So called Talk Back is easier for some clergy than others, I sort of enjoy it. Ten years of leading history classes using the socratic method can teach one to see the spirited discussion about a topic a creative interchange.

But it is always bad for the congregation. It keeps them small, inner oriented, clubby. Worship is not a class room.

A few monthes ago a seminarian at my church persented a sermon, and it’scentral theme has resonated with a lot of people about what our UU spiritual practice (at least for Sunday mornings) should be.

Show up, Listen, Respond with Love..

I’m sorry these discussions have brought you down. I’ve felt pukey and discouraged on occasions after discussions of race in UUism, and in those instances I tend to withdraw and do other things. Hopefully you will, to quote Nietzsche, “become bright again.”

Also, I will try much harder to offer less critique and think more with my heart when others are sharing their spiritual practices.

Prayer beads seem to me to be a perfect fit with UUism. They can be purchased or made by hand out of many materials. They can be used for prayer, or simply held in the hands during meditation.

I designed a set of beads in quartz crystal and colorful glass. I felt it should be simple and elegant, comfortable in the hand, large enough to afford a decent period of reflection for people who pray one bead at a time, but small enough to be inviting to novices and children. I made a three-panel leaflet summarizing the many religious traditions incorporating prayer beads, and offering usage suggestions for theist and non-theist UUs.

I put the beads and the leaflets out on a table during an evening event at the church. I got a VERY wide range of responses. Many people were good-naturedly curious, and stood at the table long enough to scan the leaflet — but didn’t take a copy. Many never got past the word “prayer” in the leaflet’s title. They either glazed over or huffed off. Some were openly contemptuous and shockingly hostile.

One gentleman returned to the table several times. He read the entire leaflet on the spot, then carefully folded a copy into his jacket pocket. He picked up the beads, put them down, walked away, came back, picked them up again, left, returned, and did this for two hours.

The experience, on the whole, was quite harrowing for me, and I haven’t tried it again, but I still think UUs of all stripes could benefit from incorporating beads into their practice.

Of course, there were lots things that were taken for granted with the Presbys. I do miss terribly the focus on taking care of the poor that the presbys I grew up with have, though the Faithful Fools are probably right to point out that taking care isn’t the whole answer.

Still, my mother’s life’s work is low-income housing, mostly because she percieves that Jesus told her to. (Not literally.) And there’s something awesome about that, something I didn’t really appreciate until I left the Presbys and joined someplace else.

CC

I’m also not making any broad statements about disrespect of ministers. My illustration about talk-backs was to highlight the difference between reflecting together in a shared way on a source of religious meaning vs. coming into the boxing ring from different corners, ready to swing it out for the sake of a good semantic debate that often leaves people’s most tender feelings and intutions smashed on the ground of intellectual gamemanship.

I know – no one is forcing me to read UU blogs. I guess enjoying them is one of my yields to temptation. In my defense, I have no way of knowing how much distress it takes to write with such coherence and wit.

PB may be interested in the discussions of Christian Vegetarian Association members at http://www.christianveg.com. She may relate to the feelings of isolation these Christians often feel within their own churches, and pick up some tips for pleasurable AND compassionate eating, too.

Here’s a message posted there yesterday:

“I’m sure that many of us could relate to ‘I thought for so long that I was nuts or over sensitive or just had too much empathy for my own good.’ It’s so great to have found a community like the CVA. I am, like so many others, more than ready for Jesus to come back and put an end to all suffering. My hope is that with time, most of churchgoers will embrace a compassionate and loving lifestyle, one consistent with our faith and Jesus’ teachings. I already see a glimpse of this, in the CVA growth, pastors speaking up on behalf of animals, theologians raising awareness, philosophers, etc. The vegetarian “movement” is gaining momentum and that can only mean good news for all creation and more glory to God.”

Lorena