December 4, 2019
Happy Advent!
I am excited and grateful to share this season with you. Whether you celebrate the holiday as a progressive Christian, celebrate Hanukkah as a Jewish person, or simply enjoy the pagan and earth-based ancient traditions meant to brighten the time of impending cold and dark, I invite you to look for new and nourishing ways to increase your own (and others’) peace, joy, and appreciation of beauty in places, things, and people.
Here’s a nifty collection of UU Advent readings that you can use to broaden your knowledge! Just open the UUA.org site to find today’s selection or download the whole PDF document and enjoy it. I learned today that Currier of Currier & Ives was a Unitarian! It can be argued that Unitarians and Universalists are responsible for many of the modern “Christmas” traditions that we practice today.
I must admit that I struggle through this time of year. Many tragedies befell my family during this season. I’ve probably had more “Blue” Christmases than glowing ones. But I’ve learned that if I allow myself to become self-critical, or to try to do too much to negate my sad feelings, things get worse!
I make mistakes and I grow less able with the passing years to do the tap dance this season requires. I must stay aware of my own tendency to judge (myself most of all) and to become, instead, my own ally and champion. I’ve been using a meditation app that is very helpful in getting me to stay focused and to do what is most important. The one I use is called “Calm,” but it costs money and I understand there are others that are free.
I enjoyed reading this blog entry by a colleague. It reminded me that we all have “off” days and moments. Particularly since I discovered that I was still ruminating over everything that didn’t go as planned this Sunday, my first Family Service at GNUUC that I thought I was so well prepared for. There were exactly TWO children and I’d planned the service to be inclusive and geared toward our youth and having them take part. The slides, which I’d worked WAY TOO LONG on, weren’t organized as they probably should have been, and my script for following them wasn’t helpful. Let’s just say I learned a lot! Later, I discovered that a check someone had handed me for the Discretionary Fund had gone missing, and had to ask the donors to stop payment on it. So… when I saw on facebook a link to “The Worst Sermon I Ever Preached,” I was delighted! The reality is that I have a community of colleagues who are there to listen to and comfort me.
The Worst Sermon I Ever Preached
All of this is a way of saying that I hope you can help me, and join me, in giving yourselves a break, accept all of your flaws and imperfections, even when the expectations for yourself and others goad you to keep up or do it all. I’m grateful for the forbearance and patience you have all shown me as I get accustomed to how things work here at GNUUC. I have found you to be a fabulous group of people, and one I can brag about with complete assurance!
And, if the season brings sadness, melancholy or grief to you, know you are not alone. You can reach out to me, to our Lay Pastoral Care team, or to another friend or family member that you can trust to listen and be present to your feelings.
We are community.
With Love,
Cynthia