No Angels? Look harder.....

This morning I awoke from a puzzling dream, with the words, "No Angels? man asked with disappointment," running through my mind.

It was a quote from my subconcious, and it got me thinking about angels. Sometimes these vivid dreamed phrases will be connected to a recent conversation, often one held just before bed. But.. no angels? I sat quietly with coffee to contemplate its meaning.

For me, the word angel has almost no theological connotation. It describes a mythical "being," a kind of helper of God. But we know that people use the word to talk about other humans that are still living, and to describe the fate of departed love ones. I did write a homily about angels once (but not last night), and learned that there is a great deal of overlap, confusion, and misinformation floating around. My favorite quote from the sermon was, "Angels, once relegated to Heaven, have undergone a second incarnation as knick knacks." They serve a certain purpose.

Well! If THAT sort of angel doesn't exist, is there a word we can employ to talk about people who come into our lives, teach us something, and depart, often too soon? Mensch is close,but not quite right. New-agey folks might say teacher or guide. Whatever we call them, their presence has an eerily prophetic and predetermined quality about it.

I was having a brief conversation with my Membership Director not long before sleeping. She mentioned a man who had joined the church and then withdrawn his membership after one week. We wondered together what could have turned him off so quickly. I hadn't gotten to know him personally, but he did fill out some surveys about the Sunday worship and left a comment or two on my blog and/or facebook.

One in particular haunted me. He scolded me for being what he called irenic about the issue of gay rights. I gradually acknowledged that he was right; in fact, his words led to my decision to take part in next week's Human Rights Campaign Clergy Call. It's been too long and I've been too quiet.

So, if I called people angels, I'd call him one. Funny thing is that his name was Peter.. not properly an angel, of course, but often depicted as one, since he "works" for God. Angel, teacher, prophet, mensch: your message was received by this mortal. Thanks.

Earth Day, UUA & a Missed Opportunity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9IdmbtQDUU



This is a man, singing here with the late Odetta, who is a treasure in my hometown. He has an internationally syndicated radio show, Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour, and we are blessed to be able to go to the live tapings here in Lexington, KY.

His name is Michael Johnathan.

He's not a UU, but he loves Henry David Thoreau, and a few years ago he wrote a charming play based upon what might have happened during Henry's last few days at Walden Pond. The play is full of direct quotes from Emerson and Thoreau and hence, makes an accessible, enjoyable, and entertainig way for young people and all people to "get" the gist of Thoreau, even if they didn't "get" his writing.

You can learn a lot more about the play, the DVD, the thousands of schools that Michael has made it available to free of charge, by visiting http://www.waldenplay.com/

Last year Michael approached me and asked whether I'd help him connect with the UUA, to encourage them to either be a sponsor, a supporter, or simply a contact point through which UU churches could be a part of this project. I did try, but my many calls and e-mails were either politely put off, or went unanswered. Too bad...

Michael and his staff sent DVDs and promtional materials. They heard nothing back.

The UUA missed an opportunity to reach hundreds of thousands of people in local communities with a message that directly connects us to the arts, education, history, environmentalism, and more. Maybe there was someone I should have talked to that I didn't, but it shouldn't be that hard. Michael, his assistant Anna, and I really tried. The one person who was gracious and gave us encouragement was Keith Kron.

Let me tell you what people are like in Kentucky. When they give their word, that's enough. When they ask for your help, and don't get what they hoped for, they still treat you well. I have been given so many generous invitations and favors by these people that I feel a bit ashamed. I didn't promise him anything on the UUA's behalf, but I thought someone would at least give him an ear. I guess lots of people come to the UUA wanting money & lots more, but when he said he didn't even need money, he meant it.

Last Sunday, Michael played guitar and sang at an Earth Day service at our church (believe me, he has bigger fish to fry!) even though he'd broken his thumb the night before. He was gracious and excited as he talked about the many UU churches that had ordered the play. They did a direct mailing, and I hope you have received it! This is a quality way for you and your church to connect with your communities & become known for so many aspects of UUism's "good stuff."

At the very least, order the free materials and share them through your Lifespan RE program.

I'm not dissing the UUA! I support the UUA, and I know that WE are the UUA. But I wish the people who are in charge of this sort of thing had done their jobs more humanely. I keep talking about how it doesn't matter to be politically correct or environmentally sensitive if you treat people like crap, because people are part of natural resources, too. I keep looking at the list of sponsors who are there along the side of the web page and imagining the UUA among them.

All I can do is try to make sure I don't dismiss others as easily. I can think about how and when I have done so and try to make amends. Meanwhile, enjoy Michael Johnathan, Woodsongs (you can listen on line http://www.woodsongs.com/) and Walden!

Did Anybody Notice...

...that the whole pirate/hostage thing went down right as Easter and Passover were being celebrated?



As nice, safe people in warm,clean churches and synagogues and comfortable homes were speaking of freedom, bondage, renewal, and hope, all of these were playing out for real in the waters off Somalia.





The whole idea of pirates, and the nearly utterly defenseless position of merchant vehicles, both fascinates and horrifies us. Yet, we are always almost that defenseless against life's tragedies and terrors. We are just more able to prettify and pretend we are safe.


There is an essay by Mary Oliver that captures this sense of the tension this world offers us: horror and beauty, safety and fear.


"The world where the owl is endlessly hungry and endlessly on the hunt is the world in which I live too. There is only one world." (Mary Oliver, "Owls")


I thought about her words when I heard the chief of the rescued crew say that the world of the ocean, the world of shipping vessels, is one world. There are, he said,"a global community.....", no separate nations at sea. All humans who ply the seas are connected.

Nothing about the pirates is glamorous or romantic. They are desperate, completely disenfranchised people whose despair we can probably never understand. But somehow in the words, coming from this sailor, were a powerful glimmer of hope:



This is one world.