Unity Spiritual Center of Anchorage

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Unity Spiritual Center of Anchorage
PO Box 240173
Anchorage, AK 99524

War or Peace

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Ugh, there it was again, a post stirring the ‘generation wars’.

I did not engage and write an equally scathing reply with real facts (see, being a minister) but I did question if the poster really wanted to continue that type of discord.

I imagine that the poster was sharing because part of the text was nostalgic, but part of it was also downright mean. And that’s something that we see happening in so many venues and with/against so many groups that I had to say something.

These ‘news’ stories, memes, and alarmist articles about how a particular group has it wrong or is destroying something important is poking away at our personal peace and at the potential for peace in our world. Even though this particular time the folks who were ‘wrong’ and the folks who were ‘right’ were dived by age, we can find countless ways to make someone wrong/different: gender, social or economic status, education, skin color, citizenship, heritage, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, ability, fitness, the list goes on and on.

Why do we want to make someone else wrong just because they happen to be different? This is not a new topic, I have written about it before as have many before me.

The angle that is most interesting to me today is that line, the one that is between we have differences, and you are wrong because you’re different.

Most would call it absurd if my sister and I started calling each other bad, stupid, or evil because we feel strongly about our favorite colors. But is it any less absurd to put down the fans of the opposing sports team? Is it any less absurd to denigrate someone for the spiritual community with which they affiliate? Just because someone chose different than you did, it’s their choice to make. It doesn’t make yours less valid or wrong.

Then there are the things someone’s born with, why does their difference bother you so? Younger people have been having different opinions than the folks older than them for a lot longer than the current ‘throw the millennials under the bus’ trend. People have been falling in love with people of the same gender for a lot longer than recent outrage would suggest. Why does what other people do in their bedrooms bother you? People from all corners of the globe have been moving where there is opportunity and doing what’s best for their families since before recorded time, and the faith traditions of the world remind us to welcome the stranger. Why is there a limit on who can be safe and prosperous?

I have lots of ideas and answers about why we do some of these things, but that’s really not the point. First, it’s a good exercise to consider what’s going on at a deeper level when you see/hear something encouraging you to put some group outside the circle of ‘okayness’. Next is to realize that the emotional energy put into indignation or self-righteousness is not productive to your general wellness or peace.

How can stirring up animosity towards a stranger be helpful? When we say let peace begin with me, it’s in all these little interactions. After all, if we can easily put aside the neighbor who sees things differently that us, how are we going to bridge seemingly bigger differences of global concern?

The media, advertisers, and more make money and continue to be in business because there is a market for what they are selling. Every step we take towards compassion, understanding, and love break down the strength of these ‘warmongers’ and leave us with a culture that reinforces inclusion, acceptance, and celebration.

We can do it you and I.
In peace,
Rachel

Thinking and Resolutions

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As we ring in the new year, you may have noticed the seasonal section of your local store, which just weeks ago overflowed with everything Christmas is now likely exhibiting workout gear. Or, if you go to the gym, maybe you noticed that it’s a lot busier than it was mid-December (or October for that matter).

‘Tis the season for making resolutions and changing your life, according to the cultural cues. However, I’ve noticed as many other have, that often these bold proclamations of change often don’t stick. What is it that gets in our way of lasting change and how can we do it differently?

Albert Einstein famously said: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

But I’m not you might say, I’ve decided to eat healthy (fill in your new habit here). However, this may not be a reflection of a new thinking, but rather a strategy to counteract an old thinking.

If, for instance, we decide we need to eat healthy because we’re fat and lazy, the thinking is about fat and lazy. This thinking is coming from our deficiency, from our lack, or less-than-ness.

What if we decided to shift our food to more healthy choices because we know that these more healthy choices are in alignment with our highest good? What if our choice comes from thinking about our divinity, that we deserve the best because we are worthy.

When we come from our not-enoughness, we will eventually feel constricted by the choice and grow resistance if not resentment. What comes after that?

Well we start having ‘cheat days’ or finding logical reasons to not follow through. And then, we may use that as an excuse to just give up the whole thing because ‘it was never going to work anyway’ or some put-down about ourselves.

But what if we come from our purpose, joy, and divinity? First, we see the new way as a path, not a constrictment. And we see a meal outside our usual healthy choices as a special occasion, and part of the balance of the journey of our life. We don’t give up because we know that we are continually, consciously growing into our best selves and that every step has something for us to learn.

Guilt and shame don’t have a place here because the facts and truth are just that. We can learn, and if we need to make amends, or restore the balance with ourselves or another, we do it. When we come from our enough thinking, we gently redirect any unkind words we may have to ourselves.

This change is a process, we may be aiming towards things in the outer, but the inner work is the real change-maker. This is what spiritual community is for, to be a shoulder and cheerleader to walk alongside as we traverse our biggest journey.

Grateful to walk alongside you,
Rev. Rachel

The Heart of Hope

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It’s been quite a couple weeks we’ve just been through. Mass shootings, ugly politics, the poor and desperate hoping they can get their needs met.

But today, I have hope. Not of a blind optimism that reeks of spiritual bypassing or cluelessness. No, I have hope informed by my excellent week at the Parliament of the World’s Religions. The Parliament was attended by 10,000 people from 70+ countries from over 200 faith traditions. There were Plenaries by well-known folks representing 6 continents and many faiths. There were workshops by people of many faiths about topics relating to their tradition, and educating about topics that effect many.

You might think in a group as huge and diverse there could be discord, but what we experienced was harmony. There was a deep desire to understand, to connect, to learn, to share, to advocate, to make a difference.

Presenters spoke with clarity about the social, economic, environmental, and moral issues we face as a global community. But they did not just speak of what wasn’t working. They spoke of the work that they were doing. They powerfully invoked our thoughts and hearts.

And so I have hope. Because I know that I’m not alone. I know that there are thousands of folks around the world who care about preserving the sacred places on the earth and the environment such as the indigenous people who fight in court, culture, and science for the land. I know there are thousands of folks out there who are standing up and stepping in to help the marginalized such as the LGBTQ advocates and educators who are also faith leaders. I know there are thousands of folks who are welcoming the desperate such as the over 500 churches in the US and Canada offering sanctuary to refugees. It goes on and on and on.

By one of the escalators, there was a display of many ribbons. On each ribbon, someone had written something they don’t want to lose because of climate change. After adding your ribbon, you then selected a ribbon to take with you as a prayer. As I tied my ribbon, I closed my eyes and turned my body, who would I be called to pick up? When I opened my eyes, it was right there, “Polar Bears” it read. It brought a tear to my eye, many of you reading this know how I feel about polar bears (and all bears).

And so I have hope, because I know that there are people out there who not only care about the things that hurt my heart to the edge of tears, but are doing something about it. We are not alone in the work that calls us and there are models for change!

Where to start? I am reminded of the song by Jana Stanfield, “I cannot do, all the things, that the world needs, but the world, needs all the things, that I can do.”

I am probably not going to have the chance to face down a powerful landowner and convince him to not take a child bride as one of the keynotes shared. But I have lots of other chances. I can co-create a welcoming environment to LGBTQ young people in our community. I can help efforts to alleviate systematic oppression in our community. I can encourage and support folks in their spiritual growth. I can make mindful choices about how I spend my money and time.

Finally, I come back to what Alaska Native Larry Murculieff said :“The only place you can get the answer to what to do is to go to the heart.” He also said that the most important thing we can do to solve all the world’s problems is to heal our own heart and focus on what we want to see.

And so I have hope, because as discouraging we may find the news, I know that there are so many more wonderful, passionate, faith-filled folks out there making a difference in our world. Even if they’re not making the news.

 

The ‘right’ path

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Sometimes interactions leave me thinking ‘huh?’

As I was sitting at the coffeeshop today, I had a man sit and talk with me for a short time. He wanted to know if I had had a specific spiritual experience. I asked him what exactly he meant by it, because I know that one person’s language and experience aren’t necessarily the same as another’s.

Once he explained what he meant, I said that I had my own versions of powerful spiritual experiences and that they are a bit more private. This didn’t seem to fulfill his requirements and he headed out. (Really, from his body language it was obvious from the get go that he only intended to stay long enough to prepare his coffee and get his bag situated.)

This caused me further thought about the whole situation. What he wanted was for me to have the same story as his. He had indicated in the conversation that he was clear what was ‘right’. It didn’t take much listening to understand that whatever I was going to say if it was my truth wasn’t going to be good enough for him.

That’s certainly a common way to interact with the world, but I also put forward that it’s not going to move us forward. In the various ecumenical and interfaith groups I’ve been meeting with, not once has someone asked me to pass a faith/experience test like the one administered by the guy today. I am accepted as I am, with the beliefs I have, and the focus is on our shared experiences as clergy and a common desire to improve our community and world for everyone.

What the faith police missed from our interaction is the opportunity for connection. The opportunity to learn about someone, or find common values.

It can be tricky to connect with people we don’t agree with. In a world that seems to want to focus on differences, we can choose something different. There are plenty of times I have had to reach to find common ground with someone, but that doesn’t make them less than, just different.

Someone with a vastly different world perspective or values will probably not become your best friend or spouse, but why not engage in a friendly conversation to learn about each other?

I don’t believe in a ‘right path’ I know what’s right for me, and I know it’s not right for everyone. When I taught Unity classes last week, I told my students that just because they were here in this class, I am not telling them what to believe, but to try it out and see if it does something for them.
So, to the faith police I say this: I won’t conform to your prescribed way, but I don’t ask you to conform to mine either.

Go. Be. Share. Listen. Learn. Shine.

Play Everyday

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As I was walking into the shopping center, I noticed three kids under 7 walking along the narrow ledge between the brick upper wall and concrete foundation a foot high. They were fully engaged and talking animatedly about what was to do next. I commented with a smile to their dad/uncle/caregiver “kids can make a game of anything anywhere” and he replied in the affirmative.

It got me thinking about that simple ease in life where one can use their imagination and a willing attitude to find fun in any situation. My observation is that a lot of ‘grown-ups’ have forgotten this fabulous skill. Remember not stepping on a crack, or only on certain colored tiles as a kid? How about making up games or stories or trying something to see what happened?

There was a time when we didn’t know nearly as much about the world and so we asked a lot of questions and learned from experience about gravity, fire, and the strength of tree branches under a kid’s weight. What the causal observer might call goofing around, was a classroom were we learned things, not only about the world but how to relate to others as well. This kind of free play was also a learning ground about ourselves, our passions, our dislikes, and if we preferred alone or group time.

When we became grown up we got busy doing other things: work, chores, responsibilities, and diversions. That kid who likes to play is still there inside though, whispering to follow your passion while your reasonable mind pushes for another task to finish or easy distraction.

What does all this have to with the spiritual journey you might be asking. The spiritual life is not just about meditation and being nice. It is also about being transformed by the renewing of your mind (Rom 12:2). How does that happen, the renewing of our mind? Well sure it happens in meditation, but the way is made smoother when we are also willing to see the world through new eyes, as a child does. When we let go of things being the way we think they are, we leave room for new knowledge and understanding.

Kids with their natural curiosity and willingness to explore and be joyful are wonderful examples how to walk the world and our own spiritual path.