The Circle of Community

Autumn is upon us, and for some reason in our culture, it seems to speed up the pace of life about double from the slower days of summer. School begins again, our full church program begins again, and what else? Do your work programs move into high gear, as well? Sports for children? Our society pushes us into more and more activities, purchases, information, controversy—even next's years electoral races are beginning now.

For me, it is a good time to remember the importance of spiritual practice—those moments when we slow down to appreciate our lives, offer thanks, focus on what is most important to us, notice what gives us joy and what needs our attention, recommit to what honors the best of our hearts. I remember a story about a Zen master who meditated for an hour every day. “Except when I am really busy,” he said. “Then I meditate for two hours every day.” We need those times to keep our balance.

It is also a time to remember the importance of community—that intangible creation of the many small acts of attention and kindness given by individuals and families who have chosen to be there for each other. When we get too busy we may start to think of church as an item on our to-do list—but it is not a project to be completed. Rather, it is that place of reversals, where what is most important is letting go of to-do lists, to give the gift of presence to each other. Thich Nhat Hanh said,

“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.”

A while ago I wrote a sermon about community, called “Dreaming In Circles.” An excerpt of it has been published in the September issue of Quest, which is the monthly publication of the UU Church of the Larger Fellowship, a congregation without walls for UU's who are not in geographical church communities. It can be read at http://www.questformeaning.org/page/reflecting/dreaming-in-circles or you can listen at http://uucyf.org/clfuunet/podcasts/13_09/Dreaming.mp3. I was happy to be able to share it with a wider circle.

I end it by saying, “When we choose community, when we practice loving a particular group of people, we are letting the reality of the universe enter our hearts—we are learning how to experience the reality that we truly are all part of one another. Of course we don’t always get it right. Otherwise we wouldn’t need to practice. We are not here to try to fix everything in order to create some sort of perfect circle—we are the circle right now, trying to wake up together. Every person is sacred, and we are all one circle.”

It gives me great joy to be part of the circle of Allen Avenue.

With love, Rev. Myke