The word minister means servant.
It also means to attend to the needs of; to care for someone
Divine
a dated synonym for minister or clergy
divine also meaning theologian
Teacher- to instruct someone in something
who can teach beliefs lead worship services
I didn't announce it to a whole room full of people at first. I was doing the work of making meaning in my life. And then I had to sit back and contemplate. The contemplation with myself kinda went like this.
So you are gonna do what now?
I don't know. I just think about twenty years of social justice work and maybe 5 years of externalizing my anger about society; where I fit in it and how nothing has changed and I think. . . . This must be a moral problem.
You can't do that.
Why not me? Rev Lillie even said she thought I had a calling for this.
Ha! Yeah and then you got married in purple.
That was probably a sign . . . but she told me not to worry about it.
So why now? and here? Really? Have you seen you?
I need something more. It's not about money. I'm not going to school again and I thought I had that settled a while back about comparing the superficial to the substantive. Yes, there are few African-Americans in this mostly white denomination. I read Mark Morrison-Reed's book. I know the stories about how it has been tried and failed and still. . you know he does it. And so do many more.
Why not me? Maybe me, because I have journeyed this particular road between worlds of black and white and middle class, working class and more. Not a lot of people have lived that. I can see now, more than ever that we all need each other. We have to get past this.
Plus, many UU Churches have more than one CLM. I would welcome someone else to do this. There's so much to be done.
Yeah, but Girl, you know you got issues?
Yes, but so does everybody. And I can. I do. And I am.
You know, my affirmation: I am human and divine and I have faith in my ability to succeed and I know that my possibilities are infinite.
There you go with that Iyanla stuff; you know people are not gonna take you seriously with that. . .
Well, her books are a part of spiritual practice. I do journaling and reading all these books- modern day mystics, you know?
I incorporate the words into my living. . . I make the possible real. You know, that's a quality of my Myers-Briggs personality.
And I am a rare type.
Eyes roll.
Plus, I've been reading My Chosen Faith by John Buehrens and Forrest Church. There is room for the transrational.
Say what now?
The transrational. . . synchronicity, metaphor, Jungian Archtypes, stories. . .
A person can be so rational that they give up the Mystery of life. . . the wonder and awe felt and unseen. . .like taking walks at the park. You don't have to be a liberal fundamentalist, you know. Anyone can make idols out of an idea and worship it and act like there is nothing else that is to be learned. It is a kind of arrogance and self-righteousness.
New information. . novelty, learning, adapting in the present to the present.
Yeah, uh huh, I'm listening.
This is about living a life that is more spiritually centered. It's like I read in the book, Spirituality is about keeping your heart open through hell.
Hell, huh? Well, you might just be in for it.
Seriously!
I'm learning new ideas all the time as well as affirming what I value. Freedom to be authentically me.
I don't know how much more you. . . you can be or if folks will stand for it. . .
Ok, ok, ok. Let me explain it this way. I am a free thinker. And I can live a principled life where I can have an open mind. I am released from any doctrine. I can keep the teachings from my Christian heritage that are life-giving and enhancing while foregoing that which is unhelpful. And I can learn from many sacred inspirations.
You know, people aren't going to like that.
Well, there are people in the world who are uncomfortable with many different things. People who only see this or that, black or white, people who see ambiguity and are comfortable with it. There are many different world views.
What I am seeking is that which is life-sustaining in the present.
Oooo, girrrl! What are you talking about?
You remember that Sunday when I did a workshop on forgiveness based on books by Iyanla Vanzant and Desmond Tutu?
Oh yeah... that was good. I had to go back and review my notes on that one.
Well!!
Ok. . . I get your point. This is a religion? Really?
Yes!!!
But do you have to be a. . what do you call it?
Commissioned-Lay Minister?
Yeah. . . that. . .
Well, I like studying. . . . And there's a whole list of books about Unitarian Universalism that I must read and I'll have a mentor who is a minister... serving. . teaching. . .
Grandma, always called me teacher. Plus, I like hanging out with the ministers.. . . learning stuff.
Geek!!!!
Whatever. I'm doing it.
