Advent 2020, December 23: HOLY

Community is Holy.

As a regular spiritual practice, I stop to reflect upon why I do this work (especially when the work requires an extra amount of energy and I’m starting to tire). I think about how much time, talent, and treasure all of you put into it, too. What are the returns? The benefits? Is it anything tangible? We’re not making money or acquiring any fancy bling. It’s not a party or even a social club where we can go to relax with friends. But it is a religious community where we do as much spiritual work as we do spiritual play– and in fact, I would say that the two dance together and the play feeds the work and the work opens us up to the play. It’s not a tangible thing we can grasp, but it creates deep meaning in our lives. And this meaning provides us with motivation for life. All of this happens because we are in community. The community is the holy ground from which our garden grows. We have to work the soil, play in the dirt, and eventually we grow beautiful flowers or even food giving plants. The abundance comes only when we’ve tended to our work and play properly, with enough water, light, and nourishment for life.

And the holy community gives life to us and to those beyond our walls. Here are two living, real examples that happened just this week.

From John Hughes about our 4th Annual Milk and Cookie Communion this past Sunday:

Sunday: I decided to JOURNEY on the UU express

Feeling uptight and wanting to relieve some bad stress

First stop with Momma Rosa, who related a story

about sophisticated Santa, and all of his glory

The children made ornaments of the Christmas star

Saturn Jupiter conjucted, seen tonight from afar

I even had the joy of seeing one of my former Kindergarten students and her family! She’s so grown up now and she so sweetly told me I’m still one of the best teachers she’s ever had. Wow. That’s amazing!

The play feeds the work and the work opens us up to play. And thus, an abundant garden grows from the ground of our holy community. Yes indeed, this work sometimes requires much of us, but it is the work that sustains us and the community we live in.

Happy Holidays and Cheers for the New Year ahead! May it be filled with even more hope, more peace, more love, and more joy!