out-of-wedlock births down. 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. But 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. That 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. Than 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. But 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. 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. Then duke ellington. 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 a 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 we 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 uncaring. 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 troubled culture. To make it better. We'll just return it. Is langston hughes suggested. To its highest principles. And it's most noble aspiration. But a strike. A conversion list 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. Is your land. This land is my land. There's no one else. Nothing of beauty. And good nursing home. We are the one. Woodland art festival. As our highest values.

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2014Mar30Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. And welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of zero beach what a beautiful morning. The rains have refreshed everything upon the earth this morning clean and crisp. Waiting for us to live this day. We are congregation. Open minds loving hearts and helping hands people seeking to become our best individual selves. Even this together we work to make our world and more loving. And decent place. 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 latino. 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 to us this morning. In all of your charm. Particularity. We hope you'll find our services morning meaningful and enriching. And that you will find something here this morning some nuggets. That nourishes your spirit and feeds your soul and gives you renewed energy. Enjoy for the living of life in the days and weeks ahead. We summon ourselves this morning. From the demands and the delights of our daily rounds. From dirty dishes and unlock floors. From unmowed grass and untrimmed bushes. From all incompleteness and not yet started nest. From the unholy and the unresolved. We summon ourselves this hour to attend to our vision. And justice. Of cleanliness and health. A delight. And devotion. Of the lovely and the holy of who we are and what we can do. We summon the power of tradition. And the exhilaration of newness. The wisdom of the ages and the knowing of the very young. We summon beauty. Eloquence poetry. Music. To be the bearers this hour of our dream. We would open our eyes our ears are minds our hearts. Do the amplius dimensions of life. We were joyce this hour. In manifold promises. Impossibilities. Hokusai says. Look carefully. He says pay attention notice. He says keep looking staycurious. He says there is no end to seeing. He says look forward to getting old. He says keep changing. You'll just get more of who you really are. He says get stuck. Except it repeat yourself as long as it's interesting. He says. Keep doing what you love he says keep praying. He says every one of us has a child. Everyone of us is an ancient. Everyone of us has a body. Jesus every one of us is frightened. He says everyone of us. Have to find a way. To live with fear. He says everything is alive. Shells. Building people fish mountains. Breezewood is alive. Water the live. Everything has its own life. Everything lives inside us. He says. Live. With the world inside you. He says it doesn't matter if you draw or write books. It doesn't matter if you saw wood or catch fish it doesn't matter if you sit at home. And stare at the ants on your veranda or the shadows of the trees. And grasses in your garden. It matters that you care. It matters that you feel. It matters that you notice. It matters that life lives. Screw you. Contentment is life. Living through you. Joy is life living through you satisfaction and strength are life. Living through you peace is life living through you he says don't be afraid. Don't be afraid. Look. Feel. Let life take you by the hand. Life. Live. Review. This morning on this final sunday of march i bring you the fourth installment in the year-long sermon series on the seven habits. Of happy people with a sermon today on something. Call flo. Which has been identified by the social scientist studying happiness and human wellbeing. As something we have to regularly cultivate if we're ever going to achieve sustained and reliable happiness in our lives. No i've been focusing each sermon in the series on the seven habits of happy people identified by a team directed by doctor paul the saint. Ajo and harvard-educated psychiatrist. Relying heavily on the work of positive psychologists pioneer dr martin signalmen. This team is suggesting that there are seven. Fundamental dimensions of our lives. Which is properly nourished and cultivated. Will lead to a greater sense of happiness and well-being throughout our lives and here they are. Relationships caring and service positive mindset optimism and gratitude i've covered all three of those. In previous sermons and those sermons are on our website in both video format. And written text if you missed any of these blockbuster sermons and want to catch up. And we're now flowing to number for this sunday and i hope to get to the other 3 in coming months. Before i move on and talk about this 4th all important concept the flow and it's not quite what you. Let me know that i've already explored these first three. And i want to talk about the discovery of these positive psychologists overall about the seven dimensions of happy. When they're talking about happiness and well-being in our lives they do not mean what i shall call the happy face. Theory of happiness. And the happy-face theory focuses and when were particularly poignant or cheerful. You know what some peak moments of joy in our lives. Laughter and merriment. Happiness in this happy face view. Requires a steady stream of exhilarating opportunities. But the experts were writing about happiness and well-being. They suggested if these are the flashy places. That you're looking for contentment then as the saying goes you're looking for love. In all the wrong places. Happiness the kind of sustainable well-being and life satisfaction. It has the power to make our lives quietly glow and contentment. It's 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. The sweet 16 or whatever it's called now. The. Kind of happiness and well-being that has the power to really make our lives. Works of sustainable warrants and joy is more like a aloe steady hum of satisfaction. Read of satisfaction and. Peace that flows through our daily lives. So again. Only pause. Right here and make a very important point about happiness as it relates to all of these areas of our life. You don't necessarily have to have a cheerful. Bubbly or outgoing personality not even to be an optimist. Define lasting satisfaction and well-being in your life. People with many different personality styles. Including quiet reflective and shy and reserved people. Can be happy. You do not definitely have to go through your life with a perpetual smile. Plastered on your face. Define true well-being in life. No true well-being is more like a quiet ember of satisfaction burning in a fireplace. That's a fireplace inside your own. Being. Again what the positive psychologists are saying in this makes perfect sense to me. Is it sustainable happiness and well-being. Is a quiet and honest and tacious quality that steals gently into our lives. As a result of our wisely and purposely tending to what really matters in our lives. Over the long haul if not a flash in the pan. Kind of thing like skydive. Alright. Now this brings me to today's interesting topic finding and sustaining low. The term flow. Was first coined by hungarian positive psychologist with the incredible name of knee high cheek sent me high i had to look it up if i know how to pronounce the name. Mihai. Cheek sent me high. Try pronouncing that six times fast. Mihai who is now 81 years old. As the noted online encyclopedia wikipedia reports known for his study of happiness and creativity. And is best known for his notion of flow. For his years of research and writing on the topic. In his seminal work flow the psychology of optimal experience. He outlines his theory that people are happiest. When they are in a state of flow. Which is a state quote. Of concentration. Energize focus and complete absorption. With the activity. A hand and the situation. And then wikipedia goes on. It is a state in which people are so involved in an activity. The nothing else seems to matter. The ideal flow is identical to the feeling of being in the zone or in the groove or honor roll. The flow state. Meetme hi rights. Is an optimal state of intrinsic motivation. Where the person is fully immersed in what she or he is doing. Estate of completely focused motivation. This is a feeling everyone has it at different times. Characterized by feelings of great absorption. Engagement. Fulfillment and here's a keyword. Skill. During which the temporal concerns time food ego-self etc are typically ignored. In one interview cheek sent me high. Describe slow as being quote. Completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The eagle falls away time flies every action movement and thought follows inevitably from the previous one. Like playing jazz. And then he an. Your whole being is involved. And this is something i'll return to it's a very important point about flow. When you were in slow. You are using your skills. To the utmost. And cheek sent me how you thinking. To achieve a state of flow a balance must be struck. Between the challenge of the task. And the skill of the performer. The overall idea here. Is it when we are completely focused on something that is challenging us. When life is kind of pushing back and making us work for it. Then an activity or process that is meaningful and important to us that that's what that's what that flowstate is i want to give you an example of flow. For my own life and see if it'll put some flesh on this ideas many of you know. About two years ago i spent an intense wonderful month. Auto bicycle. On the ride to beat hunger that's the logo from our website. I love cycling i do it every day about 13,000 miles a year. End cycling outdoors and all kinds of weather i got caught in yesterday's rain storm with collins and that wasn't that was it that was flo racing home and then i'll tell you. Cycling brings me great pleasure. So when it came time back in the spring of 2012 for me to take a month of sabbatical leave. As i said to the board i wanted to recharge. My spiritual emotional batteries i knew that i wanted to challenge myself. To ride from costa mesa california on the pacific ocean. Back here to vero beach on the atlantic and raise money to cut to beat hunger while i was at it. For some time that's the course of the route that i took. I've been deeply concerned about the problem of human hunger both on the local and global scale so with the help. How's about a dozen wonderful people from this current gation and from the community beyond. We set up the ride to beat hunger. We picked both local and global charity we set a fundraising goal of 50,000 and raised 53000. And that was done that all it was left for me to do is a 63 year old man with an artificial knee and severe arthritis throughout my body. What's the ride 3330 days about 120 miles a day. With a group of similarly crazy people. And here they are those are that's the dirty dozen who did this with us with me. I think there were somewhere in oklahoma. One challenge i faced on this ride was it i was the oldest rider by about a decade. Almost these riders were racing cyclist guys in their forties and thirties. Who will have a lot more physical energy than i did so it wasn't something of an effort for me to keep up with these youngsters. We had a safe that's nice pictures has me and it's somewhere i went through the 3700 pictures that the right leader sent us all. And that's me and the leave they're going beautiful part of i don't know oklahoma. Arkansas summer. We had a safe and wonderful trip and. I was but the point i'm trying to make is it for the 30 days i have to tell you i was totally in. Hello. The physical emotional and relational demands of this trip. Kept me as csikszentmihalyi puts it. In a state of energized focus i was completely absorbed. And totally immersed in what i was doing it was basically ride eat sleep. Ride eat sleep talk to my companions ride eat sleep that's what i did for a month. To quote csikszentmihalyi again flow happens when you are completely involved in an activity for its own sake. The eagle falls away. Time flies. Every action movement and thought follows inevitably from the previous one like. Playing jazz. Your whole being is involved. You're using your skills to the utmost you're in the zone. In the groove and honor roll. Everyday of that trip i had to simply one simple job get on the bike and ride and go another 120 miles across america. So the may 22nd i could arrive here in vero beach. And celebrate at the splash party that we had down at waldo's. With everybody who would help me to accomplish this ride. The purposeful focus i achieved on this challenging ride. only help me to complete the mileage each day. It also helped me that focus to be completely mindful. Of the beauty that was around me. And the companionship i was with. It was a it was an experience of mindfulness and anybody who knows about slow and there lies will tell you. The one you're in slow your. You're keenly paying attention in a very. Helpful way. I can honestly tell you that despite this rides very real challenges and discomfort which a time. Tested every bit of my endurance and my skills and my strength. I was happy on the ride to be hungry just. Plain good old downright deliriously happy i was just happy. Now. I hope that not many of you were going to try to get on a bicycle and ride from costa mesa back to vero. But. That doesn't mean you can't or you don't experience the joy and the contentment of flow in your. And your own lives. Surely every last one of you here in this room today. Has times and situations in your life. When you purposely concentrate on something. Engage your skills and get into the flow that leads to happiness. Itech i took the time a couple of weeks ago when i was preparing the sermon to ask several members of the congregation after i explain what floor was. Women experiencing. They'll remember one of the key ingredients to flow is challenge. If your skills and abilities are not being challenged. If it isn't hard. You're in you're just effortlessly coasting along then you're not really in the flow. You know it would have been fine if i had 40 mile-an-hour tailwind behind me all the way that wouldn't have been in slow i would have been coasting. Flow involve life. Pushing back at you a bit. So with that understanding here's some examples of flow that i heard. From the current location. Gene peludo where are eugene. She's out in the lobby that's where she is. She gets in the floor whenever she sits down at the pottery wheel and her class at the art museum and begins to spin her pots. She tells me the time and all the distractions around her slip away she doesn't think about lunch. Well she focuses all her energies and attention i'm creating her pottery. When gene is at the potter's wheel she has challenged. She is engrossed. And she is happy. Jack's legal tells me and there's jack over there. He tells me he gets in the floor whenever he's getting a sailboat. Ready for a race or when he's in the race. Is totally focused on all the variables that go into being successful. When jack is competing with both the wind and the other boats on open water he is challenged. And focus. And he is happy. P cursive. Tell our local genealogist. Tells me he gets in the floor whenever he's absorbed. In his extensive family genealogical work he said to me scott i'm happiest when. On some trip. I spent countless hours digging through the old dusty moldy courthouse courthouse records. Trying to track down one of my ancestors history. Time even lunch she says leaving lunch time flies by because i get so focused. On what i'm looking for. Repeat is genealogical digging in some. Musty old courthouse. He's challenged. He's consumed. And he's happy. John maher tell john where are you you're over there john maher tells me that when he can. he gets in the floor whenever he's hiking or climbing. In his beloved white mountains in new hampshire told me scott i get into the flow of a climb. What i find that perfect pace. That allows me to get into the groove on the climb. Challenging challenging and demanding pace but not an exhausting one. Suddenly you told me i lose track of time even myself. As i move up the mountain in perfect rhythm. And now that he spends time here in florida he reports the same thing can happen to him when he's out solo kayaking. In the stick marsh up in fellsmere. He gets into the groove with the boat and the paddle in the water in the wind in the sunshine. He gets absorbed by everything that is his within and around him. When john is out in nature hiking or kayaking. He's focused. And he's challenged. And he's happy noel parmentier. Tells me that he gets in the flow. Whenever you takes on a complicated furniture building project. The test cuz woodworking skills. He says he loses all sense of time and self. When he's concentrating. I'm getting all the pieces of wood. 250 gather in a perfectly beautiful. Finished product which as you know is not. Often easy. But i talked to still other members of the current gation who described how they get into the flow one member. Talked about getting out of her garden. Spending an entire morning focus on weeding and cultivating shaping and planning. Watching and smelling and touching losing all sense of herself. And all sense of time. Another member talked about being at her large families weekend reunions which they hold two or three times a year. I think totally caught up in the conversations with all these quirky relatives of hers. And the meal preparation in the challenge of. Of listening truly listening to fascinating diverse and even prickly. Personalities that make up her particular clan. And yet other members talked about the flow of spending an afternoon quilting. With friends. Or diving into a way he challenging book that they had long wanted to understand. Or working with a difficult child. With learning disabilities as a local after school tutoring program. And still others even mention the flow of a big project at work. You know the 925 kinds of flow project. That you sometimes get into even when someone is. Paying you to do them. I want i got you all thinking about floyd wondered if there were any. Just a couple of examples more. Of when you get in the floor somebody's got somebody's been thinking about when they get in the flow. Alright i'm going to come over here. I want you to tell this is my oprah segments here. Mo. And the practice of tai chi. Okay and and you can lose track of all time with her. Anybody else. Pokemon don't be shy. Okay. Little dog moan and i go to assisted living and she's a therapy. You just you lose all track of. Yeah. Again. What's involved in flow. Is absorption. Alright. The point is that whenever we are purposely and intensely focused and challenge. We open a door to our own happiness and satisfaction and contentment. The social scientist setting happiness if determined that people who experience a lot of flow in their lives. Engaging life in the disciplined way and involving their skills and testing their skills. Also develop other positive traits such as high concentration. High self esteem. Good interpersonal relationships and greater health. According to positive psychologists martin signalmen. While about 60% he says of happiness in life. Is determined by your genetics and buyer environmental circumstances. Things you don't really have control over while 60% of it is kind of. Predetermined he says. About 40% of our happiness that we can achieve. Is achieved by voluntary activities. Any suggest that if you divide this 40%. Into pleasure. Things like enjoying a wonderful meal and exquisite concert or well it's been janet sex. Or the other half would be flow. Activities. Like those i have discussed and described this morning. So what they're saying is about 20% of human happiness. Relate. The ability to get into the flow and to know how to flow. And the important curiosity remember here. Is it cheating flow in your life is almost the exact opposite as the idea of going with the flow. It does not equal going. With. The flow. When you go with the flow. Like plopping yourself down in front of a television to watch a movie. Or going to lounge the afternoon away on the beach or take a leisurely walk through the woods with your dog or spending. Add a leisurely tubing down a gentle florida river with friends. When you simply go with the flow. You or any of your skills and abilities are engaged and challenged until you miss. The deep satisfaction and contentment that comes only when you demand. Something truly real and substantiv. Of yourself you won't get this. It's different than going with the flow. the exact opposite you have to. Challenge yourself 11 and we don't often think of challenges. As making us happy but the fact is. That they do. So here. Is an in a nutshell is the meat of my message this morning. Happiness the kind. That indoors and blesses not the happy face stuff like jumping out of an airplane. But the kind that indoors and blesses us at least to contentment. Is inextricably bound up with engaging the world and challenging yourself. You probably won't ever be truly happy if you just lazy and languidly lazily and languidly floats your way. Down the river of life kind of. Passively taking whatever comes. Your way. To find true and lasting satisfaction the experts say. You have to regularly and rigorously apply yourself all of yourself. In concentrated focused and purposeful ways. The fit your particular person. So i pray good friends. Are you can go with the flow sometime. But get out there. Appliance challenge yourself. Test your skills. See what you are capable of. For only when you dive deep. And full. Into life will you find. Happiness nestled. Quietly there. Right in the fabric. Right in the fabric. Of your own. Chosen. Lsan mean. And i send you on your way with this again one of my favorite poems. By donna markova. I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days i'll low my living to open me. To make me less afraid more accessible. To loosen my heart until it becomes. A wing. Torch. Fighting weight.

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2013Jun23Sermon32.mp3

At the unitarian universalist fellowship. We were both of mine loving hearts and helping hands. Service this morning meaning. This morning, from the 1950s. The precious life. Citizen you and me and sustainable. Wise and simple strong and feeble we are going together in a mystic one. Who is soros. A we all suffer. When one hunters were thread we all speakers. When one trips the streets in search of work we all travel street. We all share the guilt. The heart desire. We are all partners in natural light. The missing identity of the war. Jesus. Gandhi and the king. Humanity. We are our brothers and sisters keepers. Because every person. Is burnt our larger self. Play a sense of our vital unity with men and women everywhere possess our hearts and minds behold. Because. In the year 1850. As a part of the sand political compromise. President millard fillmore shamefully sign. The fugitive slave act. Federal law requires a slave to escape. Freedom in the morning. In boston massachusetts meeting unitarian minister theodore parker. And it's a direct act of civil disobedience gave sanctuary to many escaped slave. Play some parsley. It was hounding orator abolitionist and social activist parker became. Calling for the northern states to resist the fugitive slave act. In one fiery sermon parker told his parishioners and by extension the president of the united states. Wickedness in too long. Actual justice statue. Slave-catchers boston. Here is a poster. Pull up all over the city. Sitting on his desk in his study. Ready to defend. Every sunday during that year when parker stepped into his boston pulpit favor with him sending the message. Directions to north parker is one of the enduring heroes of our faith because it's rick risk to himself. Justice equity and compassion. In human relations. Has congress and president of the united states. Orderly. Under threat of imprisonment. Turn your backs. Fast forward 150 years. Spring of 1965. Martin luther king. Alabama. Finding some folding light switch for generations as you know. He organized a dramatic march for citizens from selma. State capitol. As the hordes of white state troopers who although the image. Horseback without provocation. Seriously. Women and children who were peacefully marching for them. Bouchaine full episode was captured by the three national television networks. Americans in every region of the country. Justice in the utility of the police academy. Religious across america. In the vicious maltreatment of defenseless citizens of selma where old women and young children were gassed and club denver. We have witnessed interruption of the disease of racism which seeks to destroy all america. Kingman responsibility. The people of selma will struggle line for the soul of the nation but it is fitting that all americans helped to bear the burden and then he sent it. I called airport. More than 100 unitarian universalist ministers of number which represented at the time 25 per-cent of our active clergy. Far away the largest percentage. America. Do you weigh the president release the second from the left there. Headed to selma support dr. king disenfranchised. What's the reverend james reid. He travel from boston church. He traveled from boston to reminisce voice for the side of justice. Soon after he arrived to other unitarian minister has personally known well. We're walking back to where they were staying for the cellar restaurant. With a few and tell them.. Set upon and beaten by a gang of segregationist whiteboard. What if we're willing is 3 ft section of metal pipe. Reed was people with the pipe suffered brain injuries and died in selma the next day. He was 38 years old. 3d step shock probation. President. Clear the events in selma to be an american tragedy. Is voting rights proposal. James reid. Is it hero of our city because he put his life on the line he gave his life. Compassion. This morning i continue summer-long series of the seven principles of our faith. There they are. For the sermon focus on the second principle. Compassion. Modell's further into what i've already introduced. We have principles prominently displayed in the main main wall in our lobby. And because our building is frequently used as it was yesterday for a baker concert. Lot of people.. I like your principal these are things i believe in doing. This reaction always pleases me on a sunday. Sheridan room. But there is a problem with the immediate positive reaction d714. So noble and idealistic. Some. I am rather a kind of clastic and controversial colonies in texas his name is the reverend doctor davidson war. Who is little use for the seven principles of art. Ford festiva. Religiosity. Secular culture. American liberalism. They do not distinguish unitarian-universalism as a religion. Aziz ansari. Well apparently do not share awards live at catapult categorical dismissal of our separate principal. Jesus porter square on a problem in all seven. Youtube our principles are undeniably i think gran and glowing generality. Wild bull that hopeful statements about life of human condition. The needs to be constructed we need some critical analysis a reflection. As we speak in this complex is very challenging world. Next sunday with a sermon on 3rd. I don't want to move there. Describe looks like of the ways in which they perhaps. Need to be corrected or modified or constrained to be a serious religion. Were they serious. Tales of theodore parker resisting the fugitive slave act. Jamie the streets of selma. Turn to our second president. Generations birthright unitarian universalist. And i think frankly compelling and clear second principle.. To be extremely inspiring spiritually and doesn't be helpful to me. As icq evermore live out in this difficult. Send it is my duty. As a unitarian universalist. Who actively works right here where i live in this world. To work actively myself for more justice more equity for compassion. Are face tradition which can trace its origin as an organized movement back more than 500 years to europe in the united states. Has always been a religion which is understood the obligation for both individuals and congregations. To be active in the world on behalf of the i feel. Justice. Inequity is compassion. True stories. Unitarian universalist. I'm just back from the 52nd general assembly of the unitarian universalist association there's the logo. Which was formed in june of 1962 when the unitarian universalist roy gather each june and this was the 52nd meeting. The general assembly which was held at 27 louisville. Exploring various aspects of our faith. This general assembly has every general assembly had scores of practical workshops. Reflecting our denomination two-story commitment to our second principle of justice activity. I want to show you some of the workshop offering there were available this last week. Ecojustice. Building a movement. Another word for reproductive justice in our congregations and communities. Immigration. What congregations are doing. The shape of justice. In our communities there's more pressure within population. Civil disobedience. The true call nicole. Jebe's trustees. Climate change civil rights for all ages. Alchemists of the workshops that were offered in the last 6 days. Each of these big and bold s statements of ours is vulnerable. Criticism and correction. Screw with our sweeping justice equity. Social and economic conservatives for example. What are. Charity and compassion. Taking the side of the disadvantaged. If you will but the service sink goes too far. And does not challenge. Salad bar society to take responsibility personal responsibility to improve life situation. Substantial persuasiveness authority. Any good and healthy society. Justice. Create and maintain environment equal opportunity. Unfettered freedom. For all citizens. To hopefully. For themselves and their families. Do the hard work. Between. Societal support generosity and engineering on the one hand. Individual opportunity. This divided. Is the nexus of the great political and moral that is raging right now in our culture. Between those who label themselves. And those who call themselves conservative. Progressives most unitarian-universalist progressive kim. Progressives tend to believe. The society has not. Equality of compassion in his social order. Where is conservatives including uno. Many conservatives tend to believe that society has indeed already provided enough opportunities. More money problems. Prestopino mcgriff. I honestly think. Lies between these two rather extreme positions. I believe.. Alright. To challenge the social order. Provide more systematic justice equity and compassion for the disadvantaged. Farmville from steps whether it's good or bad. Affordable housing. Job training. And i believe conservatives are right to exist. Individuals need an individuals in need. Step up to the wrong place. Hard to take advantage of. Do not become. I'm headed out to other forms of society societal generosity support. Understanding. Another wave. Absolute equity and compassion. The blessings. Advantages of society. That was maybe once a dream of pure communism and socialism but both have failed on the nationals. Has failed under the weight of human nature. We are acquitted of creatures who want to provide for our old family free market capitalism. Excited. I think this idealistic second principle of ours. Justice equity. Tasks. And it isn't sustainable. Unitarian universalist. An increase. Justice equity and compassion in human relations. In the imperfect world with 11. Ideals justice equity compassion. All have i taken very religious and must be understood. As being impractical and ultimately. Principal. How does overtime. Unitarian universalist of perimetry name for the human. Just because. Absolutely. Absolute equality but absolute compassion are not attainable or isaac even desirable in human society. Does not mean that we should stop for suing more genesis. More equity and more compassion in our congregation in our communities and our country and in the world. Just as principal of ours. If we are content to just sit back and some comfortable intellectual armchair. Insulation warm library in the mine. Glowing & noble police about what. Are facebook wires us rather than to do something. To do something real as active as regular on behalf of our deepest hopes for the human family. What's the challenge of our second principle. With purpose of principles essays about our 7 principles. I called reverend gilbert. Unitarian universalist of the proud history of repairing the world. We cannot be content. Occupants of time and space. We want our time on earth to need something. We want the space in which we live and move and have our being. 2 mi in ft. We are. To wear our religion only. We want it to be express. Service justice court. Is simply another option empirical formula. Justice active application are live. Suggesting that the spiritual life. Monster express itself. I love this. Unitarian universalist being personally committed suicide. In the world. Justice. Mortality and for compassion. You can't just say it with your lips. You need to roll up your sleeves and work with others to bring. It may be true. Turn on personal and usually local efforts and the half of justice equity convention. Will not be accomplished by the likes of martin luther king. Mahatma gandhi. Her mother teresa flores afraid. Sacrificial. Minimize the importance. Together is a congregation here on the treasure coast. Activists facing machine. We take the second. Big and bold principal of our faith. And hannah's. Working together to transform this beautiful yet troubled world of ours. Place. Evermoor justice. Evermore. With these words. World in a day or two. Indeed you're very fast in the little things. You'll find. These little steps. And make the world. A little better. Be a good heart.

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2010Nov21sermon128.mp3

This morning i continue my year-long sermon series on ten commandments. For the 21st century offering. 10 behavioral rules. If you will. Which i believe will help us as human persons. To live full and joyous and responsible lives. Today i want to simply spiritually suggest to you that day in and day out in your life. You should cultivate. A grateful heart. Which for those of you who were here last sunday and heard my sermon on happiness. Is really kind of a spiritual sequel. So that sermon. I passionately believe that cultivating everyday gratitude for life as you already have it. Is one of the most important things a person can do. To enrich and ensure the quality of their lives. And their relationship. And i want to begin making my case. By telling you a true and at least to me important story for my own life. Which i think speaks directly. To this all-important injunction to work at being more grateful. In your day-to-day existence. Back in the spring of 2008 took a month sabbatical from my duties of the current gation i was serving. In bethesda maryland. To take a bike ride across america. 120 miles a day 3000 miles at all with 30 other yes crazy type a people. From los angeles to savannah right across the southern tier the united states. And in the process i was able to raise more than $12,000 for a. Latino health clinic in washington that my congregation. Have long supported. The show the slideshow that you are now going to be looking at. Is from that very ride. And i'm going to pause just a moment there i am. Applause just a moment so you can look at some of these will be running them for a little while that's the group. But i was with. No it's important for you to know that i had done a cross-country bike ride like this before. 3 years previous in 2005 i'd ridden from los angeles to boston. About 3,300 miles. And so i knew something about. What this ride was going to be like the grueling physical challenge of it. What is the 2008 right approach that i began anticipating and planning the repeated venture i realized. That in spite of having immensely enjoyed my first transcontinental bike ride. I wanted to do something very differently on this second journey across the country. It wasn't that i wanted a different bike. Or even different tires or different biking clothes or a different pedaling technique. Yeah don't laugh too much of some of these. What i wanted. There are a lot of these. Fake fake assigns. There i am again in blue. I wanted to be spiritually different. With myself and others as i rode across the country the second time. I wanted in a word to be more grateful and less complaining. That was i'm sure you can all imagine. A demanding cross-country bike trip. There's really almost endless things to complain about. If you want to you can complain about the weather. About the motel accommodations. About the meals. At least some of them about the route directions about the roughness of the road surfaces. Cuz we took secondary blue highways. About the 18-wheeler. Exhaust. About the support staff. About flat tires mechanical breakdown sunburn. The dogs that chase you across the south. Trust me. There's a lot to complain about on a ride like this including the meals. Some more than justify. In fact the truth isn't on such a ride you can spend a good deal of your time complaining. About the many things that are quite right or perfectly to your liking. In fact let me tell you about one of the riders who shared this particular trip with me. I'll call him will. And he was an ear professional complainer. For the entire month we work together. Will a self-confident and yes rich and entitled corporate executive from illinois. Had a bunch of complaints he would share at the drop of a hat about almost everything. Nothing seemed to satisfy him he was griping all the time in fact on the very last day of the ride. John you pick some of the more humorous slides that i gave you. The last morning in. Vidalia georgia where the onions are grown we were having breakfast. And two of the staff were at my table with will and a couple of his and he said. Why don't you serve us hot meals at lunch the food on this trip is terrible and i said i said. Hot lunch. Will these guys are fixing our tires they're trying to help us not get lost when are they going to have time to fix a hot meal for you for god sake. He always come. By the fact that i apologize. Staff later. He ruined the breakfasts. In any case as i prepared for this second trip across the country i decided. But while i was on the bike i would consciously and purposefully and consistently not complain about everything under the sun. I would engage if you will in a spiritual practice. Do not complain out loud at least about anyting i can have the thought. But i was going to keep it to myself. I wasn't going to complain to the riders. Telestaff. even to those many people who are following the blog i was riding every night back in bethesda. Even when i was feeling grumpy or dissatisfied. To myself. Unlike the first trip when i admit i joined in day-in-and-day-out with the other riders complaining about. This and that. This time i decided i would ride. Plate free. Or 3,000 miles. And i would strive to be a grateful happyrider. Now i must tell you that i got this idea. About not complaining as a spiritual practice. Community minister in topeka kansas his name as the reverend will bowen. Who after noticing that almost everybody in his suburban congregation. Complain all the time in spite of their affluence and comfort. He started a movement called complaint free world. Some of you may be familiar with this movement. Here's how it works. If you want to stop complaining and become more grateful and satisfied your life. You obtain one of these little purple armbands. It says complaint. Free world on it. And here's how it works. You put it on either wrist. The goal of the program is to go 21 days. And that's how long leading psychologist at least some of them say it takes to develop a new emotional habit. The goals to go 21 consecutive days. Without complaining or criticizing out loud to anyone about anything. Now you may not have first think this is hard. But the rub is. Every time you catch yourself complaining out loud even a little bit. You must switch the band. From the wrist of time to the other wrist and start all over again. With your 21-day. Challenge. The truth is it takes most people many months. Tickle 21 days. Successfully complete this challenge and some people just. Give up. It's the rare person. In complaint oriented america who only has two occasionally switch the band. From one arm to the other and talk about a whining. Culture. I'm going to stick my neck out this whining about the new tsa security project get over it. Grow up. If you don't want to be scared and you're going to be patted and no one is molesting you shut up. We are winners. They're not if you disagree with me you can tell me and coffee hour. I'm alright it's a terrible intrusion american privacy yeah yeah blah blah. This is all an ad-lib that was not in my text. But i watched the news last night it got me. So. As i rode from california to georgia that spring everyday i faithfully were two things. I wore my helmet. Anybody who bikes without one is a fool. And i wore. This simple. Purple. Armband. To remind me. Continually to be grateful for everything about the ride in my companions. Refrain from complaining now i must be truthful. And tell you that in spite of fact i was pretty darn diligent. With this stop. With the stop complaining. Spiritual practice of mine i did not succeed. On my second trip across america from eliminating. All complaining. And whining and griping from my lips. Over the course of the journey i did have to switch my bracelet. Several. X. More than a few thai. Honestly i was simply not able to completely eliminate complaining for my life. But what i did succeed in doing. Over those 30 days was. To be routinely more grateful. About almost every aspect of the trip. I guess i happily road my way i can look at the beautiful country that was. In arizona somewhere. As i wonderful yeah. It was a lot of fun. As i happily road my way across this vast and beautiful country. I kept reminding myself or the biker slogan every any day on a bike. Pizza hell of a day in the office. And so while the other riders were habitually and unconsciously complaining about the tepid toasted breakfast. Or the cold driving rain. Let's rock first thing in the morning. Or the obnoxious interstate truck drivers who occasionally roared past us blowing their horn saying get out of my way. Are the right leaders inability to get the map. Precisely right. Or the road debris. Outwest especially with cause so many flats. Or the quality of the peanut butter we were served at lunch. While others complain about all this stuff. I succeeded in maintaining not a perfect. What a basic attitude of gratitude within my soul and i kept my mouth. I wasn't sure as i made this long trek. That my fellow travelers were particularly aware of this little purple armband and what i was trying to do with it. But when i safely got to savannah. And that was a blessing. At the closing bank. Several of the riders came up to me and said you know scott. You were the most positive and enjoyable person on this trip you never seemed down or irritable i really enjoyed. Making this crossing with you. I just smile. And thank them. I realize that while i knew i had slipped every now and again. My decision. Stop complaining and be as grateful as i could. In the main had worked. Both for me and the companions i shared. Now. That's a rather long. Personal story i've shared so what does it have to do with all of us. I'm so glad you asked and now i'm going to tell you. In a nutshell. Here is what i think my decision on that trip to cultivate a grateful heart. Has to do with every last. One of you. Your minister this guy standing right here is passionately persuaded and i've already said. The purposely cultivating a grateful heart. Is one of the most important perhaps the most. Important day today spiritual decisions and emotional. Decisions. Any of us can bake. In our lives. If we are able to move through our day is routinely living. From a place. A simple gratitude and appreciation rather than a stance. Ab dissatisfaction and complaint which seems to be the american norm. Our lives will surely be much more satisfying and rewarding for us and. For those who have to listen. Around us. The other day for no particular reason. I decided to take a simple. Spiritual inventory. Of the gifts i received routinely in my life. Every day gifts that i think deserve. My faithful expression of gratitude here is my list. Tell me if this. Anyting. Similar to one. You might write. Each day here in this most abundant and predictable country on earth. I routinely have enough food to eat. And liquid. To drink. I have a reliable roof. Over my head. And several pleasant rooms. In which to move about. Call my own. I have just the right clothing including some hawaiian shirt. I have reasonably good eyes. Which permit me to read poetry. And see sunsets. I have a nose. That allows me to take in the intriguing aromas of this world and the tongue. With which to taste. Multitudinous flavors of my world. I have ears with. My spouse will tell you while not nearly as keen as they used to be. Nonetheless. Still unable to hear the music and the messages of my world. I have a brain a reasonably piece of functioning hardware. Though they tell me as i get older there's a little less of it. Most of the time coherently connected to my mouth. In ways which allow me to express myself. And communicate meaningfully. Chronic. Arthritis side. I have legs. Carry me where i choose. Frequently on a bicycle. Hands. With which i can touch. Intend the world and lips. Respect. Talk. Kiss. And laugh. Smile in the body which. Most of the time feels like a happy. Old friend. All of this. Amazingly. Gloriously. And with a full and simple hard on my best days. I'm aware of all this. Profoundly. Now don't get me wrong like all human beings i have my share of complaints and caveats about the way things are working or not working. Out for me. And i'd be happy without my charging to share any number of complaints with you if you really want to. Listen to them. To painstakingly catalog those existential gripes however is not. Or anyone's bed. What today. This week of our national thanksgiving holiday in the year 2010. I want to affirm. The overarching grace. And he's and blessing of my life all-in-all by any human standard i can apply i am a lucky guy. And so are most. Got guys. Mine isn't abundantly. In the bandhan creation. And i suspect. You feel. Same way it was catholic mystic. Thomas burton who once famously said. If you managed only one prayer in your life and that prayer is simply. Thank you. It will be. But i honestly like the rather more testy way that pogo. Set it in the famous pogo strip you don't some of you were old enough number walt kelly. The american newspapers carried pogo from 1948. To 1975. It was set in okeechobee okefenokee swamp in georgia. Anyone famous strip churchy la femme. The rather silly turtle character. Is passing the day with porcupine the wise. What's cynical. Habitat of the swap. In that leaky little boat of theirs. Down in that leaky little swamp they called home. So churchy the turtle. Is reading a newspaper and the headline boldly says. Sun to burn out in three billion years ending all life on earth and he's crying in the bottom of both saying always me i'm too young to die to which party the ever-wise parking or man i shut up. You're lucky to be here in the first place. Not your minister would never use such blunt language. But i stand with porky. You're lucky. To be here. Theologian matthew fox in amor. Decorous. Spiritual town. Writes about how gratitude. Enriches our lives. Most expensive. Even when we face. Unwelcome tarts. Iqor. Gratitude. Changes our lives. It fills us with energy and vitality. When i was 12 years old. Goes on. I got polio. And could not walk. At all. The doctors could not reassure me i would ever walk again. As it turns out i did get my legs back. But i learned a spiritual lesson in the process i have never forgotten. Don't. Take. For granted. I had taken my legs. For granted. Legs that work. Legs that running play into play ball legs it took me exactly where i wanted to go. When my legs. Return. And the polio receded. I was filled with gratitude not gratitude for the miracle of my legs being healed. But rather. Gratitude for having legs at all. I was filled with energy. Fox. Includes. Promised myself i would never waste my legs. For as long. As i live. Perhaps. It is the very. Ordinariness. Of daily life. Allows us to take. For granted. In today's. Sunday new york times book section there is a book. Being featured by cynthia ozick. In her amazing essay. The riddle of the ordinary. She points out. Did we human beings quite naturally fail. Austin. To express gratitude for the ordinary blessings that lie all around us. The ordinary she writes. By making itself so noticeable. It's around us all the time. Has gotten itself in a bad spiritual fixed with us we hardly ever notice. The ordinary simply by being so ordinary. Tends to make us ignorant and neglectful. When something she writes does not insist on being noticed when we are grabbed by the collar or struck on the side of the head by it. Buy a present sword event. We take for granted. The very things that most deserve our credit. And this is the chief. And deepest point concerning the ordinary. She writes. That it does deserve our gratitude. The ordinary is above all what is expected. And what is expected does not often thought of as a gift. What is expected. Is not often. Thought of. Alright. Now this is the place in the sermon is the old southern spiritual preacher said where the rubber meets the road. Or as another old southern preaching expression. This is where i move from preaching. The madeleine. Look what i've got here. Oh my goodness lots of armbands. Now. I conveniently have an abundance of these. For you to take home with you this morning. And here's the challenge i'm making to you this sunday before thanksgiving. I asked for the end of the service and all of you who are prepared. Spiritual. To take this. Stop complaining challenge. Come forward and if you're unable to come forward grab somebody near you and have them come up and get you in our bed. And these cost a buck apiece for the church treasury so if you have a buck lewis in your wallet. Throwback on the table it'll help you. Be more committed to the process and have a buck with you taking but i don't want anyone. Leaving without a bracelet just because he didn't bring a buck with. I want you to come and take one. Okay. And i have 150 of them in and i've got a bunch of little kids bracelets so has run out of the purple ones you can shift to the other ones. And we'll get some more real ones for you later but anyway i've got i've got over 200 bracelets. And again here's how this challenge work. You just simply slipped this bracelet on one wrist of the other if you don't like things on your wrist. Wake up every morning and put it in one of your pockets or another okay you don't have to necessarily wear it on your wrist. But you have to keep it with you. As you move about your day. And begin then paying attention to what you say whether or not you are succeeding. It. complaining verbally you can have the thought. Just don't say it. And remember whenever you catch yourself complaining about something out loud. Not living from a grateful appreciative place. Take that bracelet from one wrist and move it to the other end. Start all over again. With the goal of eventually. Eventually going. Three full weeks. Without verbally uttering a negativity or akron. I must warn you as i've already said it's not an easy challenge. At first. It might seem. For most americans we are in the habit of whining. To ourselves. And one another in spite of the blessings. That we have. So i hope most of you will come forward. Take this bracelet and give the spiritual challenge try. Workover coming weeks and days living your life or more grateful appreciative place. With fewer criticisms. And then come. To a special brown bag lunch which i have scheduled now for tuesday january 11th. The second tuesday in january you know a few weeks from now. We're going to talk about. How you did. And whether or not this. Helped you. And whether or not this is helping make you a more pleasant person. To be around 7 weeks from now a little brown bag. To see how you did with this challenge. Well. That's simply all i've got for you this thanksgiving sunday. I pray that each and everyone of you will on some level or another. Take up this challenge. To cultivate. A grateful heart it really is a commandment. Spiritual commandment that will make your life. Better. I ordered you to do this not only because. As it did for me and my fellow bike riders across america. It makes life more pleasant. Simple. To live. From a place. Of appreciation. But more importantly. Because the simple spiritual practice. Will lift. Enlighten your days helping to make the daily journey. The blessing. But it wasn't fact. Intended all along. The simple.

uufvb_org

2013Oct20Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. Welcome to the unitarian universalist fellowship of vero beach this is a time of transitions here on the treasure coast. I'm sure you've all noticed the reins of stop the dry season is here and therefore the brush fires are back that's not welcome. But the snowbirds are starting to dribble in. And there's joan walsh and that's welcome. So welcome to all of you. Let's have lots of snowbirds and no brush fires. We are congregation. I've open minds loving hearts and helping hands people. Speaking in this congregation to become our best selves even as together we work. To make a better world and 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. Weather this morning. You are feeling on top of the world or. Down in the dumps anxious about something or very calm. Know that. We accept you as you are and seek to norris shoe here in the space. We hope you will find our services morning. Meaningful enriching at you will find something here this morning that nourishes your spirit. And feed your soul and gives you some energy and joy for the living of life in the days and weeks ahead. Great mystery of sleep. Which has safely brought us to the beginning of this day we thank you. For the refreshment you daily provide. For the renewing cycle of your dreams. Which shelter our fantasies nourish our vision and purge our angers and fears. We bless you sleep. For providing a new beginning. Who's perennial grace is tangible hope. For all the children of earth. And we praise the gift of another morning. And pray that we may be worthy bearers of its trust. In the hours to come a life. This day protect us. And surprise us mb. No more harsh. That our spirits can bear. Until we rest again. In the vast emptiness. Of your everlasting arms. I don't know who jill neimark is when you go online with the topic. Hundreds of articles pop-up at least with sleep and spirituality that is the case. And this is from a publication called spirituality and health. Sleep. What you need to know she right. For most of my life i was an unrepentant sleep snob. When i lay my head upon the pillow sleep and i were one. I used to test my talent for flowing fluidly in. And precisely out of sleep. Just for the fun of it i would say as i lay down okay brain. Wake me up at 6:18 a.m. precisely. Port 621. 4702 and i could do it. I had a gift for sleep. And. I only had most. Cursory petty. For my childhood best friend who suffered. The agony of insomnia. It seems my comeuppance was long overdue last winter. 47 ratchet months. I hardly slept. A perfect storm of problems left me staggering zombie-like through the day. Even the ability to nap was snatched from me. I would wake my boyfriend in a fit of jealous peak at night begging for peanut oil massages to calm me down but also perversely unable to tolerate. His seemingly comatose body nearby. Needless to say there were a few 4 a.m. fights he didn't understand the logic that to sleepless people were better than one. The season of hell. She writes has mercifully passed and left in its wake. A new appreciation. For the beneficence of sleep in me. How do i perform this lightly active magic. And why must i. On those nights last winter i leave my hated bed. And google endlessly about sleep. Todd was oddly soothed by the misty silence that permeates new york city. At the witching hour. I learned she write the sleep. Is as old as and complex as life itself a dinosaur skeleton was recently discovered in a sleeping position like a birds. Dolphins sleep one brain hemisphere at a time so they can keep swimming. Armadillos and bats sleep 18 hours a night. And giraffes and only two. Platypuses spend 10 hours a day and what is known as paradoxically or rapid eye movement rem sleep. Even fruit flies seem to sleep. Alternating periods of deep rest with activity. And then she ends. Such creative convergent evolution reveals. That sleep is so necessary. That nature will invent it. Again and again. Even as it varies. The details. Here ends. The morning reading. I'm sleep. I have to begin this morning by telling a bit of a story on the hazards of being a preacher. 5 years ago now when i was the senior minister of the river road uu congregation in bethesda maryland. I went through a difficult period of several months much like the author of today's reading. Or i was having trouble sleeping. Primarily due to stress and worry and my own personal life. This disruption of my usual robust sleep pattern was a significant problem for me. And it got me to thinking about the importance of sleep. To our human health and well-being so. Along the lines of physician heal thyself. I decided to preach a sermon about the spirituality of sleep. To see if i couldn't get a better handle. On my own personal insomnia and discover some way. To regain my healthy pattern of sleep well no sooner. Have they announced the sermon topic several weeks before i was to preach it. When one of my shall i say. More aggressive and unpleasant parishioners. Her name was linda that's as far as i'm going. Wrote me an angry email basically chastising me for wasting the congregations time on such a trivial topic. After a day's reflection. I wrote her back and said. Linda maybe you should hold your criticism of the sermon until i. Deliver it. Never before in my ministry and mercifully never sense has anyone criticize me for a sermon i haven't yet preached. What an amazing profession. Ministry can be. And i must admit i wasn't the least bit comfort in a few days later after that email exchange. When is a part of my research i googled the phrase the spirituality of sleep. Sure that i have lots of helpful references to help me get started imagine my surprise when i got one single solitary hit on the world wide web the announcement of my sermon and the river road newsletter. I was alone. I'm doing this. In that moment i actually began to think linda likely right apparently no other spiritual or religious leader had ever written on the spirituality of sleep. Maybe as a minister i was as they say barking up a trivial and irrelevant tree well to make a long story short i went ahead and wrote the sermon. Attend got a great response i preached it on a sunday in may of that year and i got a very warm response from the current location. And i still believe. This is an important topic for a congregation of unitarian universalist to explore that time. Daring to return to it this morning with this conversation if you don't like it keep your opinion to yourself. Just kidding i always want feedback. And here's the fun and amazing thing this time when i went to do my research a couple of weeks ago. When i google the spirituality of sleep. Hop pop dozens and dozens of references in just five years people are starting to pay attention to sleep including the religious world. It turns out that since my last tentative outing with this topic lots of ministers and spiritual leaders have been thinking and writing about sleep from a spiritual perspective. There's even a short and charming video of the dalai lama no less. Being interviewed by arianna huffington on the importance of sleep in fact i'd like you to watch it with me even though the dalai lama's english leaves a little bit to be desired he's a little hard to understand watch this 90-second video. You go to bed. 8:30 at night and you wake up at 3:30 you clearly put a lot of emphasis on sleep which we loved because that's happened involved with dedicated sections and sleep. So what's your secret. Of sound sleep and why is it so important. Love you very much.. The other day in delhi. Micah what is provided by government. Salon driver. When you die become. Then. I awesome. How many hours you sleep. And he says.. That i told him for us. Hello. not educate. So you must have sleep 6 hours the next day i met. Then he told me. So i believe is he sleep. Restful. And also you should date. I think important is daytime your mind come. Relax. Then bring. Goodnight this is sleep. Happy dream. Too much anxiety in daytime then evening dream. Night night melody 67. So anyway for me. Sleep sounds sleep. Usually. 8 sometimes last night 9 hours. Very sound sleep. And then also. When i handed. All my political responsibility. Tattoo elephant. Bussin. Ww2 ship. Formally. That night. Very unusual sounds. So he said stay calm during the day. And get lots of sleep. At night. So linda wherever you are eat your heart out even the dalai lama thinks is an important topic. So with all that said let's get to the topic at hand let me begin. Right where this touches me personally. When i can't sleep. Or when i fail to get at least 7 hours of solid. Solid hours of this delicious thing. It really complicates and diminishes my life. On nights when sleep comes hard for me it's not that i have trouble falling asleep. When i go to bed what happens usually to me much to micon stirmate consternation. Islay wake up at about 3 a.m.. And then because my mind automatically 6/8 and focuses. On things that are worrying and bothering me buddhists call it monkey mind. Because i focus on my monkey mind. I find myself unable to fall back to sleep dust depriving myself on those nights of the full night's rest i desperately need. Or emotional and spiritual and physical health. As i researched the topic of sleep it turns out that i am not alone in suffering this unpleasant thing called. Insomnia sleep scientist and there are as you know many sleep scientist and medical people out there working on this everyday human problem. Sleep scientists tell us that insomnia. The inability to sleep. And therefore the failure. To get proper daily rest is a phenomenon that is sometime or another effects an overwhelming majority. Of human beings on our planet. In fact let me just see a show of hands. For how many of you has at some point in your life sleep been up been a significant problem please raise your hands. I rest my case. Now. As you may have already noticed we included in your order of service this morning a little blue insert helpful hints. To help you sleep and this practical list is from the university of maryland medical center in baltimore. Does practical list of good sleep habits i hope you'll take it home and put it away and visit it and take a look at it and think about it. This. Simple list. Is designed to help you get a good night sleep and therefore avoid insomnia. And the physical and emotional hazards that come with that. I hope all of you whether you were experiencing sleeping trouble right now in your lives or not will take this list home. And incorporate some of these bits of wisdom. Into your daily rhythm. To make sure you get the rest. Proper to a human being. And by all means let me counsel if these self-help techniques and others. Don't enable you to get a good night sleep on a regular basis please seek out. Professional medical help there are lots of reputable physicians. And sleep centers all across america and i googled it and there is one here in vero there is a sleep center here in vero beach. I don't know anything about their quality but they're here. Friends. There can be absolutely no doubt if the importance of an adequate night sleep. For our health and our homeless as human beings. If you google the world the word sleep. Hundreds of scientific articles will pop-up all pointing to the importance of getting seven or eight hours of sleep that used to say less. They are the more study they do the more they realize it needs to be at least a third of your daily life. One of those articles written by dr. ivan harris on defines sleep this way. Sleep is defined as a state of unconsciousness. From which a person can be aroused. As opposed to a coma. From which a person. Cannot be aroused. Sleep is an active process he right. Within the brain where neurons nerve cells. Either stimulate. Or inhibit different parts of the brain. It serves as a restorative process essential for normal human health. Affecting the daily activities and functions of the body systems including. The immune system and most certainly mental health. Hanako-san. Sleep is imperative for our nervous system to function properly. Without it our immune system. Would be unable to properly fight infection or endure illness. And then he concludes. Sleep is a basic necessity of life. Like drinking water. Or eating food. We all need sleep to be healthy and two-faced the daily struggles. Of life. And dr. michael rios riding. On the medical website webmd reports that sleep deprivation. Has broad consequences which affect the quality joy and attentiveness and safety. Of our lives. Numerous studies conclude that only failed to get enough sleep on a daily basis. We suffer decrease performance and alertness. We experience memory and cognitive impairment which reduces our ability to think. And remember and process information. We are often unable to enjoy activities that require sustained attention like. Going to the movies. Seeing our grandchildren or children in a school play or watching even a favorite tv show. Relationships with family and friends the scientists tell us. Can be negatively affected by the moodiness and irritability that sleep deprivation often carries with it. And when we are sleep deprived. We are much more prone to both occupational and auto indusind injuries. And as if all this isn't dangerous and unpleasant enough. Sleep disorders. Can lead to a whole series of serious medical conditions. Like high blood pressure. Heart attack and stroke. Blood sugar imbalances obesity. And psychiatric problems like depression. Even add. Attention deficit disorder i wouldn't know anything about that. On the positive side of this equation. Psychologists who study human happiness report. The folks who regularly get a good night sleep are happier and report a much higher sense of well-being. In their lives. Has dr. daniel kahneman rights of his study. Getting enough sleep routinely lead to a happier. And more emotionally stable life. I know many of you have heard the report just this week on npr and someone emailed it to me and i put it in the sermon this morning. Which reveals that while the brain sleeps. It clears out harmful toxins. A process that may even reduce our vulnerability to alzheimer's. During sleep this report says. The flow of. Cerebrospinal fluid cerebrospinal fluid. Increases dramatically washing away literally washing away harmful waste proteins. The build-up between brain cells during our waking hours. It's like a dishwasher. Says dr. macon nerd regard a professor of neurosurgery at the university of rochester. And then this study end. The results appear to offer the best explanation yet. Of why animals and people. Need. Sleep. Indeed sleep is so important to us that intentionally depriving someone of it is one of the most effective ways known. To torture. A human being. Literally torture them. I simply not giving them this delicious simple thing. When president barack obama was supposed to torture. Took office his administration released a list of the techniques which the dare i say previously somewhat more morally challenged administration. Used. To torture many people around the world in these prisons we had that we're off the grid. Near the top of the list of torture techniques we the american people imposed on the people we decided to get information from. With the wickedly simple technique of sleep deprivation. It turns out that our military and cia regularly use sleep deprivation simply forcing the prisoner to stay awake. Which would break both their humanity. And their will. That's how fundamental and important the restorative power of sleep is. We human beings literally cannot maintain our humanity. If we do not regularly receive it. Soldier friend. There's absolutely no question that a good night's sleep is crucial. To our physical and emotional health. And oh by the way if you feel sleepy right now resist the temptation. Look. Maybe every once in awhile we can sneak by by burning the candle at both ends. And getting only a few hours of sleep because certain that happens to all of us every once in awhile we have to do a 3-night 3-hour night of sleep sometimes. The chronic sleep deprivation day-in-and-day-out either because of foolish lifestyle choices we make. Or insomnia which haunts us is an unwelcome awakeness and awareness while we're in bed trying our hardest to sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation whether it's by choices or buy things we don't seem to be able to control. Has incredibly powerful negative effects on our living. Said positively and now i will use a graphic that i shared with you a couple of years ago when i talked about. Health and balance and living. If we are to lead lives of vitality and alertness and balance and joy. We must. Do everything we can to ensure that sleep gets equal footing. In our lives. Between work and if you're retired by work i meaning of engaging in household tasks or volunteering. Animal leisure logistics at leisure logistics are things that you enjoy or. Washing your clothes or do we not doing the laundry vacuuming taking care of life's demand. The simple fact is that each of us. As a stewards and captains of our own lives. Are responsible. To do everything we can to get the sleep we know we need. For our happiness and health. You know smokey the bear used to say only you can prevent forest fires well. What i'm reminding you this morning is only you. Can practice a good lifestyle habits that will enable you to get the sleep you and your body and your soul need. And now i've arrived at the spirituality of sleep because i mentioned your soul. I am passionately persuaded that just as our bodies and our minds regularly need as a scientist or telling us. The restoring refreshing balm asleep. So do our spirits and our soul. Let me put this just a little differently. Without regular and adequate sleep. It is impossible for us to have the kind of deep spiritual relationships. Of joy and satisfaction. In life that make life so sacred and satisfying i love charles lares. Simple poem. Which eludes too many of sleeps. Deep and holy places listen to his poem. Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Deep. Magnificent sleep. Cradles me like. A mother holding her newborn for the first time. I close my eyes and feel the warm sensation of precious pure. Sleep. Immortal sleep outside. Of a mixed-up world. Sweet vanilla scent. From dreams of beauty holding me forever brings me everything i need. To say. Sleep. Leaf. Sleep. So sleep each night carries us into that deep and dark and holy embrace. Of unconscious rest. And how do we human beings. Connect with life's deep and holy places when we are awake. Things like the beauty of nature how do we connect with that the glory of love the blessing of. Stillness the depths of satisfaction and being that naturally reside how do we. Connect up with these things the answer of course i think is primarily mindfulness. Everyday mindfulness. The ability everyday. And the practice everyday of paying purposeful attention. To the world and persons that are always close at hand and ready to bless us. As we wake from sleep every morning it must be profound the obvious. But if we do not receive enough of the restoring balm of sleep. Those seven or eight hours a day when we loosen our grip. Are all the demands in the duties of our day so that we can awaken to the next day ready and refreshed. If we don't get enough. Of that timeout. We will not be able to mine fully focus our attentions. On nature. And on our family and our friends our neighbors and our co-workers in the endless. Richness of this world that is so desperate to come into us through our senses of smell and vision and hearing. Touch. Look the spiritual. Truth. Is it a tired person is a distracted person. And the distracted person. Cannot mentally or spiritually focused. On the textures. And the opportunities of life that lie all around him or her. A distracted person is a zombie. Apparently zombies are very popular these days in the tv you know we are zombies when we don't get enough sleep. When i was researching the sermon i stumbled across. The writings of one self-proclaimed guru. Who was bragging about his prodigious and deep spirituality. Who did in fact boast in this article that because of his tireless devotion. To meditation and prayer he needed only one hour of sleep a day. Which enabled him to devote 23 hours a day to the pure. Communion with god. No heavens knows i don't mean to contradict. Such a pure guru. But honestly the seems like a lot of self. Diluting. Horse pucky. Tumi. I do not believe that any human being wired as we are universally for both. A mixture of physical and mental activity and physical and mental rest and the scientists are proving this to us. That we can properly function. Physically mentally or spiritually. On one or even three or four or five hours of sleep a day. Sleep. Seven or eight of her tonight. Is essential if we are to experience when we wake each morning. The kind of mindfulness that will really allow us to engage the world. As we were meant to engage we were not put on this earth to stumble. True life. Sleep. Walking distracted. Zombies that's not what we were made for by the stuff of god. We were made to be awake. And to really see. This amazing world. And there was given another way to understand the holiness and importance of sleep. In the talmud. The ancient jewish scriptures it is written. That are active hours as human beings must be proceeded with what they call the minor death. Asleep. The minor death. Asleep. This led the hasidic leader. Bacino it's lubavitcher lubavitcher rebbe. To explain this. I just love this. If we didn't sleep there would be no tomorrow.. Life would be a single seamless day. Our every thought and deed will be the outgrowth of all of our previous thoughts and deeds therefore without sleep. There would be no new beginnings in our lives. For the very concept of a new beginning would be alien to us. And then the jewish writer yonke tober reflects. Sleep means that we have the capacity. To not only improve. But also to transcend ourselves. To open a new chapter in life. That is neither predicted or enabled by what we did or were up until now. Sleep enables us he goes on. To free ourselves of yesterday's constraints and build a new recreated self. And then he concludes. God creates the world anew every milliseconds of time. And if we are god's partner in creation. As the talmud says we are. We should be able to do that recreation at least once a day. So wake up tomorrow and start anew and then the rabbi noah weinberg. Completes this thought. Never treat sleep. As an end unto itself. Don't look at sleep. As a reward for a hard day's work. Sleep gives you a chance to become re-energized in your life. Look at sleep as a way to recharge your batteries. For a blessed. New day. Of growth. I love. The spiritual idea which the jewish tradition gives us. But the simple act of sleeping each night functions in our lives. And it's wonderful restful cycle. To create an us the regular new beginnings. Enable us to become fully and finally human. Surely there's not one person in this room this morning who is not. On many evenings. Going to bed. Feeling somewhat battered and burden by all the stresses and strains the ports in the polls the problem from the failure. The complications and challenges we've had to face. In our waking hours. Only to awaken the next morning miraculously. Feeling rested and restored with fresh energy and insights. To the duties and demands to which we must return. It is not of course it's sleep somehow magically takes away. All of the challenges and complications of our lives but rather. The state of sleep not only cleansing those nasty proteins out of our system. But we are. We are on we are rendered unconscious during sleep and therefore first horse to loosen. Our grip on all the adjutant and irritation. It's a timeout. And at that time out often. Makes us feel reborn now. I will grant you that sometimes our dreams. During our sleeping hours reflect our subconscious efforts to continue to work. On the life. Issues that confront us some nights are dreams unfortunately are filled. With both the dramas and the worries that have preoccupied us. When we are awake i won't even begin to tell you about most of the anxiety dreams i have about being a minister but the night before last i had a dream. I was about to preach and i left the house only had one shoe on. So i had to rush back to the house to find my other shoe and it was almost 9 and i had to. Worship was about to start look for the shoe so hard that i got all sweaty and i had to change my shirt and then i couldn't find a shirt that i couldn't find that i couldn't find my other shoe and these dreams of mine keep preventing me from getting to church exams. There's a little. Dixie devil up there isn't there. And then the little pixie devil is pretty smart to come up with all these complications that make life so impossible yikes dreams. Nonetheless. Dreaming mostly is a is a is a wonderful and and cured of things sleep. Even with the occasional unwanted busyness and complications of our dreams sleep allows even insist that our bodies and our souls and our mind. Set aside all the mishegoss of life. So that we can begin again so dear friends. Please do not foolishly regard sleep. As some pointless. Unconscious trivial part. Xavier 24-hour day that you simply have to get through. That is apparently what my sermon critic linda back in bethesda thought of sleep. Think of sleep rather. As a holy gift. A full human being. A simple and holy gift. A human being that by mercifully. Releasing us if just for a while from all the michigan house of waking life. Enables us to be reborn each morning. And be present to the full richness of our days once again. I take it on faith as i have said already in this sermon. Then we were not meant. To stumble through our lives. Enjoy us and seamless drudgery we were not put on this earth for that. Life for us was rather meant to be a grand adventure. A purpose and depth and awareness enjoy that's what life was meant to be. We're each morning we wake we embrace life and persons with as much energy as enthusiasm and joyous care as we can so. Cherish. And protect. And nourish your sleep nurture your sleep and again i gave you a little blue hand out. The tells you some of the ways to do that. For sleep. Whispers life. Into the ear. Of your soul sleep. Whispers life. Into the ear. Of your soul and is the harbinger. Of the sweet and holy day. That is about. To don. And i saying mean. Restfully. Amman. And they send you on your way with this words of a spiritual body and unitarianism called the congregation of abraxas. Sweet spirit of sleep. Who brings peace and rest to weary bodies. Emptiest of aches and pains. For we struggle as seeds. Through unyielding earth. Bring us to the timeless nature of your presents. The endless void of our slumber. Make us aware of the work we can do. Well in your time. Make us to know our dreaming. We're past and future are reconciled. Come. Let us honor sleep. That knits up the raveled sleeve of care. The death of each day's life. Sore labour's bath. Balm of hurt minds. Great nature's. Second course. Cheap nourisher. Of life's feast. Going peace. Sleep well tonight.

uufvb_org

2011Sep18Sermon128.mp3

Good morning. The entire long range planning committee is very excited to be part of this important launch ever congregations effort. To successfully draft a new long-range plan. We've chosen a slogan of charting our course for this important endeavor. Now most of you have heard the analogy that to turn an aircraft carrier completely around he can take more than 1 mile of open water and a lot of careful planning. I had to google it see if i was in the ballpark. But why is that. Aircraft carrier. Carrier has all that forward momentum. Without a plan it will do one of two things either. Chug along in a straight line until it hits land and who knows where that will be. Or it will just run out of fuel. Perhaps drifting aimlessly. Our congregation like that ship has its own forward momentum. And changes in direction or not always easy. Change can be a challenge but also. An opportunity. With long-range planning. We have a chance to set the course. What will our destination be. We cannot always control external factors but with planning. We can be prepared to guide our fellowship towards our desired goals. Let me read you a few lines for my previous plan. And 2010 uuf bb is. A center for intellectual stimulation. And lightning programs open to the public. It's a social justice causes in partners. With other liberal religious groups and social agencies on several projects. The fellowship welcomes diversity. The congregation is much larger. Without losing its family atmosphere and caring attitudes. Members and visitors feel welcome. Staff has been added. At appropriate times to support programs in the efficient operation of the fellowship. And addition to a full-time minister. Staff includes a full-time office administrator. Assistant minister. Director of religious exploration. Sextant and music director. There are numerous offices for staff. And classrooms for religious exploration. A preschool program has been running for the past 3 years. There is a well-designed kitchen. That supports fellowship. And outside functions including a soup kitchen. Serving the public. These words were written in january 2005. In division portion of our long-range plan at that time. We had about 163 members we were in the 43rd avenue facility. We had no bridges preschool we had no celebrate speaker series. Distill facility was a good deal smaller with limited parking. In 2005 we had double services due to limited seating. Our staff included just a minister and perhaps a part-time director of religious education. We were contemplating a move to this building and all of us today or a great deal thanks to the congregation. Administer at that time. The folks on the long range planning committee at that time in the due diligence group at work so hard. To make this wonderful facility happen. These were the words of what we wanted the congregation to become by 2010. And you know a great deal that vision happened. But congregations changed today we are not the same group as in 2005. Our congregation is now about 220 members strong. And many of our members are new members. We have a wonderful new minister. And have ever so gradually added wonderful staff. Now today's. Congregation you folks. We all have the responsibility to come up with a new five-year plan. And begin to visualize what we will look like. 2017. What kind of congregation will we be. What kind of member services and worship. What kind of financial condition do you want to be in by 2017. Let's begin to chart that course and shape our future for the next five years. Time to jump aboard. And not be left at the dock. Good morning. Life is a journey. And congregation congregational life is a journey 2. Travel together by hundreds of individuals. So how do we decide where to go. And that's why we plan. To discern what to do and how to do it. Planning helps us imagine our journey before setting out. To test-drive our ideas before committing time and resources. Years ago the army corps of engineers was sent to a poor developing countries to help them build a tunnel through a mountain. And they got there and they spent weeks and weeks surveying and you don't drawing maps and all that well.. People who went to build a tunnel waited and waited and finally the head of the. Of the group the other engineering group from that country came up to the head of. Army corps of engineers and said. What are you doing. When are you going to start building this tunnel. And. Heads up logan and we want to show you what we're doing here and. Several that's fine he said but. When we build a tunnel. We. Put one team of people on one side of the mountain and another group of people on the other side of the mountain and they start to dig and they dig and they did and they did and when they meet. We have a tunnel. And if they don't me we have two tunnels. But without a plan we wouldn't accomplish much. And a plan to help us identified what we care about and what we want to support with our resources and our enthusiasm. What our priorities are and then also position us to take advantage of opportunities that may come along. And without a comprehensive plan especially if an answer plan we could never have. Justice building. So we use planning in this congregation to map our future. When we know what we want to accomplish will set directions and allocate resources. We'll have unity of purpose. We can stay on track measure my progress avoid bad choices and identify good ones. So we're both just start another five-year plan. What are opportunities. Congregation can be a powerful place. Of transformation and personal growth. It can be supportive and nurturing. Helping people grow into their ideas. It can be on the forefront of social justice. What will we choose. First we need to engage. The whole. Congregation. The planning process will succeed only if you all are part of it. You will be invited to participate in a number of processes. A survey will help us know you better. Who you are. Why you're here. What keeps you coming and what you wish we do. You'll help create a vision of what her whole congregation will be doing over the next 5 years. We'll work on the big picture first the vision. Then we'll get into specifics of how to achieve it. What programs where will we get the resources. Will involve the committee's will talk to other congregations and see how they do things. We'll figure out how to make our vision real. I'll write it down. Farmed out to the folks in the council's and the committee's to make it happen. This congregation from the very beginning has always wanted to grow. And over the years it has put in place the programs and the infrastructure to make that grow. 6 years ago we took a great leap forward by purchasing this building. And we've accomplished an extraordinary number of things over this year. The renovation the building itself. A capital program. To public programs at a preschool increase staff. Growing membership. And visibility in the community. We're doing a lot of things right. We have a great platform to support more members and more program. We were able to accomplish all this because six years ago. This congregation. Creative vision and a plan. And test driving that plan b. The consensus. And will. To undertake that bold vision. There's a saying in the book of proverbs. Without vision the people perish. Ariel test. Perhaps a better way to say that is. With a vision. The congregation strive. And that's our purpose in planning. To chart a course for our journey. To the congregation. Contrived. Being part of this congregation is an adventure. I hope you'll all come along and enjoy the fun. Good morning ladies and gentlemen. And how's everybody today. What a my fingers was that we may have too many people on stage and not enough people in the audience. I always worry about that. Thinking about a special message to you today. I reflect on my 19 months. As president and acting president in our congregation. As we purchased i wonderful building and then started at work. To enhance it. Long time ago. But i do have visions. We have heroes among us. Heroes who recognize the needs. Of the. Monumental project. I'm moving this fellowship. Coming into this building. And we volunteered. Great deal about time and a portion of our lives. To make this project work. There were times that i thought it would be easier. To bring a folding cot. Into the building at sleepover. Let's drive 40 minutes my home and then returned the next morning. Envision the following scene. Course when i was a sailor. I was given shore patrol. Tropical duty. In pre-castro havana. Anthony shore patrol duty was in a bordello. Now. This bordello had large. Gordy. Flowers on the wallpaper. All over the walls large gordy. Upon entering our new fellowship. I will lobby at similar. Gordy. Flowered wallpaper. We all decided that the paper had to go. Envision. 20 people. Scraping wallpaper. From the walls. What's the most able on top. About 14 ft by 14 ft ladders. And then without seniors on 10 foot ladders. Scraping away. And then our youngsters. As young as five years old on the bottoms scraping away. Lee's version stay with me and i'll stay with me for a lifetime. It seems to me it was a. Cacophony of noise. But a harmonious wilmette transcended anyting i saw before. There was a need. And we all have to do something about this. And we did. I've always thought about the difference. Between a want and a need. I'm not trying to belittle professor here but it seems to me. That i wanted something to crave. To desire. To covet. To yearn for. To be after and tappan zee. Now i need. Is to require. To be essential. Be crucial. To be critical. And to be most necessary. Ladies and gentlemen. We as a congregation. Had a need to fix our church. So we could be able to worship and enjoy. Our surroundings and develop all our major programs. And i wonderful program. In a physical sense we spent a great deal of sweat equity. To do this and a monetary sense. We took on a major mortgage and a line of credit. And we did raise a great deal of money from al members. Almost all of our plans were successful. Because we shared ideas. And documented those wonderful thoughts and dreams. Through our long-range plans. We is a congregation. Got it right. Because we had. A road map. We had goals. We had ideas put on paper. As we continue to move ahead. Our committees. Council dedicated members and leaders. Work as a team to move this congregation into a spectacular fellowship. We are the envy. Of many florida congregations. Because of her actions. Latest jumpman what we need right now is a commitment from our congregation. To help plan our future. With a long-range planning committee. We need. Your involvement. When asked to participate in this particular process. Become a hero. And help us. Set a vision for the future. Thank you. Over recent weeks as the congregation has become aware that we're beginning this charting our course process several people of goats being sensible scott. What is your vision. For the congregation for the next five years what do you want us to become. But that's really a fairly simple question for me do any of you remember the 1982 broadway hit musical the best little whorehouse in texas. Bordellos are going to be a theme today or what. I didn't read your thing carefully that's a realize you're both going to talk about bordellos. Of course. I don't want us to be anything like the best little whorehouse in texas. Our mission is radically different and i'm not interested in a little. But what i do want us to be as the best darn tootinest congregation we can possibly be. In a sentence i want us. To be the best most fabulous adventurous and dynamic congregation in all of florida. Unitarian universalist or otherwise. I want us to be a truly noteworthy congregation. 1 minutes recognize both here in the treasure coast and in the wider denomination. And by the way we already are recognized. As a unique and wonderful corrugation in the denomination. I want us to be recognized as a unique vibrant congregation. Doing great things for ourselves within these four walls. And wonders wonderful things out in our community and the wider world. I want us to be known as a bold and thriving congregation that manages to accomplish every aspect. Current gation of life. With excellence. Thoughtfulness. With compassion. Death. Flair. As your minister ion ashamedly want us to be the best at everything we do. Our worship. Our wonderful music program. Are religious education pro. Our fellowship and camaraderie our pastoral care. Our community outreach. Are charitable giving. Our social justice work. Are working the denomination. Even the way we care for this wonderful legacy of a building and grounds that we have. All i want is for us to do all this fabulously. No. These high expectations of mine should not really surprised you very. When bob rakowski and the rest of the search committee was interviewing me almost 2 years ago now too. See if i was a right minister to come here. I told them right up front that i was not and never have been a custodial minister. And that i had no in. Absolutely none. Incoming to vero beach. Kimberly help you maintain. You're building your programming your finances you're already strong standing in the community. Do use business jargon i was not going to come here to sit on the franchise. Okay. Rather i told them what i wouldn't what excited me about the possibility of coming here and i had choices to go elsewhere this was my first choice. Was the obvious potential. The this particular congregation had to grow. Yes grow in terms of numbers and financial strength sure. But more importantly to grow in terms of the quality of its programs. Activities. It's outreach and service. Its influence. And it's ministry in the wider world. No i have been here fully 14 months now. And i'm happy to report that i feel i made the right choice coming here i have not been disappointed. For the leadership of this congregation has been clearly commit is clearly committed to a future. That is brighter and better than the past. And we've made recently great stride. Look the truth is that although we have a very large building. We are by no means a large congregation at this point we're not going to have to go to two services anytime soon. Okay i'm at the plentea. Plenty of seats up there in the balcony 340 as a matter of fact and they're not full yet. But we none-the-less even though we haven't quite filled this building yet. We're remarkably able. And vibrant and we're successful. Congregation. One sign of our congregation will health is effect. We have been growing rapidly. Over the last couple of years. But with only 225 adult members in about another 25 friends and maybe 30 children and youth. In a very large building. We still have lots of room to expand unwelcome noop. Call to our community. But numbers aside. We should take real pride in the fact that we are already doing. Many aspects of our congregational life so well. Without bragging on ourselves too much. As a healthy mid-size congregation. We already have much to offer. I may be slightly prejudiced. Because i've cast my lot with you after all. But i think the by any standard we here have inspiring worship. Great news. We have engaging religious lifespan indication with a wonderful. I really just had. Patient directory claudia. We have extraordinary fellowship in comradery who does potlucks any better than fourth friday. We have a first-rate affordable daycare program. Superlative staffs. Children. We have wonderful educational enrichment programs for the wider community and for ourselves. Including our unique and wonderful celebrated speaker series. Free. Florida humanities series other wonderful offering. The emerson. We have generous year-round giving. Two worthy organization. Community many uu carnation. Calling a sink. How do you give your plate collection. We have incredible support for the unitarian universalist service committee. And a true present. On behalf of social and economic justice. Here on the treasure coast. Over the course of my nearly let's see now 40 years as a minister. I have always told churches that i have served. Congregations i've served my goal was to have us. Do churchwell. And that is something that's happening. We are doing. But with all that said the truth is that as we move is occurring gation into our next five years. Which is the. we are planning for in charting our course. The fact is we have to make some clear choices. Why. Why do we have to choose. Because despite whatever desire we have to be all things. Do all things with excellence and verve in a plum. The bottom line is that we will need to make choices. About what to emphasize and focus our energies and resources of pod. And what to let go. What did the fur. At least for the time being. Like all congregation. And for your information there are three hundred thousand american religious. Like all congregation. We face limited resources. In the years ahead. Necessarily limited resources. An energy and time and money and people. Limits. That will require us to make wise and strategic choices. About what to emphasize here at you usb-b and what to defer at least. To another day. Again as your enthusiastic minister i hesitate. To talk about limits. And choices. Unlimited resources. But if we're truly to succeed as a current location. Even as we seek to do all things well. We're going to need to focus. Add a few key aspects. Of what week. Because we need. To make. Let me put all this a little differently. No congregation. Can be all things to all people in always all the time. Well we will not and do not need to lower our standards and dreams and hopes. We nonetheless do need. Distance to strategically focus our resources to ensure. That we do the most important things. Really well. If i were in the business world i might say. Then what we need to do is occurring gation instabrand ourselves. Okay. To become known both to ourselves and the wider community as a congregation known. For particular gifts and accomplishments. So brandon or successfully focus. Means making choices so that any point in time. What if you're out of publix and someone says where do you go to church you can say when i go to the usb b. Where the congregation that. And you'll have an answer. Or when you go out to events and the community and infamous is all your unitarian i know that congregation. That congregation is really good at and they tell us. That's what brandon means. So to my way of thinking at least. A successful long-range plan for us. Will help us to make real choices. To focus our limited resources. And to hone. Johan botha personality. And the purpose. Of this particular congregation in this particular town. At this particular time and. We're going to have to. And this is where you come in. If we're going to make the right choice. If we're going to decide the right things are important. It's because you're going to help us discern what that is. And because we're unitarian universalist congregation. Seriously committed to democratic process. We depend on our members and our friends. Speak up. To get involved. The really tell us what. We can't chart the course. Without actually all of us to use the battleship image we're going to have a very crowded bridge. With a lotta and hopefully hopefully matt everybody say no no go right go left but but will have a lot of people on the bridge battleships of big big boats. So the bottom line is we need you. Tudor tercourse to help us make. Decision. A focus. So that we can become something very focused. And something. Wonders. Hi i'm eva heifetz. I started coming to services here last fall. After my husband died. I felt a deep need. To connect with people who shared some of my core values. And having been inactive unitarian universalist in massachusetts for many years. I knew that uuf phoebe. Would be a good place to start. My first impressions were. A great. Physical plant. Big with plenty of space and parking. A wonderful minister. Warm and humorous. With thought-provoking sermons. A serious commitment to social justice. As evidenced by the loose plate collections. And the fair trade corner. An active music program. That encourages participation. A gay-friendly. Welcoming congregation. A lot of activities and ways to get involved. I must admit that i was a little intimidated at my first coffee hour. When rosemary told me that she had just completed an adult re course. On the odyssey. The odyssey for pete's sake. Over the last month. I have met many warm. Kind. And interesting people. I have learned that the wonderful minister. It's just that. I've also learned. That it's now cool. To be on the av team. The fairtrade corner has become my go-to place. 4 unusual gift that make me. As giver. And the receiver feel good. I've learned it's not just a lot of activities. It's an amazing array of activities. Just about every day there's something. I get tired just thinking about it. On a more serious note. I've been inspired by claudia stories. It seems strange to me. But even with a fabulous already director. Young families with children. Team under-represented in our congregation. I wonder why. And. I have learned that the large. And beautiful physical plant. Comes with a large. And not-so-beautiful mortgage. Insure it. Uuf phoebe. Has become an important part of my life. And i thank you all. For making me feel at home. And welcome here. I've been asked to give my perspective as someone new to. You you experience. To deepen the meeting. I would like to provide you a contrast from my previous. Religious history. Let me start by sharing with everyone that i am a recovering. Roman catholic. Do not a product of their parochial schooling my brother and i didn't attend catechism every saturday morning and of course. Mass every sunday with our parents. I had the first communion. In second grade which is followed by. Many confessions over the years. Looking back i was filled with mixture of love all and intimidation by the pageantry and ceremony of the catholic mass. However as i grew into my teens i discovered more about myself. I started started feeling a sharp a conflict between the church's beliefs. And my own sexuality. Nothing symbolizes contradiction more than my recollection of a. Young teenage jimmy daily looking up from his pew. At the crucifix. The irony of looking at the sculptured beautiful wonderful formed but tortured male body as it hung above me dressed only in the loincloth. While hearing the fire-and-brimstone damnation from the pulpit. For the thoughts going through my young hormone filled. Impressionable mind. The catholic teachings were absolute. We're told to believe in their trinity. Their father. God. Their son jesus. And their holy spirit. We're told to believe in mary the 12 apostles the three wise men the bible the works. We're told to believe in their heaven and they're hell they're good and they're bad. And if we didn't believe it all we were bad and we were going to go to their hell. I remember too many nights. Crying myself. To sleep realizing and horror that i was becoming my own horse. Why are conflicts led me to years of self-loathing. Low self-esteem alcoholism. Drug addiction. But i was lucky. Many like me never recovered and died trying. The only way i survive was to numb myself and abandon my religious beliefs along with my spirituality. I justified forsaking my beliefs by focusing on all that i thought was wrong with organized religion. All the wars. The death and destruction brought on. B conflicting religious beliefs. The greenest. Of the televangelist the hypocrisies. Many church second scandal. All these discrepancies of religious order made vacating my previous convictions easy. Ironically it was my recovery of alcoholism and drug addiction over 10 years ago that started me on my journey back. Towards an acceptance of a higher power. It was the rooms. Of the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous. It led me to a god of my own understanding. My slow thirst for a more spiritual life eventually led me here. Do this unitarian universalist fellowship. Imagine if you would a contrast i felt coming from my dark religious history. For the first time in hearing the preamble. Welcoming us whether we're gay or straight. He actually mentions gaze before straight. And we don't mind if you're straight either. You probably can't help yourself. Indian whatever wonderful shade of. Humanity. Beautiful. Those wonderful welcoming words. They're wonderful words to all of us but just. Especially. Imagine arriving here with such. Love you spiritual baggage. I felt needed wanted valued and loved. I have stayed for the. After surface after service coffee i participated in the first wednesday men's lunch 3rd thursday brown bag lunches in the fourth friday potluck boy we like to eat here. And the socials. Justice film every second sunday i was asked to help right away. I video the sunday service. And i was asked to join these fine friends here with me on the long range planning committee. I'm so honored. To help with this important task i will contribute with whatever i can. As i humbly work alongside these membership titans. I hope my newbie enthusiasm for will be key. To the success. Will help with it with the success of this idea collection gathering phase of a long-range planning campaign. It will be. Vite. For the participation of all membership. Of the unitarian universalist fellowship of. Vero beach. Let me finish by taking a little time. Tupac a little bit about my. Personal family matters. Why was exploring. Uui shared. My discoveries with my partner michael and my parents. Michael joined with me really on and my dad signed up a couple of months ago. Mom also has been here and experience the service. Along with hearing us talk about. Uu matters. I was not the only one in my family who turned away from organized religion. My dad had fallen even further away from embracing anything resembling a spiritual life. On occasion he and i would talk about our skepticism. Skepticism of the existence of the gods god of a god. Our doubts came from our catholic parochial teachings and their definition of a god. Worn down by the apocracy of religious leadership. Are ducks came from our life experiences and observations of our world. We resisted being told. What to bleed. And the fear-based motivations behind why we should be good people we felt. We should be. Be good people cuz that's what our god. Would want us to do not. We were sealed. Going to hell if we weren't. It was a breath of fresh air for my dad to come here and listen to the words precisely articulating his beliefs. He was enjoying his sunday mornings coming to church once again with his son. Sitting upstairs. Well i videotaped the service. He felt at home again in this church. Unfortunately as you heard it's not the last. They only received this devastating news last week. Though there's nothing fortunate about any of this i think it's a blessing we navigated ourselves to this house of spiritual love and support. And time to have so much help around us. We receive many calls cards. And visits. I've never felt so much in need of support in my life. I've never felt. So glad to be part of the fam. Congregation. These last few days has crystallized neither. What it means to be part of a congregation. I'm so honored to be asked to help with this vision. There's a lot of people. Out there. Like me and my family. And if you look around. They need to be sitting next to you if there's no. I look forward to your help and charting this course. Thank you and god bless you. As you've heard this morning we have choices to make about how we shape our share life over the next 5 years. We want to hear your individual ideas what are your personal hopes for a congregation. What will you be doing over the next 5 years. What do you want to see. Here. And be involved in it at uufp v. What is important to you. So how can you be heard. We hope that many different ways. But one very important one is a congregational summit playing for saturday october 22nd. 9 a.m.. 2 noon. Bolling joint coffee will share our ideas and small-group settings and then we will also take some of the ideas from. That's so it and include them in our long-range planning committees every. Member congregational survey which will be out. In early november. So all aboard time to chart our course.

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2010Oct10sermon32.mp3

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2011Feb27Sermon32.mp3

Unless pastoral care sunday when we dedicate the small group of volunteers who help do this work in our congregation. I want to explore the broader question of what it takes for any of us to minister effectively. What it takes for anyone of us to provide essential human care. To someone we know who is facing. One of life's more difficult moments. One of the most obvious and unwelcome truth about life is it sooner or later people close to us dear to us. People to whom we are connected and for whom we care. Bitter spouse. Family member. Neighbor. Coworker fellow congregation member or friend. Inevitably someone will experience some painful dislocating life crisis in their lives. Whether it's someone you know or love. Suddenly facing a life-threatening illness or. Suffering a terrible grief from losing someone close to them. Or getting swept up in the confusion and self-doubt that results. For a painful. Lost like a divorce or losing a job. Or someone struggling to cope with depression self-doubt. Or some other form of mental suffering. Many. Are the life situations that caused people close to us to experience fear anxiety despair. And suffering. And at such times which again are inevitable. Even if you're extremely lucky. Those of us whose lives intersect with the one who suffers our challenge. To respond and helpful healing inhumane ways. To be in a human community which we all are. Means that we are challenged to minister to others. And do what we can to lessen the pain and the sorrow that they feel. And if you're like me. Watching someone else suffer through a painful crisis is almost worse than suffering it oneself. There's almost always a terrible feeling of helplessness. This empowerment and inadequacy. When we have to watch someone for whom we care struggling when we can. Somehow fix the problem. Or make it go away we feel so inadequate. Let me just give one painful example from my own life if i might. A couple of years ago one of my dearest friends in the whole world paul gordon was his name. A cycling buddy and friend of mine for whom i've been close to decades. Was diagnosed just passed his 60th birthday with a terribly aggressive cancer. Which began as a malignant tumor attached to the upper part of his spine. And soon spread throughout his body. Like all of his family and friends i had to watch as month-by-month the spreading cancer. Steadily robbed paul who was a capable veterinarian. Father athlete and husband. Watch. The cancer robbed him of his once robust. And joyous life. Toward the painful and that's the part. Of the story i want to focus on this morning toward the painful and which was prolonged because he was strong as a bull. All that i am the rest of those who love paul could do was visit. Care for him and his wife debbie at his bedside. As the cancer just marched on through his body. Narrowing paul's life to a mere trickle. There were always. In that 5-month.. 2 or 3. Or four of us. In the house. Preparing food cleaning the house debbie was never much of a house cleaner. And just sitting by paul's bedside. We all wish there was something more to do you know to somehow one of us would find the right doctor at sloan-kettering or find the treatment that would somehow reverse the course of the disease. Or find some way to take away his physical pain and limitations. Be able to share some sort of hopeful message for paul even about the rest of his life on earth. But none of that of course was possible especially because. For paul ever the rational scientist. He did not believe there was any sort of life waiting for him beyond these days on earth. All we could do we have loved him. Was to stand the night long the long night watch with him. And offer him our faithful presence and our love. Which so frequently felt so inadequate so feeble so useless we all doubted that our presence. And that is the central reality about being around other people suffer. Almost always we were standing by in love. Cannot fix. The situation. We can't take away. Floss. No matter how deeply we wish we could somehow. Just suddenly alter the tragic facts. We cannot. And this is the one thing that i said. The pastoral care team we begin work this summer. I said your job is pastoral caregivers is not to try to fix things or to magically remove. The suffering and sorrow that is not what pastoral care is about. Your job is simply to attend to the moment. To stand by to refuse. As the reading. From marc's ad refuse to fall asleep. Disciples. Usually without the assurance. But everything is going to work out for the best. Because. It's seldom.. And this of course is not easy i have never met anyone who did not find. Standing the night watch are being close to someone else's pain. Didn't find that a terribly discomforting thing. Even though i have been a professional minister for almost 40 years now i have never been able to develop emotional immunity. To the collateral sorrow and sadness i feel when i'm in the presence of someone. I was suffering through a horrible set. And i expect that all of. Are similarly hardwired as human beings that you are too emotionally vulnerable to the pain of others. This of course is as it should be. 42 being a pathetic human being and let's talk more about empathy as a spiritual practice in two weeks two sundays from today. Being an episode of human being means that we can and do feel. What others. And we are never entirely successful of insulating ourselves emotionally. When were in the presence of someone else's. Pain it's the. What are empathy with the pain of others as valuable as it is to us because it. Motivates us to compassionately reach out. But our empathy has a downside. And the downside is that when we. Experience empathetically the pain of others. We naturally want as i've already decided to. To alleviate the problem to somehow remedy at to fix it. But we can't remedy set. Things we can't. And. This leads to a feeling of inadequacy and those feelings the awkward anxious inadequate. Sometimes tend to make us fully. From the situation. Avoid the person. Who is suffering deny the reality of what is happening all together. Many times people have said to me about it when they come to see me about i don't know what to do my friend is dying of cancer. They say i don't if i go and i don't know what to say. Paradoxically it is our empathy which leads us. To run away. Emotionally or with our actual feet. The same thing happened sometimes when someone loses their spouse of many years. Couples who have known the couple. Find it hard to invite the surviving spouse to dinner they don't know what. Say. So they isolate. The surviving spouse without ever. Meaning to. We are scared by the sad intensity of others pain and sometimes we. And it is precisely here. Well i believe the answer to the question that i've posed this morning how do we effectively minister to people just precisely here where the answer lies. The answer is ever and always you minister to people simply by being present by refusing to fall asleep by refusing to flee by hanging in there even when you don't know what to say and do. Woody allen said. 90% of life is showing up. And that's. True most specially. In these situations. Just before the sermon ellen and and paul. Read these two ancient stories. The job story. And the story. Jesus in the garden. They're a perfect representation of what i'm saying. Job course his friends set for seven days and seven nights. They didn't try to fix it they didn't say well you know everything works out for the best joel i mean you don't have a house payment anymore. They didn't say any of that. And. The new testament story the story of jesus in the garden. 5:00 shadow example makes the same point all jesus. Assist disciples. Stay awake with me please just stay awake and three times not one that's three times. They fell asleep. And by falling asleep they magnified. His sorrow greatly. By the shadow of negative example the story speaks. Powerful clarity about how we have to strive to be with others. When they're suffering. First. Foremost. Just. To be there. And that means mentally being there means staying awake. The great. Gif. That we have. Is the gift. Of the fully present self the attentive self. This is the first rule of ministry. For me who has the title reverend in front of my name and for all of you who don't have any professional training and how'd it go be with somebody in a hospital or nursing home or after they've had a terrible. Accident. All you really have to do the first thing you have to do is stay awake and be there. I was in the garden. When my good friend paul lay slowly dying in his home with his wife and his children. What is side. And i'm so grateful that. Wide circle of people around paul and debbie we knew what to do. We didn't offer paul any answer. We just stayed there. Or day. After. After month. We did not offer him rosie platitudes. Or theological assurance. We did not fill the room with idle chatter. So nobody would have to face what was happening. We simply. Stayed awake. And we held him. That community dad in a circle of love. Without a word. Being sad we held him. In a circle. Of love. And there is nothing fancy. Or esoteric. Or sophisticated about this. Anyone can do this. We are all capable showing up. We are all capable. Spending. The log. Watch. The problem is. Do we distrust. The dis. Is enough. Ours is a technocratic / professionalized fix-it kind of culture americans want to fix everything. Take me to fix libya right now well it's not for us to fix. We have been indoctrinated since childhood with the idea doesn't matter how grave a human problem. If we americans just bring enough. Technological and intellectual resources to bear we can rationally fix every. But that's not the way. The world. Works. This is why. When a dear old friend of yours suddenly loses her beloved husband of 55 years or a child. Or your favorite cousin is diagnosed with lou gehrig's disease. Or close colleague at work suffers a miscarriage in the seventh month of her pregnancy. You instinctively want to rush in and somehow cleverly rectify or fix or alleviate the situation or say. Just that right. Well there's no just right thing to say. In fact you'll probably say the wrong thing. We all do. What's important. Is it. Becoming totally comfortable with the idea that it is our presence. As opposed to offering some sort of product. For the person who suffers that makes all the difference in the world it's simply. Are human presents just to be there. You know there's a slight you know the old slogan don't don't just stand there do something well when it comes to pastoral care the reverse bumper sticker out of be on your car. Don't just do something. Stander. Don't just do something. Bander. Stay there. Stay awake. Without fixing. Anyting. Without offering. Any. Answers. Let me come at this from a slightly different angle. Unitarian universalist i suppose roman catholic saint episcopal have the same way and jews and hindus. We have terrible theological self-esteem. We routinely doubt the power and the beauty of our and the grace of our simple presents we doubt it. We think we have to have something more. We just doubt that it's enough just to be there. But really we must not dismiss we must trust. The idea. The healing medicine. That is ourselves. Is enough we are enough of a healing. Medicine. And we don't need years of specialized training as a pastoral counselor. Before we can make all the difference in the world when someone's life is swept into pain we simply have to get in the car. Or pick up the phone. And go there. Stay. Present. I can't tell you how many times somebody said to me. My best friend is dying of cancer but i haven't been in the hospital cuz i don't know what to say. And i always say to them. Don't say anything. You don't have to say. And if you say something it could be stupid. Go ahead and get used to the idea that you'll say something that is wrong don't worry about that just go. Just go speak with your presents. Not with your. Speak. With your. Speak with your heart. Trust. You next to the bed. With a hand and there's. Is all. That is needed. There's an old eastern legend which says that the gods. Became jealous of humanity. And they were fearful that the gift of divinity would be stolen by men and women. And so all the guys got together and they had a council. And they said. Where can we hide the gift of divinity from humanity. And one god said. Let us place our gift in the skies because they all know know that humanity will someday fly we can't got the divinity in the sky. Another said let's put our gift of divinity in the depth of the ocean but the reply was now to humanity will develop submarines and they'll find it. Do plumb the depths of the ocean. Finally the wisest of the gods dead. I know that's high divinity within them they'll never. It's the last place they will look. It's the last place we were. It's the last form of divinity we trust. That which is already within us. There is great truth. We need to start trusting. A divinity does breathe and live through us. Is come sarah lovett or simplehuman present. And we don't need anything fancy. To bring. God. To our lives. And to the lives of others. Unitarian universalist poet may sarton. Who lived in maine and died there actual. Was with her own mother as death approached. And she affirms in her poem a hard death. That sense of natural divinity which comes alive when we're simply present with one of their listen to may sarton. God's grace. Freely given we do not deserve. Or we can choose at least to see its ghost on every face. Or we can wish to serve each other gently as we live. So lost. We cannot save. Be safe. But we can stand before each presents with gentle hand and heart. Here in this place in this time without belief. Keep the channels open to each other's grief. Never accept a death or life as strain. Two assassins but at each second be aware how god. Is moving always through each flower. From birth to death. In a multiple gesture of agnation. And when the petals fall. Say this beautiful. And good say. It is well. And then she hands. Let us be gentle. To each other in the brief. For we shall die in exile far from home. Or even the flowers. Can no longer. Save. Only the living. Can be healed. Bye love. Only the living. Can be healed by love. All that we need to do. To be with one another through all of life's sorrows. And sadnesses. To be there. Fully present. Unafraid. Willing to trust. The holiness. Of the gift.