UUCOC Conversations » Meditation & Reflection

Listen to Our Services – January 10th, 2010

Scott Grey — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 05:58:13 +0000

“Phil Jones Returns”

Australian Musical Mystic Phil Jones returns to our pulpit and continues his spiritual journey with the didgeridoo – an ancient Aboriginal instrument he believes was designed to help master the mind by accessing the window to the soul.

This recording includes songs from Phil’s Divine Chant and Samadhi albums which are reproduced with permission. The material in this presentation is copyright Phil Jones and UUCOC.

Please visit www.philjonesmusic.com to experience more of Phil and his music!

From “Hail Mary/Divine Mother Chant”

” that we may see the face of God
that we may see the face of love
that we may be the face of love “

What is Happiness? an essay by Roberto Torres

Melissa Bartell — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:15:50 +0000

Administrative note: Because of the length of Roberto’s piece, we’ve hidden part of it behind a “more” tag. Please click on the link at the bottom of the post to read the entire essay.

Today at work, conversations summated about the meaning of happiness. A quick survey of some of my coworkers and Facebook pals, detailed that happiness is realizing that you have what you need. Another person quoted the Beatles song is a “warm gun,” spiritual sharing. Others justify happiness by using the word ‘me’, some by the luck of finding money in an old jacket pocket; some are not able to answer. By acquiring the certainty that you are loved, accepted, provided for and protected by someone completely powerful, completely good and all wise, all valid statements; perhaps, individualistic in essence. However, perhaps we are forgetting or do not know what happiness really means.

Aristotle defines happiness as a non-measureable outcome, not measured by money or goods, but by a person who has a balance between reason and desires with moderation. Still an individualistic thought. Aristotle emphasizes every activity has a final cause, the good at which it aims. The good of human beings must essentially involve the entire proper functions of human life. This movement must be an activity of the soul that expresses genuine virtue. The theories and opinions related to happiness embarked on an empty glass that is never filled by conditions and intrinsic worth of our society.

We are changing into a society of acceptance and no fighters of believers of progress. We are emerging into deep thoughts of empty actions. The world is changing around us and we are letting the world pass us by without actions. How can we define happiness if the world is rushing our lives through empty paths without progress and meaning? We have to stop the circle of non-sense and look around.

We want change; however, we lack efforts to enlighten others and teach others so change can start the fruit of development. Acceptance is not an option. We cannot let the world interact next to us instead of us participating in the changes our hearts demand to enlighten happiness. The truth is unknown and the consequences are high. Speak up and let the world know of your beliefs; it is time to speak up and require society to maintain the spark. Happiness cannot be defined because society has grown into an empty stomach of growling consequences of our actions. What we do affects others, what government does affect souls, spirits, and beliefs of a global market; that cannot be happiness. Lives are destroyed to make other lives ‘happy’; that cannot be happiness. People have to die to enhance the liberalism of societies; that cannot be happiness. The congruency of countries to hate and betray to enhance their enrichment for materials sacrificing small souls; that cannot be happiness. The power of religion imposing guilt to enhance the opportunities to meet God; that cannot be happiness. The condemning of so-called ‘unvirtuous’ souls for sexual attraction; that cannot be happiness. The growing of envy and hate that we as a society have to condemn and kill to maintain dignity; that cannot be happiness.

Happiness is not just a simple word in the dictionary. Happiness is not just the definition of a philosopher to maintain congruency among dialects and societies. Happiness is a diverse and dichotomy of beliefs and meaning depending on the individuals’ soul, spirit, past, present, and future outcomes. Happiness is what people believe they are entitled to obtain just to be humans within a society or culture. Happiness embraces equity and is a symbol of community; a community full of love and faith that search to enhance the well-being of others through justice, compassion, and open hearts.

During the holiday, it is time to commence a new paradigm of remembrance in which society grows together as community without lines of differences and attainments of hate and make an improved definition of happiness. It is time to remember our pioneers of love such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Jehovah, Jesus, Buddha, Maoma, or whomever you believe was placed in this planet to spread the words of community love. To fight for what happiness really is, to enhance the lives coming behind us and prepare the path of their lives with seeds for continued cultivation. Let us learn and capture the events of society to enhance our spirits, our souls, and our own independence into a community. Let us learn to enhance the bright movements and colors of our planet and conserve the beauty of that magnificent space that caresses our bodies every morning when we wake up. Let us regenerate the synergy of love for others, regenerate life and influence with our words, actions, and thoughts. Let us make a decent contribution to the real meaning of happiness through cultural sensitization, learn from community needs, from the vulnerability of the souls and the intelligence of humanity. Let us share the abundant fruit of our hard work into social justice and fight for what is right.

Love must be part of happiness. If love is missing from one’s spirit, soul, or life, happiness is an incomplete redundant word in the dictionary. Let us move, discover, and fulfill the life of others by spreading and teaching happiness. As Aristotle said, “happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim, and end of human existence.” Our experiences of happiness will integrate our souls and spirits when our purpose of life and human existence is shared with others’ souls.

Building Lasting Relationships

jace_donaldson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:07:25 +0000

by Susan Biali, MD

Source: Psychology Today

I frequently talk about relationships as one of the most important contributors to your health and happiness. And it’s not just your closest relationships – the number of social contacts you have in your daily life, period (including the bank teller and your neighbor down the street) are directly associated with your well-being.

I’m an introvert and could happily spend long stretches of time working and hanging out at home, without interacting with anyone other than my husband and our dog. Though I love people and deeply appreciate my friends, I don’t have a strong drive to regularly reach out to others. I’m terrible about calling people, and can easily let long stretches of time go by without connecting. This hasn’t got anything to do with whether or not I like them, I’m just not very socially oriented. That said, I’m increasingly aware that given the health and happiness benefits of time with other people, it’s in my best interest to override my anti-social tendencies and spend more time with others.

Last week at church, the sermon was about three elements that are required to create a better relationship with the divine. Listening, I realized it was good advice about creating a better relationship with anyone who is important to you.

Here are the three points, with my take on them:

1) Notice and act on your desire to connect with others

Whenever you think of someone, or spend time with someone, and feel a desire to spend more time with them in the future, make note of it. You might meet someone new who you really like, or hear a song on the radio that’s your uncle’s favorite, or maybe you run into an old friend on the street. In that moment, you may be struck by how much you enjoy that person and feel a desire to see them again soon. What do you do when that happens? Like me, do you file it away in your mind, forget and then after five years pass by, ask yourself: “Has it really been five years since I last saw Jenny??”

When you feel that desire to spend more time with someone, act on it. Make a date for lunch, even if the next possible opportunity is a couple of months or a year away. Pick up the phone and call them when you think of them, just to say hello. Send a quick Facebook message to let them know you were thinking of them.

2) Spend ”real” time together

Speaking of Facebook, I heard someone comment the other day that though it’s so easy to “keep in touch” with people these days through social media comments, emails or text messages, it’s not the same as real time. Don’t let the fact that you’ve had regular brief contact with someone online replace face-to-face or voice-to-voice time. If you find it hard to find time, get a Bluetooth headset or speaker for your cell phone and make calls to friends from your car while you’re driving to and from work. Take it from me – you’ll wonder why you ever spent so many hours listening to that rush hour radio program!

3) Make a special effort that demonstrates your commitment and caring

Life moves so quickly these days and though we may network or socialize with many people, we don’t necessarily get to know them on a deeper level. As our pastor said in his sermon: “Relationships don’t develop automatically and don’t deepen on their own – it takes effort”. Be conscious of this in your relationships, and think about what efforts you can make to deepen your connection with people who matter to you. What kind of effort would be most significant to each individual? Some people don’t care about birthdays (or actually hate being reminded of them), while others feel slighted if they don’t get a phone call or an e-card. Pay close attention to what other people value, and make the effort to connect with them on that level.

Make time for people in your life, especially the ones that you love the most and the ones that make you laugh the most. If a hermit like me can do it, you certainly can. In fact, last night after a long day of work and flamenco dance rehearsals, I dragged myself all the way back into town to go to a friend’s birthday party because I know that her birthday is important to her. A group of us had dinner, ate heaps of rich flourless chocolate cake, and then went out dancing. I had the time of my life. In retrospect it’s quite funny that I thought I was making the effort just to please my friend. When we’re good to our friends and family, we’re really taking care of ourselves.

Balancing Work & Rest

jace_donaldson — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:32:59 +0000

Every now and then go away, have a little relaxation, for when you come back to your work your judgment will be surer. Go some distance away because then the work appears smaller and more of it can be taken in at a glance and a lack of harmony and proportion is more readily seen. –Leonardo Da Vinci

Fact of the Day:

Last year, fewer than half of all Americans took a week off or less for vacation. Compared with the five weeks of paid vacation Europeans get, Americans seem woefully overworked and under-rested. Doctors have been researching the ill effects of too much work, and some claim that a lack of vacation can have real health consequences. Dr. Sarah Speck calls the stress from too much work the new tobacco and says that vacations are an important way to reduce stress and burnout. While a recession may seem like an odd time to push for more vacation time, many experts in the field point to a variety of benefits of vacation. [ more ]

Be The Change:

Consider the balance of work and rest in your own life — is it time to make room for more relaxation?

source: Daily Good

Activity/Challenge – Finding Your Inner Kid

jace_donaldson — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 05:27:59 +0000

I read an article tonight that inspired me & gave me pause. It dealt with the radical notion that children should be bored – from this boredom stems great creativity and innovation. It made me think of my own adult life, and how schedules, email reminders, and errands have taken much of the natural joi de vivre out of living. We can still attain that, but most of it must be manufactured – which is fine, as long as we’re doing it. Here’s a link to the article:

http://www.parentaltech.com/2008/06/technology-vacation.html

As adults, we are overly preoccupied with work, schedules, family life, (for some) school, house cleaning, etc., and far too easily distracted with television or horribly wonderful inventions like Facebook & MySpace in the event we do get bored.

It’s no secret that letting loose is good for the soul and the mind. So, I hereby challenge all you readers out there to an activity that will hopefully help you find your inner kid.

(I know tomorrow’s Monday, but roll with me on this.)

Turn off the TV. Shut down the computer. Leave your cell phone on the table. Take a bowl (any will do) and go outside. Not right outside the door – really outside. Go for a walk around your apartment complex, neighborhood, or yard. Look for interesting, weirdly shaped/colored/textured rocks & leaves. Seriously, stop to take 30 minutes (or 15, whatever) to really look at little things in your own little environment like rocks and leaves. Find ones with cool colors, weird shapes, odd textures…turn off the virtual reality, and defer for a quiet moment t othe wonder of nature all around us.

Bring the bowl back when you have plenty – no rules here, how many ever you like is fine. Take a moment to look through them again, all together. You can toss them back out, or give them to your kids to make a project with some glue, or save the leaves for homemade cards (seriously, I did this for a friend’s birthday once – it took maybe 20 minutes to do and meant more than any Hallmark).

I remember doing this type of stuff as a kid, when I didn’t have to dream it up as an activity – it was just a neat thing to do. I often find myself at odds with time wasted on the computer or sitting in front of the TV. Bored? Nothing on TV? Turn it off. Nobody commenting your latest status update? Log out.

The point here is, this costs nothing. It requires nothing more than what most of us used to naturally do. So, if you’re up for something out of the norm – DO THIS! And take/post a pic on the church’s Facebook Wall, or email them to oakcliffuu@gmail.com when you’re done and I’ll post them here! Let’s say, by next weekend.

I’m going to do this tomorrow, since I took the day off. Happy Monday, & happier trails!

What We Need Is Each Other

jace_donaldson — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:40:23 +0000

We have a calling. We are the people who know what we need. What we need surrounds us. What we need is each other. And when we act together, we will find Our Way. –John McKnight

There is a new worldwide movement developing, made up of people with a different vision for their local communities. They know that movements are not organizations, institutions or systems. Movements have no CEO, central office, or plan. Instead, they happen when thousands and thousands of people discover together new possibilities for their lives. They have a calling. They are called. And together they call upon themselves. This beautiful article by John McKnight celebrates the power of what our institutions cannot do — but that we can and must do together. [ more ]

Be The Change:

Practice the three universal and abundant powers that Mcknight outlines as the heart of a movement: the giving of gifts, the power of association and hospitality.

Reflections on Pride

jace_donaldson — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:24:10 +0000

by Jase Donaldson
oakcliffuu@gmail.com

The impending GLBTQ pride celebration in our fair city has given me pause to think about the nature of the celebration, and my own thoughts on “pride” as it relates to those of us in the GLBTQ community, as well as Unitarian Universalism.

June is traditionally recognized the world over as “Gay Pride Month,” inspired by the historic Stonewall Riots in New York City in June 1969. However, in Dallas, we hold our GLBTQ Pride Parade and Festival in September. For those of you unaware why, it actually isn’t because of the June Texas heat (which isn’t much better by September).

A brief history to honor the legacy of this important event: In 1983, the Dallas Tavern Guild (the not-for-profit organization of GLBT nightclubs) moved the parade from June to the third Sunday in September and renamed it the Texas Freedom Parade in honor of Judge Barefoot Sanders’ ruling that first negated the Texas sodomy law. In 1991 the parade was named in honor of Alan Ross, at the time the Tavern Guild’s Executive Director and a tireless advocate for GLBT rights and AIDS. That year, the parade became the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade. This year’s parade is the 26^th annual, held Sunday September 20^th, and carries the theme “Your Rights, Our Rights, Human Rights.”

Though we may visibly celebrate with our GLBTQ brothers, sisters, and allies in September, I challenge each of us to celebrate our own unique “pride” every day. But, what is pride exactly?

Pride can be defined as:

A feeling of self-respect and personal worth
Satisfaction with your (or another’s) achievements – He takes pride in his son’s success.
The best of a group, class, or society – This bull is the pride of the herd.

As each of us gather together for Sunday service, weekly activities, or events such as the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade, let us remember our own individual pride, and the pride in the successes of those around us. Let us respect our own unique, authentic selves, and realize our own personal worth and what we can offer the world, while we continuously recognize the inherent worth & dignity of those we interact with.

Let us strive to be the best of our own group(s) – the best friend, the best neighbor, the best citizen, the best parent/sibling/child, the best Unitarian Universalist, the best human being that we can be. Let us all reach to become the pride of our own individual herds – not in a boastful, brash, competitive way; but rather in an earnest, nurturing, loving way that communicates to others our own value systems as well as their personal worth to us.

As with the Freedom Parade, Pride is sometimes but one day (or perhaps a few) set aside for us to gather together and commune with our own true selves and the ones we love. It is a day where we can let our hair down, shout to the world that we are here and are to be respected & loved, and to respect and love others if they’ll only allow us to. Let us rejoice in this ever-growing, colorful, diverse celebration of our GLBT brothers, sisters, and/or friends, but let us also go out into the world with a sense of pride in our homes, our families, our communities, our church, our nuclear and extended tribes of all types, and be proud of our differing backgrounds, our unique heritage, and the ties that bind us ever closer with one another.

Further reading:

The UUA and Homosexuality

UUA Welcoming Congregation Program

UUA: GLBT Community

Dallas Pride