What Difference?

Today I decided to walk somewhere different – a new route. The old route was getting too familiar – I found myself looking for the usual landmarks along the way, watching for the cracks in the pavement that could trip an unknowing walker. We all get in ruts – grooves that don’t allow for new possibilities. I do, for sure. Taking a new route adds the element of surprise – forces you to be more aware, more awake to life.

So I took off in the opposite direction, across a field and through a grove of young trees. The ground was wet from the rains we had over the weekend – and I had to change my path along the way to avoid the swampy ground and unexpected streams that crossed my way, as well as the “presents” left behind by animals that had strolled along the same path. It kept me on my toes, literally. I loved walking through the fallen leaves, dry now, rustling under my feet, blocking out the sounds of the lawn mowers and barking dogs along the way.

I was contemplating today’s sermon at First Unitarian by Rev. Josh Snyder – “What’s the Difference?” It’s one of the most important questions our Board of Trustees needs to ask (in my humble opinion) and yet it’s hard. And the way we have asked has not engendered much interest. As I was told last week, “it’s boring.” Turns out, at least from the perspective of that person, it’s how we ask that’s boring. Time to get out of that rut. Time to ask some different questions in new ways.

I am reminded of an email I received from my adult daughter last week. From time to time, she sends us the quotes she finds inside the lid of her bottle of tea, when she thinks we’ll find them interesting. This week’s quote was by John J. Plomp – “You know children are growing up when they start asking questions that have answers." Here’s what she had to say about it: “I'm not quite sure what to think about this one, or if I agree with it. It seems to me that a lot of the things young children ask -- things like, 'Why is the sky blue?' -- have very interesting answers, and a lot of grown-up people ask things that are complete nonsense. On the other hand, you have brilliant adults who keep asking questions like children, ones that don't have answers *yet* (but could); and while they've managed to keep an open-eyed perspective, I still wouldn't say that they're not 'grown up'. I like to think that I can be a grown up and still ask questions whose answers can't be found on Google or Wikipedia, or might not even be the same for everyone.”

So let’s try this question. What difference do you hope Unitarian Universalism – and specifically First Unitarian – will make in the lives of your children or grandchildren? I hoped that my children would be comfortable asking the big questions of religion and life, as a result of attending our UU church. I hoped they would be prepared to make objective decisions on ethical issues. And I hoped that they would have respect for people who look different from them, believe differently from them, love differently from them, and think differently from them. When I hear my children having conversations like the one in my daughter’s email, I know that Unitarian Universalism has made a difference in their lives.

As I walked today, I was struck by the grove of trees I was passing as I crossed through the field. I suddenly woke up to the fact that these are the trees that were planted by First Unitarian children in the mid-1990’s – just seedlings back then. Some seedlings died, undoubtedly, but many have grown strong and tall. What difference did planting those trees have in the lives of those children? In the lives of their parents and their teachers? In the lives of the people in the community who now enjoy their multi-colored leaves of autumn? Being aware of the difference we want to make will help us to focus on programs and activities that will make it so.

In faith,

Nancy

Who among us is a born leader?

I am taking a web-based training course with other leaders from my Unitarian Universalist congregation and in our district on nurturing growth in congregations.  This week we discussed the importance of leadership to growth of our congregations and the question was posed, "Who among us is a born leader?"  Silence.  Why is that?  Everyone in the program is a leader - probably born leaders.  Are we just modest and don't want to say it out loud?  Are we afraid someone will ask us to do ONE MORE THING!

I'm a born leader.  Not something I say out loud much, if at all.  I credit my niece Katie and her Facebook entries with reminding me it's OK to set modesty aside to say this.  How do I know this?  For as long as I can remember, even as a young child, people have come to me for perspective.   People say "when she speaks, people listen."  I'm dependable and committed to those efforts I choose to lead or engage in.   Integrity is one of my "absolute" values that guides me in my day-to-day life.  I love the big picture - envisioning the future - and I'm good at assimilating various perspectives and data into something people can understand.  I try hard to listen to others and consider their points of view. And for whatever reason, I seem to like to take on crazy challenges - at work, at play, at church.  There are some aspects of leadership that are not innate for me - risk taking, mental toughness, and conflict management to name a few - and I'm working on them.  I have my attachments which can get in the way of good leadership - like wanting to be right.  Like everyone, I have lots of room for personal growth.

At church, as in my life outside of church, I am influenced by many wonderful people.  They are leaders, too, although some of them don't know it.  They are young and old alike, in positions of leadership and self-proclaimed followers.  They are our youth and our children.   They are our ministers, our staff and our volunteers.  They are on our Board and in our pews.  THEY SHOW UP.  They are diverse in their beliefs yet share a common faith and passion for making a difference in our world - however small it may seem.

Are you a leader?  I'm guessing you are.  And our congregation needs you and your unique skills and passions.  Together we can make such a difference for so many people.

Thank you for showing up.

In faith,

Nancy