We grieve yet another week that has held terrible tragedy and gun violence both near and far. Why do we humans have to use our power for destruction instead of connection?
And still there is joy for our UU religious pluralism for so many different holy days and holidays celebrated by the diverse array of amazing and resilient humans around the planet.
We do not know how to resolve the seemingly intransigent conflicts that are hundreds or dozens of years in the making except to keep loving, keep sharing, keep being curious, and keep opening our hearts, turning towards one another until day unto day we build actual real beloved community.
Today, we share a slightly adapted (for gender inclusion) Hanukkah prayer written by our Jewish UU colleague, who also happens to be one of the first out gay ministers to serve our denomination, the Rev. Marko Belletini.
N’vakeysh et nitzotzot hanefesh matzitey m’orey ha’eysh
Let us seek the unseen sparks that kindle the greater lights.
1. The spark of just one person beginning to forgive himself or herself, or themself and behold, that person begins to light up with peace.
2. The spark of just one person beginning to forgive another, and behold, two people begin to light up with peace.
3. The spark of several persons getting together to address an issue of injustice in the neighborhood, and behold, the neighborhood begins to light up with peace.
4. The spark of the neighborhoods taking the city that cradles them seriously, taking the city as a whole, not fragments… and behold, a whole city begins to light up with peace.
5. The spark of religious people cooperating with each other, and learning to work side by side despite their very real differences, and behold, the whole county begins to light up in peace.
6. The spark of compassion tempering legislation meant to shore up the powerful, and behold, the whole state begins to light up with peace.
7. The spark of the people actually determined to take their national government seriously, so that they are not ashamed to begin to expect honor, quality and respect instead of cynicism, tawdriness, apathy, and legalism, and behold, the whole nation begins to light up in peace.
8. The spark of nations and peoples daring to embrace each other and cooperate, rather than hating each other on principle, and behold, the whole world would be brighter than a whole sun of peace.
Barukh atah, Source of Life, origin of the mystery of light! As a great and illuminating fire begins from one small spark, so may a great light come from these small candles, and our little lives. Amein.
May it be so,
Rev. Lynn & Rev. Wendy