This past Sunday, we joined UU congregations virtually around the country in celebrating the end of a week at General Assembly. To those who represented UUCE in the business portion, THANK YOU! I encourage those who didn’t attend to check out the website with updates on resolutions and Actions of Immediate Witness.
In the closing worship sermon by Rev. Jen Youngsun Ryu, there were several things that spoke to me and led me to deeper contemplation. I would love to hear your thoughts on what she said too, so please feel free to share.
Rev. Youngsun Ryu began by referring to Ece Temelkuran, a Turkish journalist, who said that we are grieving in future tense – that we are grieving not only what has been lost in our society, but what will be lost in the future. “Aha!” I thought to myself in realization to something I have felt quite a bit in the last few years. I am wondering if this is across generations, or is it more relatable by older, baby boomers, or perhaps by the younger, Gen Z population? My own adult children (Millennials) have a feeling of “what’s the use of trying”, which I understand and yet am frustrated to hear. They were raised with parents who have always been engaged in social justice and participated in many of these while growing up. How do I as a parent and educator, and we as a congregation, help to alleviate the pain and effect this grief has on so many?
Further into her sermon, Rev. Youngsun Ryu spoke to this by saying that we need to step back from doing all that we UUs do in our efforts to create a just world by being in a space that poet Aurora Levin Morales terms as a “gap one breath deep”. Making time and space, whether one breath or one hour. Take a moment here and just picture this. Think of those 30-second ads that come on TV with nature sounds and scenery…so refreshing they are in the midst of the others that are trying to sell something!
Rev. Youngsun Ryu continued by saying that our “gap” is made sacred by our intentions and promises and they are molded by our spiritual practices of worship, small groups, and deep study – which are all part of our faith formation. And there is the answer to my question above! By creating space and time to sit in the gap, to worship together, to share in small groups, and to learn and reflect on all that makes us human beings, we are creating a path that can lead to transformation and growth and lesson the pain and grief that we carry. These are the ways we help our children and youth too.
My last takeaway from Rev. Youngsun Ryu’s sermon connects to this as well; that when we meet like this we’re “strengthening the immune system of humanity”, a term coined by Mark Nepo. Strengthening the immune system of humanity…through worship, small group ministry, deep learning…faith formation.
There is more hope, right here.
In Faith,
Kathy
