Joy-Theft is Real: Keep it Safe!

It is so important to not only seek out joy but to live in it. There is so much in this life that can bring us joy. There are also moments, events, and people who can knowingly or unknowingly steal our joy at times. We must hang on to our joy at all times. 

I got a little bent out of shape earlier this week. I was being challenged by a very close family member not just on my beliefs but because I do not believe the way the majority of the people believe in my family. This very thing pops up at least 2 or 3 times a year and it is tiring. It happens. Most of the people in my family are Southern Baptist – you know, the people with all the answers (pardon my attitude). I then vented about it on Facebook only to delete the post.

As Unitarian Universalists, we find comfort in our Faith knowing that no one persecutes us within our organization's walls where beliefs are concerned. We are hoping that others outside of our walls will not bring us spiritual injury – but some do. Sometimes we let them. Sometimes we walk away. Sometimes we stay and argue. I think for those of us who take UUism to heart, we truly do work to respect each person on his or her path – even those people who are so dead-set on converting the world to what he/she believes. We respect each person’s path – even those who are out to bring us spiritual harm. 

As a former minister in the Christian faith, I had to be quite vocal in advising this family member that while I find value and merit in many of the teachings of the Rabbi Yeshua (or Jesus), most of the teachings from institutional Christianity I discarded a long time ago. As one who still keeps Christianity tucked away as part of my spiritual history and part of my dualistic spiritual path, I had to explain that I am not a literalist when it comes to sacred text.

The literal teachings of heaven and hell, Satan, the Second Coming, the Resurrection of Jesus – these are areas that have always challenged my mind. I am just not sold on these areas of belief. Whether these things exist or whether these events have happened or will happen are of very little interest to me. I do not say that with arrogance or to tout disbelief. I say this because it is not something I wish to invest in. I have never understood it.

Just as fundamentalist Christians enjoy picking and choosing which verses from the scriptures they will use to abuse others with or exercise privilege with, I have taken delight in picking and choosing which ones make sense to me or are relevant to my personal path. Modern day interpretations certainly have infiltrated and bastardized the original translations from the original Greek. The same is true from my Earth-centered beliefs. I do not consider myself Pagan or Shamanistic, even though a lot of what I believe and practice draws from those systems (and my spouse and I were married by a Shaman). I do not call upon a God/Goddess/Lord/Lady, for example. But it is my Agnostic self that takes over in most instances – allowing me to question, seek, learn, draw from others, and yet not be so quick to label particular aspects of the spiritual.

It is interesting how many religions focus on death and the afterlife – the preparation for such in the earthly life. Growing up in Christianity – this is all I ever heard about. Getting one’s “soul right” with Jesus/God was the hot topic. Living a life of sacredness coupled with fear were ingredients of spiritual discipline. And I tried HARD to do all of this. I tried HARD to understand it. I even went into ordained ministry to see if I could get it to work. I prayed. I went on retreats. I underwent spiritual counseling. I met with bishops and priests in my faith to discuss it to get it “right.” I just always felt like I was staring at a blank wall. That always made me feel guilty – especially since I eventually wound up with a collar around my neck and a congregation to care for. Meanwhile, I was bleeding to death inside.

It is for these reasons alone that I find comfort and draw strength in Unitarian Universalism. In UUism, I’m not the oddball in the room (just one of many!). In UUism, I am not looked down on because of what I believe or how I believe it. This is expressed each Sunday when Atheists, Agnostics, Buddhists, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Pagans, and other Seekers all come together under one roof to share Common Ground at the local UU meeting house.

A dear friend of mine said to me this week to not let others steal my joy. What is interesting is that when I have provided spiritual counseling to others I have advised them of the same thing. The teacher becomes the student. And all of us – ministers and laity alike – need to be reminded of these simple truths. Joy is something that is precious – like a fine jewel – that can be easily stolen if not protected. This protection comes from knowing yourself, standing in your personal truth, and not allowing the outside world with all of it various beliefs and cares stab you in the heart. It will try to wound you, convert you, rob you – but you hold the key to true love and joy. I was thankful for that reminder this week. It was what I needed to hear.

As you go about your journey this week, I wish you love, joy and peace in all things. I wish for you mindfulness. I wish for you comfort and serenity – even when it seems like there is so much turmoil or negative energy rustling around near your feet. The Buddha reminds us that “You have no cause for anything but gratitude and joy.” Let us focus on that. Let us think about the things in our personal lives, in our communal lives that bring us that to that state of gratitude and joy.

Namaste/Shalom/Blessed Be. 

What Do You Seek?

I am a spiritual person. I love metaphysics, the use of runes and cards, and the mystical interpretation of nature, psychic and medium energies, the quest for the divine, the search for truth in all things. I love liturgical Christianity from my Catholic and Episcopalian roots. I love the mysticism of Celtic paganism and in the green magick of Wicca. I love the essence and wonder of spiritual flow in Native American forms of spirituality. I love the study and meditative response to the Kabbalah. I delight in the human energy and connectedness that Humanism teaches.

As one who truly identifies as ‘universal,’ I look for new opportunities in shaping my path. I love the term seeker. I think most of us who try to be chimed in to our spiritual selves are truly seekers. We may each have different definitions for this term based on our uniqueness and personal experiences. We each may be seeking totally different things – God, a sense of belonging, truth, the meaning of life, to be in total harmony above all things. But we are seekers nonetheless.

I think that is what draws me to Unitarian Universalism. UUism provides me with so many tools and resources to help me shape my path. And just as paths have forks in the roads along with twists and turns, I know that my spiritual path is no different. This is apparent as I was once an ordained Catholic priest (which lasted for four years when I resigned at the age of 32…10 years ago). While I do not regret my becoming a priest – because that was part of my journey then – I also do not regret expressing my underdeveloped path at that time.

Now in my forties, I would like to think that I am more developed spiritually than I was at 28 when I was ordained to the priesthood. Something that I am very interested in as a certified spiritual counselor is helping individuals develop his/her unique spiritual path. Maybe that is what I was shooting for by becoming a priest 14 years ago. I have always cared about people – where they are spiritually, what their rationalization is, and helping them find the tools and resources to strengthen this aspect of their lives.

A very dear friend of mine grew up in the Episcopal Church. We sang together in the choir for a short time. As we were growing older, I found myself in the Orthodox Catholic faith (and sneaking over to a Unitarian Universalist fellowship while in seminary) and she found herself embracing paganism. When our paths crossed again (at a Native American drumming of all places) she asked me if it was possible for her to be both pagan and Episcopalian. “Absolutely!” I exclaimed.

Too often, I feel, we become too exact with what and how one must be regarding religion, spirituality, and the like. I don’t care about rules and qualifying identifiers when it comes to this aspect of my life. I am Earth-Centered, enjoy certain elements from my Christian roots, respect my Hebrew ancestry, and yet hold certain Humanist ideas in the midst of all of this. It works for me. I make no excuse. I know that 20 years from now when I am in my sixties there may be more layers to my spirituality. But that is exactly what it is – mine. I can customize it how I see fit.

Despite my serving as a minister years ago, I truly love being part of a lay-led Unitarian Universalist congregation. I love the organic nature of the parish. I love how we work as a group to decide what types of programs we would like to take shape in the life of the congregation. I love how we embrace all forms of spirituality – whether it be a derivative of religious-based spirituality or that of the human spirit. We truly do covenant together to support one another in our individual journeys – no matter where that may lead. 

One of my favorite mystics of our time, the late ThomasMerton (who was a professed Trappist Monk as well as a teacher in Zen Buddhism) said, “We have what we seek, it is there all the time, and if we give it time, it will make itself known to us.”

I believe Merton’s words to be true. I believe that each of us – whether we be Catholic, or Pagan, or Atheist, or Agnostic, or Muslim – are all on a journey to either perfecting what we know or on a journey to figuring it out. The beauty is that we are in the process and we recognize the process. We allow the process to develop over time. It is not something that takes shape immediately – despite epiphanies or specific moments we may encounter along the way that may bring us immediate inspiration. That is what being a seeker is about, in my opinion.

It is this journey where we create sacred spaces for ourselves. It is this process that we see the temples within each of us being built. Joseph Campbell once wrote “Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again.” The beauty of this statement brings an awareness that many of us have felt lost or unsure of particular religious systems or beliefs we once belonged to as a child or young adult or even most of our lives. Your journey, your space, your truth – these are the safe places where you can go to and where you can be free.

As you continue on your journey, despite what may be thrown your way, I invite you to stand in your truth, allow yourself to flow with the current – or even swim against it, and allow your spiritual self to develop according to your understanding. I invite you to study, research, listen to your mind and heart, to not be solely persuaded by others, and pay attention to the beauty in nature and in the human connection. As you continue to grow, as you continue to seek, I invite you to give yourself the permissions that you need to be on this journey – knowing that your journey is unique, personally customizable, and deserves your full attention. There is no specific way to develop your path other than how you plan it out or how you allow it to take shape organically. Let us remember that all that we seek is already planted deep within us. Let us welcome the growth within.