Prophetic Voices and Events - 01/01/18 World Day of Peace - Pope Francis

For more click here.

New Yea's resolution - Practice of miracle mindedness

Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Perhaps it would be better if UUs affirmed and promoted the inherent worth and dignity of all Existence. Persons have a tendency to think they are special, and perhaps they are if they are willing to accept that they are special, not alone, but just like everyone else.

There is a danger in UUs first principle if it is not appropriately understood. It does not promote specialness, but rather an understanding of the participation in divine existence. It is this participation in the divine existence which comprises its inherent worth and not just dignity but glory.

What is the self that we protect, defend, enhance at all costs? What is this self which seems to us so special that we lie, cheat, steal, and attack others to enhance and preserve? Is this really the purpose of life not only for our bodies to survive in a dangerous and cut throat world but to thrive if possible?

Thomas Hobbes said, " The life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." And believing this we make it so and so it seems to be.

However, this is not the only way of understanding ourselves and the world. We might also become aware of the divine witness which watches all this with first, horror, and then sadness, and finally with amusement when we realize none of it is real but only a drama of illusions which we have created.

This divine witness understands that peace, joy, and bliss come from recognizing the divine essence of ourselves and all of existence and bring our awareness into alignment with Existence's will for us.

Another word for this is Love.

Love does not attack, defend, protect, and separate one's own well being from those of which it perceives itself as being a part. Love extends, supports, nourishes, and facilitates the well being of all Existence.

So this new year will be a year of miracles if you choose to shift your perception from the specialness of the ego to the Oneness of the divine of which, realize it or not, you are a part.

Prophetic voices and events - Emancipation proclamation.

On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln signed Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in the United States but oppression and subjugation of African Americans continues to this day with the continuation of racist institutions in our American Society.

Lincoln signed the proclamation but only after many years of abolitionist advocacy and a civil war. Lincoln is remembered for the proclamation but there were millions who suffered and died to advance the justice. Just recently Erica Garner, daughter of Eric Garner, and social activist died at age 27.

There is more work to be done to achieve justice, equity, and compassion in human relations, Unitarian Universalism's second principle. There is great work still to be done.

Prophetic voices and events - Nora Menkin, funeral director

We all have to die some day. Most of us will have a funeral of some sort and a burial. Is there such a thing as a "good death," and a "good funeral," and a "good burial."

Like birth, death has become institutionalized. Families don't funeralize and bury their dead any more. They outsource these inevitable and necessary activities to professionals. There is growing awareness in our society that we could be doing a better job with these functions.

The Co-op Funeral Home of the People's Memorial in Seattle, Washington is one of the only non profit, member owned funeral homes in the United States. Could there be more? Should there be one in your area? Would you join one if there was?

Nora Menkin, Managing Funeral Director

Since death runs in her family, Nora decided to become a funeral director. 

Along with a lawyer, a mechanic, a plumber, and a doctor, everyone should have a funeral director in the family. For those families without one, Nora is happy to provide the service.

Nora was working as a stage manager in Seattle when The Co-op Funeral Home of People's Memorial was forming in 2007. She jumped at the chance to be involved with such a wonderful organization. She began as an intern and worked her way up to being named the Managing Funeral Director in 2013. 

With a background in home funerals, Jewish traditions and a passion for natural burial and modern funeral practices, Nora strives to help each family make their arrangements according to their needs and wishes. She makes sure meeting with her isn’t the hard part of dealing with the loss of a loved one.

For more click here.

In case you were wondering........

According to Life Hacks "One of the best, and most delicious, ways to cure a hangover is to drink a banana milkshake.

I shared this hack with Carla who said, "How about just don't drink too much to begin with.? Oh, yeah, and Happy New Year!"

In case you were wondering.............

I'm okay and you're okay and that's okay in spite of what anyone might tell you.

UUAWL Weekly report 12/24/17 - 12/30/17

Weekly report from UUAWOL 12/24/17 - 12/30/17

Stats

1. During the week of 12/24/17 - 12/30/17 UUAWOL received 1662 views up 416 from the previous week.
2. The heaviest viewing day was Thursday, 12/28/17, with 354 views an all time high.
3. The average number of views per day was 237 while the average number of views the preceding week was 178.

Highlights

1. There was a movement from the series on Advent to Prophetic voices and events which will continue throughout the year.
2. There was a continuation on the spirituality series with the goal of providing ways of thinking about one's spiritual life tied to the UU seven principles and the six sources.
3. There was a continuation of the Question Of The Day series which was focused primarily on key terms and ideas in a theological dictionary which UUAWOL is developing.
4. There was a continuation of the In Case You Were Wondering series to bring laughter and humor to the absurdity, incongruity, and paradox we encounter in the ego world. If we can overcome our guilt and shame we can experience more cheerfulness and with cheerfulness comes laughter and a sense of humor is an extremely important spiritual quality that can be intentionally cultivated.
5. The prophetic voices and events column was deliberately refocused from prophetic women and men to prophetic voices and events. This change in focus was described in an article published on 12/27/17.
6. Interest was expressed in a comment made on the article about Noah Worcester on 12/28/17 about starting the Worcester peace society by a person named Charlie. It seemed like an interesting idea but there were no further comments.
7. There has been some preliminary discussion among UUAWOL followers about starting a Unitarian Universalist mission society to deliberately begin to proselytize, something which UUs have traditionally eschewed.

Plans - Short term

1. Continue with the daily columns on Question of The Day, In Case You were Wondering, Prophetic voices and events, and the spiritual life.
2. Continue to assess how viewership can be increased.
3. Continue to solicit feedback via comments on the blog.

Plans - long term

1. Build a model of UU theology
2. Create a dictionary of UU terms
3. Develop a compendium of possible practices to enhance the spiritual life
4. Further develop an articulation of the values that comprise a good life.