Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Revolutionary Love
I am not what you would call an active church-goer. I was raised in a faith and still believe in it, but do not feel that I must attend church regularly to practice it. That and I have started coveting my weekend free time since I have gotten so busy during the week.
For some reason today was different. I got up and did my usual leisure morning routine and checked out the websites for the two Unitarian Universalist fellowships I sometimes attend. They both had interesting sermons going on today, but one of them was in 15 minutes and I hadn't even taken a shower yet. So I opted for the "Revolutionary Love" choice. If you don't already know, Unitarian Universalism is a pretty liberal, activist kind of faith. The description of the sermon conjured Che Guevera in the best possible way. While I had some reservations, I decided it would be fun.
I was completely blown away. I don't even feel like I could come close to doing the talk justice by trying to repeat it. Luckily they are available on MP3. Unfortunately, the last sermon on the site was from January 20. So I'm not sure if this one will be listed, since it was a guest speaker. Charlotte is too lucky. When I was in college there, they were in their interim minister period and I only wish they had found Rev. Melissa Mummert sooner so I could have had the chance to hear her each week.
She spoke of the power of love not just in romance, but in the ability to change the world. She referenced her personal experience in ministry with incarcerated women that brought me to tears. She successfully produced a documentary about it. She made each person feel the "I am one, but still I am one. Although I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." She tugged on the heart strings and hopes of making the world a better place for everyone, and she empowered each person to hope and to act in love.
I don't think this could have come at a better time for me. My job and my personal life have been a little tumultuous lately, but I have been doing what I can to make it better. This last week held a good deal of transition, anguish, and of course hope for the future. Life just seems so much more full of possibility when it is based on love-- love for one another, for humankind, love for the earth, and love of life and opportunity.
This may all sound too lovey-dovey, but I'm ok with that right now.
"Never doubt that a small group of committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead
For some reason today was different. I got up and did my usual leisure morning routine and checked out the websites for the two Unitarian Universalist fellowships I sometimes attend. They both had interesting sermons going on today, but one of them was in 15 minutes and I hadn't even taken a shower yet. So I opted for the "Revolutionary Love" choice. If you don't already know, Unitarian Universalism is a pretty liberal, activist kind of faith. The description of the sermon conjured Che Guevera in the best possible way. While I had some reservations, I decided it would be fun.
I was completely blown away. I don't even feel like I could come close to doing the talk justice by trying to repeat it. Luckily they are available on MP3. Unfortunately, the last sermon on the site was from January 20. So I'm not sure if this one will be listed, since it was a guest speaker. Charlotte is too lucky. When I was in college there, they were in their interim minister period and I only wish they had found Rev. Melissa Mummert sooner so I could have had the chance to hear her each week.
She spoke of the power of love not just in romance, but in the ability to change the world. She referenced her personal experience in ministry with incarcerated women that brought me to tears. She successfully produced a documentary about it. She made each person feel the "I am one, but still I am one. Although I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." She tugged on the heart strings and hopes of making the world a better place for everyone, and she empowered each person to hope and to act in love.
I don't think this could have come at a better time for me. My job and my personal life have been a little tumultuous lately, but I have been doing what I can to make it better. This last week held a good deal of transition, anguish, and of course hope for the future. Life just seems so much more full of possibility when it is based on love-- love for one another, for humankind, love for the earth, and love of life and opportunity.
This may all sound too lovey-dovey, but I'm ok with that right now.
"Never doubt that a small group of committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Om
It's my new mantra. Yoga is really the only thing holding me together today. I'm so glad I started Yoga. It reminds me of my philosophy and religion classes in college and just thinking about bigger things than me and my little day-to-day worries.
I love my yoga class. I go to this studio that is pretty private and authentic. It is very meditation-focused and my yogi likes to teach us something new about the theory behind yoga each time. I am the only non-Indian person there, so he keeps looking over at me to see if I get it. I'll have to go early next class and tell him that I was brought up Unitarian Universalist and knew more about Buddhism than Christianity when I was 10. Not to mention all of the philosophy and religion classes that I took and oh yeah, the trip to Tibet and the Potala Palace. But he's very nice and considerate to me. I particularly like the focus on meditation and bringing awareness to control of your own reactions. It's a little post-Freudian psycology too (I know the guy's name- it starts with an S- but cannot for the life of me remember it right now).
So when I wake up at 5am starting to think of all the things I have to get done in the day and try to remind myself not to forget "X," I've started going into the exercise room and doing my yoga series. I start with a few sun salutations and then go into various poses. I started getting the Yoga Journal lately, and that's given me a wider variety to choose from. I usually only get to about 4 or 5 poses before either my alarm goes off and I go to get ready for the day or I give up and move into deep relaxation.
I'm so looking forward to next weekend, though. I go to Blue Lotus Yoga Studio for their partners yoga class. I have a friend who is about the same size I am and so we are well matched. We only did 1 "flying" pose last weekend, but are assured to do more in the next class. I had so much fun it doesn't even feel like exercise. So that's what's probably going to keep me sticking to it. That and I have to meet for a class. I just can't let myself skip out when people are expecting me.
So I guess, in the end it does just come down to me me me. :)
I love my yoga class. I go to this studio that is pretty private and authentic. It is very meditation-focused and my yogi likes to teach us something new about the theory behind yoga each time. I am the only non-Indian person there, so he keeps looking over at me to see if I get it. I'll have to go early next class and tell him that I was brought up Unitarian Universalist and knew more about Buddhism than Christianity when I was 10. Not to mention all of the philosophy and religion classes that I took and oh yeah, the trip to Tibet and the Potala Palace. But he's very nice and considerate to me. I particularly like the focus on meditation and bringing awareness to control of your own reactions. It's a little post-Freudian psycology too (I know the guy's name- it starts with an S- but cannot for the life of me remember it right now).
So when I wake up at 5am starting to think of all the things I have to get done in the day and try to remind myself not to forget "X," I've started going into the exercise room and doing my yoga series. I start with a few sun salutations and then go into various poses. I started getting the Yoga Journal lately, and that's given me a wider variety to choose from. I usually only get to about 4 or 5 poses before either my alarm goes off and I go to get ready for the day or I give up and move into deep relaxation.
I'm so looking forward to next weekend, though. I go to Blue Lotus Yoga Studio for their partners yoga class. I have a friend who is about the same size I am and so we are well matched. We only did 1 "flying" pose last weekend, but are assured to do more in the next class. I had so much fun it doesn't even feel like exercise. So that's what's probably going to keep me sticking to it. That and I have to meet for a class. I just can't let myself skip out when people are expecting me.
So I guess, in the end it does just come down to me me me. :)
Monday, February 4, 2008
Return from Sabbatical
Hello again. So 6 months later is a pretty good time to pick up writing my blog again. Let's see, in the last half year I got a new job, successfully pulled off my first golf tournament, my sister got pregnant, I went to Arizona for Christmas, started yoga, and now I'm renewing my blog posting. I think it's the yoga. mmmm Zen mmmm.
So the real reason I haven't written is that I've been pretty frustrated with life lately. It's cycled between work, family, friends, etc. Seems like they can't all be good at one time and usually one was keeping me going while the other two were seriously stressing me out. So no one wants to hear whining and orneryness, so I held off on the blog-posting.
But now I'm back! It's not perfect, but it's manageable and I want to share my excitement. Also, tomorrow is SUPER TUESDAY and you better believe I will be a the polls bright and early. GO VOTE!
Also, if you haven't seen it yet (or heard about it from me), please check out shelfari.com. It's the BEST semisocial networking site out because it's like an internet book club. I am always craving new books to read and my friends are usually pretty good judges of what's good, but the discussion doesn't just come up in everyday conversation. I've been going through a new book about every week or two and people get a little annoyed at me constantly asking for book recommendations. So I have found my answer.
That's all for my first night back. Will update soon. I'll go email you all now and let you know that I'm writing my blog again. Thanks for reading.
So the real reason I haven't written is that I've been pretty frustrated with life lately. It's cycled between work, family, friends, etc. Seems like they can't all be good at one time and usually one was keeping me going while the other two were seriously stressing me out. So no one wants to hear whining and orneryness, so I held off on the blog-posting.
But now I'm back! It's not perfect, but it's manageable and I want to share my excitement. Also, tomorrow is SUPER TUESDAY and you better believe I will be a the polls bright and early. GO VOTE!
Also, if you haven't seen it yet (or heard about it from me), please check out shelfari.com. It's the BEST semisocial networking site out because it's like an internet book club. I am always craving new books to read and my friends are usually pretty good judges of what's good, but the discussion doesn't just come up in everyday conversation. I've been going through a new book about every week or two and people get a little annoyed at me constantly asking for book recommendations. So I have found my answer.
That's all for my first night back. Will update soon. I'll go email you all now and let you know that I'm writing my blog again. Thanks for reading.
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