Showing posts with label The Holy Fool. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Holy Fool. Show all posts

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Willingness to appear crazy

I remember being on the sidewalk at a table at the village's sidewalk sale announcing the opening of our Unitarian Universalist church and a woman said to me accusingly, "Are you Trinitarian?"

I said, "No, mame."

She huffed, "I thought so!" in an indignant and contemptuous manner.

One of my co-workers said, "What was that about?"

"She wanted to know whether UUs believe in the Trinity," I said.

"What's that, " my co-worker asked.

"The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost," I replied.

"Don McLean, American Pie. Right?" he said.

"Yeah, right," I said.

When we turn from the path of the ego onto the path of the spirit, people will call us crazy. They will say we are mad, madder than the mad Hatter.

St. Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians that those who have chosen to walk the path of the spirit instead of the ego appear to others to be fools. We appear to be misfits and indeed we are. We no longer are going along with the herd. We are going against the grain, upsetting the apple cart, disturbing the status quo. This scares people. The things they have believed in and done and value are, by us, no longer believed in, no longer valued, and we no longer are going along in the same direction traveling on the accepted and "normal" path.

At first they criticize and say we are wrong and bad. Then they call us crazy and mad. And lastly they exile us or even try to kill us either socially through shunning or literally as they did to Jesus, and Martin Luther King, Jr., and John and Robert Kennedy, and Malcom X, and Gandhi.

Assassination, whether psychologically through gossip and false accusations, or socially through exclusion, shunning, and exile, or physically by murder, torture, and deprivation is often the price paid for choosing not to continue on the path of the ego and, instead, walking the path of the spirit.

And in making that choice, and taking the path less traveled, we experience such Love and joy and peace that the sufferings inflicted by those on the path of the ego seem inconsequential and like a mosquito on an elephant's behind.

And so, those who embark on the mystic's path appear crazy to the rest of the world. And it is this willingness to appear crazy that empowers a person to pursue the way of Love.




Monday, March 26, 2018

Flower communion not newcomer's cup of tea

Brockport, NY - A Brockport man who says he was attracted to Unitarian Universalism reported he changed his mind last week when it was announced that the next week's service would involve flower communion.

"What the hell is flower communion," said Barry? "What ever happened to bread and wine?!"

"Is it  these female pastors? What will they come up with next," exclaimed Barry?!

Trying to calm Barry down and keep him involved in the church, Brenda told him, "They smell nice." Barry wrinkled up his nose and deliberately blew a fart.

Brenda laughed which started Barry laughing as well.

"This is some kind of religion," said Barry.

"Better than dying on a cross, right," said Brenda?

"I have to use the rest room," said Barry who went out the front door and was never seen at that church again.

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Brockport man accuses fellow committeeman of being "a real asshole."

Brockport, NY - Behind closed doors, Brett Landow, told Barry Brown that Al Johnson is a "real asshole."

"I can't stand the guy," said Brett. "He thinks he knows everything and takes over every meeting."

Barry agreed but was in no way as passionate about the opinion of Al's assholishness as Brett.

"Sometimes," said Barry, "you have to just take people where they're at."

"Can't do it," exclaimed Brett. "The guy will ruin the whole thing."

"What do you want to do," asked Barry?

"I'm gonna complain to Pastor Beverly," said Brett.

"Ahhhh," stammered Barry, "I'm sure that will do the trick," rolling his eyes

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Study: UUs waste over 500,000 hours per years in committee meetings

Brockport, NY - A recent study performed by the Amelioration Institute found that Unitarian Universalists spend over 500,000 hours per year in committee meetings with very little to show for it.

"If Unitarian Universalism has a mission in the world you'd never know it by what gets accomplished, " said Barry Donovan the study's lead researcher. "UUs love to talk about things but that's as far as things go. They seem to love talk more than action."

"They seem to enjoy the coffee and cookies," said Sarah Barbarito the study's co-author. "It's more about socializing for a small click of people than organizational accomplishment. Their lack of focus on their mission has lead to a dwindling of membership and we predict this small denomination will dissolve in the next two decades due to its inability to support itself."

"Without a meaningful mission, and no attention to measuring the degree of accomplishments, most organizations lose members, money, and talent and die," said Dr. Donovan. "Studying Unitarian Univeralism as a classic example of organizational demise as its mission becomes increasingly irrelevant to its members and the people the organization purports to serve is very informative of the organizational dying process."

Sarah Barbarito said, "The denomination is on life support now. I would estimate their life expectancy is down to 20 years."

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Brockport man upset that his doctor won't prescribe his favorite drugs.

Brockport, NY - Brockport man upset that his doctor won't prescribe his favorite drugs.

Bret has been on Oxycontin for his back pain, and Klonapin for his anxiety and sleep problems for years. "Yeah, "I might have taken extras when the pain or the anxiety is really bad, but the Doc seems to think I'm a drug addict."

"He told me to take up exercise and meditation! Can you believe that shit," Bret said?

Pastor Beverly replied, "Perhaps prayer would help?"

"You're a UU aren't you?" Brett said exasperated. "I'm a freakin atheist, ya know. We don't pray. Jesus!"

Pastor Beverly said, "How about therapy?"

"You think I'm crazy!!??" yelled Brett.

"Oh, no. I'm sorry," said Pastor Beverly. "Perhaps finding another doctor who will continue your prescriptions would be the way to go."

"Pastor Bev, you're the best!" said Brett.


Saturday, March 10, 2018

Brockport man leaves church meeting mad

Brockport, NY - A man at a church committee meeting Wednesday night shouted at a fellow committee member, "You're a fucking asshole! I've had enough of this shit!" and stormed out of the meeting.

According to witnesses, the committee members were discussing what term should be used in church liturgy to refer to the Higher Power. Frank advocated for use of the term, "God" but Barbara preferred "Spirit of Life." When Al stated that he preferred "interdependent web" all hell broke lose. Frank called Al a "fucking asshole," stated he'd had enough of this shit and stormed out of the room and left the building.

Barbara who has known Frank for years tried to console Al for the attack saying that Frank, "can be a bit of a hot head."

Pastor Beverly stated simply "I don't care what word you want me to use, but I hope you can make a decision and let me know, and not let his issue further divide the congregation."

Al said, "I still feel strongly about 'interdependent web.'"

Barb sighed and looked like she was about to cry. "I doubt," she said, "we will see Frank at church on Sunday."

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

The Holy Fool

A good Samaritan appeared before St. Peter at the pearly gates.

"Have you ever done anything of particular merit?" St. Peter asked.

"Well, I can think of one thing," the good Samaritan offered. "Once, on a trip to Los Angeles, I came upon a gang of bikers, who were threatening a young woman. I told them to leave her alone, but they wouldn't listen. So, I approached the largest and most heavily tattooed biker and smacked him in his face, kicked his bike over, ripped out his nose ring, and threw it on the ground. I then yelled, 'Now, back off, or I'll kick the crap out of all of you!'" 

St. Peter was impressed and asked, "When did this happen?"

The good Samaritan replied, "Just a couple minutes ago."



Editor's note:

UUAWOL is tagging its humor articles, "The Holy Fool." They will appear periodically.
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