Dear ones,

Our thoughts and prayers go to the victims of yesterday’s attack at the Boston Marathon.  We hold them, their families and friends in our hearts as together we grieve this tragic act of violence.  May those injured find healing and may all find compassionate support.  We give thanks for all the courageous acts of care people are offering one another as we recover our affirmation that within every human is a spark of the divine.

The finish line of the Boston Marathon is just blocks from our Unitarian Universalist headquarters.  We understand from President Morales that, as far as we know, all UUA staff are safe.  We hold in our prayers all our fellow Unitarian Universalists, all the people of Boston, the people from around the world who gathered there for Patriot’s Day, and all of us for we are all touched by this attack. 

“I call that church free,” wrote Unitarian Universalist Theologian James Luther Adams (1901-1994), “which enters into covenant with the ultimate source of existence…which brings individuals into a caring, trusting fellowship…It is open to insight and conscience from every source…the goal is the prophethood and priesthood of all believers.”

In a free church, each of us can articulate our beliefs, and our beliefs are encouraged and refined within a caring, trusting religious community.

Among recent emails, we received this message from our daughter Laura.  You’ll see that she asks big questions.  We sat with a small circle of family and friends, and each took a turn giving our responses to the questions.  We send these questions on to you.

You are dear to us and we are glad to be on this journey with you.

We’ve been imagining one way to think of the journey of life and the steps along the way.  In Sunday Services, eight members have spoken on their spiritual journeys, each speaker focusing on one step.  The eight steps on the journey include ~  Show up, Practice, Grow, Serve, Go Forth, Give, Create, Love.

Showing up, being present to your life, to the people in it, to Sunday Services matters.  Showing up generates creative, loving energy.

Practice breathing, listening, noticing how you feel, speaking the truth in love.  Such practices go a long way to making a good relationship with yourself and with others.

“I see paradise in my mind’s eye.  If you see it too, come, sing with me.”

A dear friend used to sing this “zipper” song.  Gathered people would create the verses.  People would call out phrases of what they could see and imagine in paradise. 

The song would continue “I see old and young in my mind’s eye.”

“Love and justice”

“Children laughing”

“Flowers blooming”

“Hearts opening”

“Waters flowing”

“Friends creating”

As our community creates together a mosaic River of Life, we are creating an image of paradise.  As we sit round tables, picking up pieces, gluing them in place, shaping the design together, we are becoming beloved community.