Thoughtfulness, Social Justice, Chaplaincy and Staying Present – Life as a UU Pagan

Last updated on: August 31, 2015 at 5:00 am by Maggie Beaumont

Thoughtfulness, Social Justice, Chaplaincy and Staying Present – Life as a UU Pagan 2015-08-31T05:00:19+00:00 Maggie Beaumont

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

via Leanne J on Flickr.com

This coming Sunday’s sermon, in the UU congregation where I am a member, will be about justice – economic justice, immigration justice, the idea of a just harvest. Our senior minister will be joined in the pulpit by several other people, each speaking about immigration, borders, and fairness, from their particular experience.

Knowing this minister, I think we’ll be invited to take specific actions toward making things better for the migrant workers – many of them undocumented – who harvest the food we eat. There may be actions offered at various levels of commitment and risk. I bet we’ll be asked to step up with more courage than we imagine we have.

This is one of the things I deeply appreciate about Unitarian Universalists – the denomination’s serious commitment to social justice, the activism that actually gets things done by so many congregations, and even the good intentions of those congregations that are less active. The thoughtfulness and care that go into our discourse about difficult topics in the society in which we live.

Before that, on Saturday evening I’ll be celebrating the Moon with the coven of which I am a member. I’ll be listening to the voices of Clarity, Truth, Intuition, Wisdom, and Spirit. I’ll be calling the Light of the Goddess into the chakras of my body and honoring the Light of the God.

I keep trying to write about how these two disparate events go together for me, but the words won’t come – or what I mean is, what I write doesn’t seem to make sense.

The Witch stands by the window, laughing quietly at my discomfort.

“You keep trying to be logical. But you are a feeling human, swayed constantly by waves of emotion no matter how much you imagine you are thinking rationally. Don’t talk so much about the facts. Talk about what you are feeling.”

So, okay.

As August comes to a close I am feeling a bunch of things.

I have all the excitement of a good student about it being Back to School time, because beginning on Monday I will be a Chaplain Resident at a major hospital, offering spiritual companionship, pastoral care, and loving support to patients, and in between times studying how I can do that more and more effectively – for them, for me, and for The Divine in whatever way That shows up.

I have some of the terror of a poor student about going Back to School, too; it’s been a decade since I held a fulltime job, but now I’m committed for a year of full-time plus a lot of overnights on call.

Nowadays I have pride and shame in almost equal measure.

I’m ashamed of the things I meant to do this summer that remain undone, some of them important (at least, to me) and a few of them essential (ditto). I’m ashamed of the deadlines I have let slip. I’m ashamed, too, of having acted hastily and hurt someone I care about. And of lacking a clear understanding of what to do about that.

I’m proud of the work I’ve accomplished this summer, and especially of the artwork I’ve created – a few paintings, a little sewing and crocheting, and a loom half threaded (so far). I’m proud, too, of my lack of judgmentalness about any of that. These days, creation seems to be more about ‘process’ than ‘product,’ so though some of my work is better than others, I’m happy with all of it.

I’m sad about the frequent reminders that this body is on the declining end of life, and I’m often frustrated at the things I can’t do anymore. Occasionally much more frustrated at the things I can still do, but can no longer do well.

I’m pleased about my growing ability to be present, and focused, in the moment, with less and less attachment to ‘what I meant to do’ or ‘what I had planned.’ Even less attachment to ‘what I had expected.’

I’m comforted by the amount of likeminded good fellowship I receive from my UU congregation, from my coven, and from my chaplaincy colleagues.

I’m enthralled by the continuing relationship I have with my familiar, a domestic shorthair feline just three years old this summer. Just now she is trying to remind me that it’s late, and I’m tired, and I said I would be asleep at a time a bit before this. How does she know it’s past my bedtime? I don’t know, any more than I know how she is able to tell, to within just a minute or two, when it’s five o’clock and time for evening catfood. It is sufficient that she does know, and demonstrates her impatience clearly. As she is doing now, having just taken careful aim and thrown exactly one pen off my desk.

And so, even though I have demonstrated no thesis here, it must be time to say goodnight.

The Witch reads over my shoulder, nodding her head occasionally. I wait while she turns the page. She puts her hand on my shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze. Then she kisses the top of my head and disappears.

Good Night, and Blessed Be.

Unitarian Universalism

Previous Post

August 28, 2015

A Floridian's View: Separation of UU & Pagan

Next Post

September 4, 2015 Seeking Divinity in Darkness

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Current Events CUUPS Press Release Interfaith liturgy Media Review podcast Religious Education Seasonal Reflection Spiritual Practice Summary Uncategorized

Select a Month July 2026 June 2026 April 2026 January 2026 December 2025 October 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 February 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz