"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Prophetic woman who is a luminary - Maya Angelou
What are you afraid of? - My Kind Of Church Music
"We're talking about the present," the social worker says but she can't fool me. The present is just fine, entirely capable of caring for itself. It is the future she has brought to frighten me, the future they mean to cast me into willy-nilly, with neither love nor grace. I know she'll want my daughter to assume responsibility for me, but I am reluctant to consume my daughter's life.
"Don't sell the house," I tell Andrea after the woman leaves.
"We have to. We need the money for the nursing home."
"If I don't go, then we don't need the money."
Linda McCullough Moore, "On My Way Now", The Sun, April, 2014, pp.18-19
Indeed, the present is entirely capable of taking care of itself. It is what it is as the Buddhists say. Jesus says, "Don't worry about tomorrow until tomorrow. Don't you have enough to worry about today?" And I say to myself, "Yes, indeed. Today is enough for any person, why be greedy?"
As Seneca writes in his ninth letter quoting of Stilbo "Any man," he says, "who does not think that what he has is more than ample, is an unhappy man, even if he is master of the whole world."
And Seneca goes on to write, "What difference does it make, after all, what your position in life is if you dislike it yourself?"
Seneca ends this ninth letter writing, "Only the wise man is content with what is his. All foolishness suffers the burden of dissatisfaction with itself."
As Bobby McFerrin sang, Don't Worry, Be Happy"
"Don't sell the house," I tell Andrea after the woman leaves.
"We have to. We need the money for the nursing home."
"If I don't go, then we don't need the money."
Linda McCullough Moore, "On My Way Now", The Sun, April, 2014, pp.18-19
Indeed, the present is entirely capable of taking care of itself. It is what it is as the Buddhists say. Jesus says, "Don't worry about tomorrow until tomorrow. Don't you have enough to worry about today?" And I say to myself, "Yes, indeed. Today is enough for any person, why be greedy?"
As Seneca writes in his ninth letter quoting of Stilbo "Any man," he says, "who does not think that what he has is more than ample, is an unhappy man, even if he is master of the whole world."
And Seneca goes on to write, "What difference does it make, after all, what your position in life is if you dislike it yourself?"
Seneca ends this ninth letter writing, "Only the wise man is content with what is his. All foolishness suffers the burden of dissatisfaction with itself."
As Bobby McFerrin sang, Don't Worry, Be Happy"
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
UU A Way Of Life theme for June, 2014, the inherent worth and dignity of every person
June, 2014, will be focused on the first principle, the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Essays, resources, and other materials are being solicited around this topic. You can leave your ideas, comments, questions in the comments, of send them to davidgmarkham@gmail.com.
UU A Way Of Life - Book Of The Month - June, 2014, God Revised by Galen Guengerich
Beginning in June, 2014, UU A Way Of Life will be hosting a book discussion thread each month. The titles chosen will alternate between fiction and nonfiction. Title suggestions are welcome either in the comments or by emailing davidgmarkham@gmail.com.
The line up so far is:
June, 2014, nonfiction, God Revised by Galen Guengerich
July, 2014, fiction, Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
August, 2014, nonfiction, The Green Boat by Mary Pipher
You can check the chosen selections for any month by clicking on the Book Of Month page under the header.
The line up so far is:
June, 2014, nonfiction, God Revised by Galen Guengerich
July, 2014, fiction, Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver
August, 2014, nonfiction, The Green Boat by Mary Pipher
You can check the chosen selections for any month by clicking on the Book Of Month page under the header.
How is Unitarian Universalism a way of life?
Dear David:
Can you explain what you mean by the title of your blog, "UU A Way Of Life?"
Thanks,
Mary
Dear Mary:
Osho says that science deals with the external world and religion deals with the internal world. Sometimes I ask my clients in psychotherapy "What is your interior spiritual life like?" Unlike I had expected initially, I have never had a client object to the question and almost all try to answer it.
One of the criticisms of Unitarian Universalism is that it is like a civic organization or a social club. Just like people go to weekly meetings of Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Elks, some people go to church for the fellowship and to work on social uplift. These are good motives and activities that deserve support, but for a bonifide religion there has to be more and that more is the spiritual nurturance to further develop an interior spiritual life.
If Unitarian Universalism is to grow and make a contribution to the world it needs to find ways to help people develop a philosophy of life, to help them figure out how to live the Good Life. At the end of our lives we all would like to take comfort in knowing that our life and time here was well spent. It's not a bad life if we know how to live it. And so, what does Unitarian Univeralism teach us about what the Good Life is? As a religion, it needs to be practical and give us ideas about how to live well and make good choices. UU is not a set of beliefs, but a way of life and this blog's purpose is to help people find ideas and apply them in living the Good Life.
There are so many principles and values that Unitarian Universalism espouses that I find it hard to pick any one as more important than the other, but at times, one of the principles becomes my focus. For today, for this discussion, one of the principles I find most important is the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. As Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." How many people do you know that lead examined lives? I would like to think that most UUs do and we support each other in doing the same. It is okay to ask questions and pursue truth and meaning wherever it takes you. We believe and behave, hopefully, in the idea that the truth will make us free even if it hurts in the short run. In other words, "honesty is the best policy". You will sleep better.
Living our lives based on the values and principles that we covenant to affirm and promote requires discipline, mindfulness, and commitment. It is not something we can only do occasionally at church. The values and principles of UU inform our consciousnesses and every minute of our lives. It we can do this, it is our belief that we will experience joy in living the Good Life.
Thank you for asking Mary. I hope that you and others will leave your ideas, further questions, concerns in the comments.
David
Can you explain what you mean by the title of your blog, "UU A Way Of Life?"
Thanks,
Mary
Osho says that science deals with the external world and religion deals with the internal world. Sometimes I ask my clients in psychotherapy "What is your interior spiritual life like?" Unlike I had expected initially, I have never had a client object to the question and almost all try to answer it.
One of the criticisms of Unitarian Universalism is that it is like a civic organization or a social club. Just like people go to weekly meetings of Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Elks, some people go to church for the fellowship and to work on social uplift. These are good motives and activities that deserve support, but for a bonifide religion there has to be more and that more is the spiritual nurturance to further develop an interior spiritual life.
If Unitarian Universalism is to grow and make a contribution to the world it needs to find ways to help people develop a philosophy of life, to help them figure out how to live the Good Life. At the end of our lives we all would like to take comfort in knowing that our life and time here was well spent. It's not a bad life if we know how to live it. And so, what does Unitarian Univeralism teach us about what the Good Life is? As a religion, it needs to be practical and give us ideas about how to live well and make good choices. UU is not a set of beliefs, but a way of life and this blog's purpose is to help people find ideas and apply them in living the Good Life.
There are so many principles and values that Unitarian Universalism espouses that I find it hard to pick any one as more important than the other, but at times, one of the principles becomes my focus. For today, for this discussion, one of the principles I find most important is the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. As Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." How many people do you know that lead examined lives? I would like to think that most UUs do and we support each other in doing the same. It is okay to ask questions and pursue truth and meaning wherever it takes you. We believe and behave, hopefully, in the idea that the truth will make us free even if it hurts in the short run. In other words, "honesty is the best policy". You will sleep better.
Living our lives based on the values and principles that we covenant to affirm and promote requires discipline, mindfulness, and commitment. It is not something we can only do occasionally at church. The values and principles of UU inform our consciousnesses and every minute of our lives. It we can do this, it is our belief that we will experience joy in living the Good Life.
Thank you for asking Mary. I hope that you and others will leave your ideas, further questions, concerns in the comments.
David
Monday, May 26, 2014
Ministering to the moral injuries of war
From Simple Gifts, All Soul's Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, May, 2014:
When we send our young people to war, we are asking
them to face the realities of warfare on our behalf.
Therefore, it is the job of those of us who are civilians
(and especially as religious people) to do our part to
help veterans who come home to heal from what
they’ve experienced. This is important and true
whether we agree with the war or not. This is the
reciprocal relationship between warriors and civilians
in a community. War itself, no matter if just or unjust,
will leave many of the men and women who fight it
feeling that they have dirtied their souls, and perhaps
for a simple reason: “There is just something about
killing that bites the conscience and doesn’t let go.” (1)
Moral injury is a wound to the spirit when we believe
we have done or we have witnessed something that
has violated our deepest sense of right and wrong.
These wounds to the spirit are not healed by psychiatric
medications or ordinary talk therapy. This is where
the religious community can come in. It is said, “the
first casualty of war is truth.” War veterans have a
truth that the rest of us do not have and do not understand.
We need them to be able to share their truth
with us for the good of our nation and its future.
For more click here.
Editor's note:
Because we Unitarian Universalists covenant together to promote and affirm justice, equity, and compassion in human relations it makes us more understanding and sensitive to the moral injuries that accompany war making. War making begins in our own hearts when we see people on this planet different from us as "other". In seeing people different from ourselves as "other" we can objectify them and out of our fears demonize them and kill them.
Jesus said that we should love our enemies and the first step is to drop the objectification and get to know them as fellow humans suffering just like we do on this planet. We are here to help and learn. This Memorial Day let us begin by forgiving ourselves and "them" for whatever sins we think we have committed.
My Kind Of Church Music, Peace Train, Cat Stevens
What's the good life after it's all said and done?
"I don't know what you expect of me, Mother," Andreas says.
I want you to be joyful, I don't say.
Linda McCullough Moore, "On My Way Now", The Sun, April, 2014, p.18
Editor's note:
Indeed all I want for myself, you, and everyone in the world is to be joyful. Joy is different from pleasure, happiness, and bliss. Joy is a kind of contentment, an overall sense of well being. A sense that I'm okay, and you're okay and if not, that's still okay.
All human beings deserve to be joyful. The question is what kind of life will make them so? What does Unitarian Universalism have to teach us in this regard of living the good life?
I want you to be joyful, I don't say.
Linda McCullough Moore, "On My Way Now", The Sun, April, 2014, p.18
Editor's note:
All human beings deserve to be joyful. The question is what kind of life will make them so? What does Unitarian Universalism have to teach us in this regard of living the good life?
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