Last week, the day before Thanksgiving, I started work early and didn't stop for lunch so that I could get off early and begin my Thanksgiving holiday early. Little did I know that the day would take a devastating and surprising turn. I was finishing up my charting in my car of the Harris Teeter parking lot waiting to get some last minute items for Thanksgiving, when I received a call.
The call was from the secretary from the church I grew up in. And although I am no longer a part of their church, denomination or even religion, I was called because there was a pastoral emergency and their church minister was out of town. A family that I have known for several years suffered a tragic loss. A child, not quite four months old, died suddenly. I went straight to the hospital and spent the next couple of hours with the family in the midst of raw, painful grief. As a Hospice Chaplain turned Hospital Chaplain turned Hospice Chaplain again, I've been around this type of situation before. But it was different being with people I had known for so long. More proof that my yearning to be a Parish Minister is the right choice for me.
Tomorrow, I'm assisting in the Funeral Service. I'm nervous, but honored. May the service begin a healing process for this family as they grieve for the unthinkable. Blessed be.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Good Fit Thus Far
Short note dropping in to say that Hospice has been a good fit so far. I have been healing from my previous hospice work, been getting to know my colleagues, and been doing caring work that connects me to people. I've really appreciated the practicality and openness of my boss, and HER boss. And I adore that I'm still in a ministerial role and get to discuss spiritual thoughts, pray, listen, and be with people. Soo grateful.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Unapologetically Myself...
...or at least trying to be.
When I was an über conservative Christian, I shared my faith all the time. I proudly wore cross jewelry showing off my faith before even saying a word. I lived my faith. Shared my faith. Was proud of it for the good news I believed it to be.
But now I have a different faith: Unitarian Universalism. And I believe it is also good news. News that some people really need to hear. News of a progressive, open, loving faith. A faith that doesn't think that people choose to be gay, but are born however they are born. A faith that promotes and is active in social justice. A faith that believes that multiple religious paths can combine into one personal spiritual journey.
One of the main differences between my current faith and my previous faith, is that my previous one was a mainline religion. People know of it, have their own beliefs regarding it, and probably their own stereotypes about it. But when people ask me about my faith now, there's this moment of "What did she just say? Unitar...Unit...what?" that crosses their faces and is often expressed in their words. So I, like many other Unitarian Universalists, have my "elevator speech" handy explaining my faith.
A part that hurts my heart is that my faith is treated poorly by many; disrespectfully and with scorn. And it's looked down upon, especially by those who are confused because I once knew the "Truth" (capital "T") as they believe it. But more than that, I sometimes feel guilty being UU because it is deeply embedded in me that Christianity and Jesus as the Christ is the only way. But I don't believe that. And feeling this guilt makes it hard to share my faith. However, I have witnessed some incredible Unitarian Universalists...colleagues, peers and mentors...who are so incredibly proud of our faith and who share it unapologetically. They are my role models and inspiration.
In the past month, I had a conversation with a woman I went to seminary with. V and I were talking about an everyday something at first, but ended up talking about our current geographical locations. I live in the Bible belt and she lives in Texas. And in each of these locations, we are not a part of the religious majority and find it difficult at times, especially because she chooses not to attend any religious body of worship. And then she said something that warmed my heart and choked me up. I'm paraphrasing, but she said that the way I talk about Unitarian Universalism made her want to try the local UU Congregation where she lives; that who I am as a religious person is the kind of faith person she would want to be.
It's become a goal for me to "be me" and embrace all of who I am in the various arenas of my life. For the most part, who I am on Facebook is the me I try to be. Granted, I feel safer and more open sharing my faith, political, and social views from behind my keyboard. But it's a jumping off point to become braver and more comfortable elsewhere. And I'm working on it. This blog is just another step at embracing myself for who I am, what I believe, and how I want to live my life.
So thank you for reading as I make one more effort to become unapologetically myself.
When I was an über conservative Christian, I shared my faith all the time. I proudly wore cross jewelry showing off my faith before even saying a word. I lived my faith. Shared my faith. Was proud of it for the good news I believed it to be.
But now I have a different faith: Unitarian Universalism. And I believe it is also good news. News that some people really need to hear. News of a progressive, open, loving faith. A faith that doesn't think that people choose to be gay, but are born however they are born. A faith that promotes and is active in social justice. A faith that believes that multiple religious paths can combine into one personal spiritual journey.
One of the main differences between my current faith and my previous faith, is that my previous one was a mainline religion. People know of it, have their own beliefs regarding it, and probably their own stereotypes about it. But when people ask me about my faith now, there's this moment of "What did she just say? Unitar...Unit...what?" that crosses their faces and is often expressed in their words. So I, like many other Unitarian Universalists, have my "elevator speech" handy explaining my faith.
A part that hurts my heart is that my faith is treated poorly by many; disrespectfully and with scorn. And it's looked down upon, especially by those who are confused because I once knew the "Truth" (capital "T") as they believe it. But more than that, I sometimes feel guilty being UU because it is deeply embedded in me that Christianity and Jesus as the Christ is the only way. But I don't believe that. And feeling this guilt makes it hard to share my faith. However, I have witnessed some incredible Unitarian Universalists...colleagues, peers and mentors...who are so incredibly proud of our faith and who share it unapologetically. They are my role models and inspiration.
In the past month, I had a conversation with a woman I went to seminary with. V and I were talking about an everyday something at first, but ended up talking about our current geographical locations. I live in the Bible belt and she lives in Texas. And in each of these locations, we are not a part of the religious majority and find it difficult at times, especially because she chooses not to attend any religious body of worship. And then she said something that warmed my heart and choked me up. I'm paraphrasing, but she said that the way I talk about Unitarian Universalism made her want to try the local UU Congregation where she lives; that who I am as a religious person is the kind of faith person she would want to be.
It's become a goal for me to "be me" and embrace all of who I am in the various arenas of my life. For the most part, who I am on Facebook is the me I try to be. Granted, I feel safer and more open sharing my faith, political, and social views from behind my keyboard. But it's a jumping off point to become braver and more comfortable elsewhere. And I'm working on it. This blog is just another step at embracing myself for who I am, what I believe, and how I want to live my life.
So thank you for reading as I make one more effort to become unapologetically myself.
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