The Post Modern Preacher

Last night I played guitar again. I had a plan for the summer, where I'd work, read at least an hour a day, play my guitar an hour a day, and that would be my life. That plan died when the career assessment told me to lose weight as a suggestion for ministry and I dedicate time each day for the gym (yup, some exercize seven days a week). Still, the days I can play are days of joy. Most nights I get home, cook dinner, and it's about 8 pm and I'm exhausted and don't bother. Last night I did bother. It made a difference. Granted, the actual songs I know are limited so playing once through Mad World, Hurt, The Ballad of Larry, Froggy Went a Courtin', and Christmas Song goes pretty quick and I wasn't in the mood to bust out my classical guitar music. So I did an extended blues noodle. Maybe twenty or thirty twelve bar blues in A. It became a prayer. Bass note, bass note, Chord with triplets on the treble, bass note. Bass note, jump to an alt chordform, Bass, swing eighth response with the treble chord, Bass, Bass, swing eighth treble, my fingers were playing something as sacred as om manne padme hung or something as devout as Ave María, grátia plena, Dóminus tecum. I was creating and I was feeling and everything I felt I was able to play in a wordless dance of fingers on steel. When I would get off beat or flub a chord change, it wasn't a failure of performance it was an expression of being. For a time I was the Creator and the music was my creation. It was flawed, faulty, but it was mine and it was me and it was beautiful.

The drama lama that is GA is only 10 days away. The ramifications of the IA controversy will be ripe on the tongues of those in attendence. The Open Space Technology promises discussions about the point of the UUA. I am willing to lay money down that there will be another youth race based conflict if the last few years have taught us anything. Comodding the Young Adult Caucus is going to eat up a good deal of my GA time but I hope to make the UU Bloggers workshop. I'm also hoping to connect with the Non UU theological school group. The prepwork began last July with the grant request for the Soulful Sundown and the road to this GA feels long. I hope the programming that C*UUYAN sponsors comes out well. Last year's Soulful Sundown felt remarkable once it was done and I had maybe five hours preparation time. This year, the presentors have been together for months and I feel more nervous even though my part was played in the organization and logistics instead of the performance.

When we gather, what will happen? Will we discover the ends of UUism? Does our diversity prevent us from having common teleology? My assumption is yes. Will the closing ceremony and the closing worship merger be a success? I don't know. I'll cheer as Darrick Jackson, Michael Tino, and Joseph Santos Lyons are honored with preliminary fellowship in the Service of the Living Tradition. I'm excited that the CYF recieves recognition for Young Adult Ministry. I'll be tired when I get back to Boston on the 25th and drowsily go from the airport to work after taking the redeye home.

And hopefully before then I'll finish the sermon for May Memorial so I've time to sit with it before the 8th. Preaching 4 Sundays in July, what was I thinking?

After the MBTI, the FIROB, Strong, MMPI, the EQ, the 30 pages of autobiographical data, and the time spent today in day one of the group process I struggle with what's coming out of the Career Assessment Process. Perhaps it is the exhaustion I'm experiencing. Few things took me by suprise. I liked the metaphor that was used to describe my energy level. I was told that I'm burning the candle at both ends and seeing if I can light the center. I'm going to process the experience, let it simmer and stew. The goals I came into the process with are the ones with which I am still working. What does it mean to speak the truth with love. How do we balance truth, justice, and mercy? What does that mean in the ministry? When is it ok to value results more than the relationships with people? How do I tone down my natural passion and enthusiasm so I don't bowl people over who are more socially introverted?

This Saturday is the Boston area blogger picnic. Something is inheritly amusing about a meetup for those of us who post online about our faith. The picnic reminds me of the bbs (bulletin board service) meetup idea from back in the mid 90's. We post ideas, thoughts, commentary, opinion but we are still flesh and blood. Online, our makeup is in the eye of the reader, but each of us is human as we type up our notions and opinions. Some have beautiful things to say, some point the way to exciting happenings, but each has a world of their own outside of the world we construct for him/zir/her based on the words he/ze/she posts. Bloggers have families, vocations, relationships which defy the ideas we have about them and nuance who they are.

I'm excited that the fourth wall breaks down for a time and we can see fellow bloggers as people. Instead of bits of data on servers, which let us view thoughts through hypertext, we will transmit our data with our mouths and the only bandwidth limit is on our ears to hear, our eyes to see, and our hearts to learn.

Today, the Massachussets Legislators defeated the movement to put a same sex marriage referendum on the ballot. This decision is both prophetic and hopeful. I remember waiting at the constitutional convention in the Fall with Alex, Doug, Todd, with Alex telling me it was doubtful that they'd win. When it passed, we all were elated. Today that joy continues. God spoke through the voice of the legislators. Love will not be denied, and sacred unions will not be illicit in this corner of the world.

Tomorrow begins the trek to Portland for General Assembly. No more conference calls, no more email spamming the the GA Young Adult Caucus listserve, and finally the staff gets to meet each other. My bags are packed. Let's pray that no drama ensues. This is GA, so perhaps it is a prayer in vain. A record number of registrants identified as young adult, including a few religious professionals. That feels somewhat exciting. I appreciate the slightly older young adult crowd at General Assembly, since mid to later twenty somethings and thirty somethings are much more prevelent than the bridger population. I've begun to feel rather old in comparison to our younger population of young adults. Perhaps the mix of seminary and being 27 really is changing me.

It's 10:16 am Pacific Time at General Assembly. Registration doesn't open until 12 so Anthony and I have circled the hall, seen folks from Boston, and are wating for 11 so we can meet at the YACM booth of the exhibit hall. Travelling to get here was somewhat harrowing but the Young Adult Caucus staff made it, even with one arriving at 2 am.
Hopefully once GA begins, there will be something more exciting to blog about than the burnt Starbucks coffee for UU University or the anxiety that the space the GAPC gave us for the Soulful Sundown is far too large and we won't fill it. At least this year the Caucus space isn't nextdoor to the evening entertainment!

Blessed be

I heard several silly comments this GA. "We can't talk to our lawmakers as people of faith because being religious isn't inclusive" "*Insert the whole text of the SLT sermon here*" "My church wants to start a young adult group but we define young adult as under fifty"

To reflect on the grand disaster that was the Service of the Living Tradition - Process sermons don't work. We don't care how hard it was to write a sermon. We really don't care how hard it was to write the sermon when you were at a sermon conference. We really really don't care how hard it was to write your sermon when you were in the lap of luxury in a retreat where you had hot baths, amazing food, and the the entitlement you are reeking of is so palpable that it colors the air. Preachers, the sermon isn't about you. Preachers, several ministers died before their time this year who the sermon was supposed to celebrate. Preachers, ministers retired, at least one before her time this year who the sermon was supposed to celebrate. Preachers, several ministers began their fellowship tonight who the sermon was supposed to celebrate.

Ninety percent of ministry is just showing up. That common aphorism was true. I sat with Sam because he needed a friend. Unfortunatly the ten percent of it that is more than just showing up was spectacularly wrong as he walked out on the service celebrating his mother's career.

We have stories, the world is made up of stories. Perhaps the Unitarian Universalist story is one of privlege, entitlement, smug self satisfaction. Maybe we aren't a religion and my seminary experience is in vain. I pray this isn't so.

Is it democracy to have a wholly unopposed slate for every elected position this GA? Is this the new democracy? Next year's election for UUA President is also unopposed. Has the power been stripped from the oligarchy of the delegates to the greater oligarchy of behind the scenes king makers? Perhaps we can fete that a woman will become president.

The morning plenary is almost over. The Soulful Sundown came and went. There is the closing worship and closing plenary before this giant carnival of Unitarian Universalism packs its bags to go home to our congregations until we assemble in another year's time at Ft. Lauderdale. The closing worship reminds me how small the world is. Rev. John Pawelek will preach, and he's the brother of one of my classmates. His picture in the program looks a lot like Aaron and looks similar to his father.

It’s a Thought that Can Change the World

Grace, that word so often used in so many different ways with such loaded theological importance by so many different people. UUA moderator, Gini Courter, describes the three G’s of Unitarian Universalist hot topics as God, Growth, and Governance. Oddly enough, Grace is not one of these hot topics of conversation. If we as Unitarian Universalists can take back God, then we should begin taking back Grace. Grace, more than what families say around the table at meals, especially Thanksgiving, more than ease under pressure. In our post modern, post colonial, post structural, post this and post that world we need to take back Grace from those who claim that their truth is the only truth. The wars fought over universal truth, singular, black and white realities show that stories need multiple facets. If we fail to nuance our words, our stories, we fail to learn from the legacy of history. The time has come to take back Grace.

A few years ago, I was part of a chalice circle where the focus for the month was on Grace. My minister described Grace in a way I had never before experienced. The minister leading the circle, Scott, explained Grace as unexpected gifts which we neither earned nor deserved. “Unexpected gifts which I did not earn nor deserve” was a wholly new definition of Grace. Scott went on to ask us all through the month to go out and commit Grace. Similar to the modern proverb, Grace happens. This notion of Grace was different in many ways from the theological norms of salvific grace or prevenient grace my Methodist friends speak of. This notion of grace was different from the Grace we say before meals, thanking some To Whom It May Concern “greater than.” This idea of Grace was much simpler, unexpected gifts which we did not earn nor deserve. We were charged to go out and commit this form of Grace in the world.

The chalice circle took up this task in many ways. One member gave the counter person at Dunkin Donuts fifty dollars to cover as many of the following customers as possible, and proceeded to watch as several folk came in for free coffee and donuts. Another tipped a waiter an overly lavish amount and another gave herself a gift to a day spa. The oddest story was the woman who went on the bus, and handed the driver a twenty to pay for everyone at her stop. The bus driver refused. He would not accept her money for the people behind her because “that’s not the way things are done.” This driver in his authority was an arbiter of truth, saying kindness, gifts, Grace are all not the way things are done. What would make someone refuse kindness? What would harden someone’s heart to such an extent that they would deny compassion? The grace-giver, in frustration, left the bus in tears. Such an act damaged her soul. She spoke loving kindness to power, and power denied her not so random act of kindness. For that bus driver, Grace does not happen.

Faith Traditions and Grace

Grace and gratitude are written of in religious texts which are holier and more articulate than I. There is no direct translation of the word Grace in the Hebrew Scriptures. The closest notion of undeserved goodwill comes from the word used to describe steadfast love or loving kindness, Hessed. The word describes the relationship that God has with humanity, but also the relationship that God asks for from humanity. Grace means fidelity in these texts; grace implies a long-term arch of action instead of a onetime moment. In the Christian Scriptures, the closest word is the Greek charis. Charis literally means gift. Grace as charis, something someone gave and another receive.

Descriptions of unexpected and undeserved gifts abound in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. Sarah is able to have a child despite being barren. Joseph gives his estranged family respite and food in Egypt even though his brothers sold him into slavery. Ruth stays with her mother in law, Naomi, even though it forces Naomi into poverty because of her steadfast love for her family. The parables of the gospels point to these gifts, of Grace happening when the Prodigal Son returns home and his father rejoices, when the workers in the vineyards received their daily pay, even for the ones who had been in the field for only an hour before evening came. The son does not deserve nor did he earn his father’s love. The workers did not work a full day for their pay. Still, Grace was given to them. Grace happens.

Quaker missionary Steven Grellet said, “I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, as I shall not pass this way again.” The Dalai Lama explained gratitude with a short statement. “My Religion is simple. My Religion is kindness.” The Band U2 even titled one of their songs “Grace.” The lyrics to “Grace” include, “What once was hurt, what once was friction what left a mark no longer stings…because Grace makes beauty out of ugly things. Grace finds beauty in everything.”
When will we pass this way again? As a spiritual practice, how can we live our lives so that if there is any kindness we can do, any good thing for a fellow being, we do it? What would that spiritual practice of kindness feel like? What would that spiritual practice look like? Is our Religion that simple when we wade past the covenants, mission statements, and meditations? Is our Religion kindness? Will we sooth the stings, will we work outside of tit for tat retribution and will we learn to turn the cheek? Can we find beauty in everything?

UU Grace and Gratitude

“Practice random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty” was a popular catch phrase when I was younger. The etymology of the phrase stems from a class lead by Dr. Chuck Wall. He was struggling with creating his next assignment for the class. Listening to the news Dr. Wall heard another story of a senseless act of violence. While he does not take credit for coining the phrase, Dr. Wall assigned his students the next day to go out and commit a “random act of senseless kindness.” The idea spread quickly, and soon formed into Kindness, Inc. The slogan enjoyed some modicum of fame for a few years, but the slogan seems to have fall out of favor in the past several years. The slogan, “commit random acts of kindness and senseless acts of beauty” was on a poster in my art class in junior high. My art teacher, a Unitarian Universalist, sought to instill us with the value of random kindness and senseless beauty. The idea of random kindness itself seems to be Grace. Committing kindness to those who do not know you, who are not beholden to you, is the truest form of kindness. Giving without the expectation of return in our lifetime is gratitude.

The word kindness comes from the same root as kin, perhaps showing Grace as the theological term for the interdependent web of life of which we are a part. Maybe we can take this lesson to heart and embrace it. How many of us have given entitled tirades about this or that not being up to par? Have any of you scolded a wait-staff when white rice was served instead of organic brown? Have any of you chided Wal-Mart when you could afford to shop elsewhere, but those low low prices were the only way the family down the street could clothe their children? We are kin, and remembering we are kin, we treat each other with the assumption that we bring our best selves to the table. When practicing Grace as spiritual practice, we accept that life does not always give us all things good but we are grateful for all things good. When practicing Grace as a spiritual practice, we do not blame others for the minor inconveniences of a dirty carpet in a hotel or for the wait in lines. We accept humbly that which we cannot change and offer solace in community that things will not be and can not be how we expect them to be.

As Unitarians, Universalists, and Unitarian Universalists we are able to take this notion as our own. From the spring edition of the UU world, author Galen Guengerich wrote:

If we have any sense of mission, we need to be able to say what we believe in language that is positive, relevant, and even playground-friendly. By positive, I mean that we must talk about something other than freedom, which is the absence of something such as coercion. People may be attracted to Unitarian Universalism because we don’t believe in a doctrine they find abhorrent. But they won’t stay because of what’s missing. (People don’t go to Carnegie Hall because of what they won’t hear.)…Why gratitude? Two dimensions of gratitude make it fitting as our defining religious practice. One has to do with a discipline of gratitude, and the other has to do with an ethic of gratitude. The discipline of gratitude reminds us how utterly dependent we are on the people and world around us for everything that matters. From this flows an ethic of gratitude that obligates us to create a future that justifies an increasing sense of gratitude from the human family as a whole. The ethic of gratitude demands that we nurture the world that nurtures us in return. It is our duty to foster the kind of environment that we want to take in, and therefore become.

We are dependent upon one another. We need one another to survive. One truth of human existence is that we are in relation to one another and we can choose to treat one another with kindness and in turn gratitude or we can choose to treat one another with senseless acts of random violence. The principles and sources of our faith point toward our choice. This is my litany of gratitude:
Thank you congregation
Thank you congregants
Thank you church
Thank you faith
Thank you chalice
Thank you Sunday morning
Thank you words
Thank you God
Thank you human spirit
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
This spiritual practice yields instant results.
Grace Happens
Commit Grace, Amen, and Blessed Be.