Easter is a difficult holiday for Unitarian Universalist ministers. Most of us don't believe in the literal meaning of the holiday, but we appreciate how very important it is to our Christian neighbors and colleagues.
But, I think we all can relate to the story. Surely all of us understand what it is to be crucified -- to be filled with such dispair and lack of hope that we indeed feel forsaken. Surely we also can all resonate to the hope of resurrection -- of rolling back the rock and finding a new hope, a new sense of life, a new beginning. The crocuses on our lawn today in 32 degree weather offer the hope of certain spring, if we can just be patient.
Frederick Buechner, a Presbyterian minister, wrote this about the truth of the Easter story:
…We have it in us to be Christs to each other and maybe in some unimaginable way to be God too—that’s what we have to tell finally. We have it in us to work miracles of love and healing as well as to have them worked upon us. We have it in us to bless…and forgive…and heal…and once in awhile maybe even to grieve … at another’s pain and to rejoice at another’s joy almost as if it were our own….on this side of Paradise, it is our business…to speak with our hearts…and to bear witness to, and live out of, and live toward, and live by, the true word of the holy story as it seeks to stammer itself forth through the holy stories of us all.”
May this season of hope bless us all.
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I spoke at Harvard last week and am off today to Indiana University to be one of the plenary speakers at the Kinsey Institute's conference on sexuality research. More about these talks to come.
2 comments:
Easter blessings to you, Rev. Debra. I think the concept of "ipse christus" is a beautiful one, as well.
A colegue of mine (actually the person who hired me) retired last week after 40 years working here at the same firm. Your words about being 'Christs to each other' came out in her last official email to me and other collegues who celebrated her moving. If you think its appropriate for your blog, please share her words with you and your readers. I found them very inspiring. She states:
" Who we are is a result of our professional and personal experiences that we have along the way, both good and bad.
I am very happy with who I am.
I have all of you to thank for participating in who I am today.
Since I am not known as a person of a few words, I feel compelled to leave you with some final thoughts:
Ø Share your knowledge and help others grow and you will reap the benefits of their successes.
Ø Believe in yourself and never compromise your principles.
Ø Do the best that you can and strive toward perfection.
Ø Treat others as you would want to be treated. (I think I am plagiarizing this one)
Ø Contrary to popular belief…Nice guys do not finish last. In that final judgement day they go to the front of the line.
Ø Be sure that all your success is based on your accomplishments and never at the expense of others.
With all of that said…I want to wish you all much success (note the last bullet above) and happiness in all you do."
Peace, love and courage....
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