Monthly Archives: June 2011
Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?
Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? By: Paul Gauguin, 1897–1898
“Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going? Mystery. Mystery. Life is a riddle and a mystery.” These questions rest at the crux of spiritual reflection and religious identity. They are each very different questions, but together they create space for individuals, communities, nations, and the entire world to journey down a road towards enlightenment.
These questions are of particular importance to me, as a Unitarian Universalist, because this year marks the 50th Anniversary of the merger between the Unitarians and the Universalists. Each with rich, long histories of liberal religious theology and social justice ministries in this country, Unitarian Universalism stands today at a very unique crossroads, one that allows us to, in ways, avoid some of the mystery and consider the true possibilities of what the next fifty years may look like. Read the rest of this entry
Odds and Ends (Part 1): Cleaning Gutters as Spiritual Practice
After graduating on Sunday, which consisted of a wonderful time with family and friends, I have spent the last few days in Appleton, Wisconsin, with Hattie and her family. Hattie and her parents work during the day, which leaves Ian, her brother, and me to do little odds and ends around the house in preparation for Ian’s Graduation (from high school) Party which will be this coming Saturday. I do not mind the work; in fact, I appreciate it because it is both a change of pace from academic and extra-curricular work (interfaith leadership, UU leadership, etc.). Upon reflection, these odds and ends are neither odd nor ends: they are the means through which I can evaluate and even out, or balance, my psyche, heart, and soul, as I move into this summer of great transition.
I want to reflect on one of these activities, as it has had a rather powerful impact on me over the past few days: Cleaning Gutters. The Bertschausen Home has a window on the second floor that measures about seven inches fully opened (or at least that was as far as I could make it open). By crawling through this space one could make it onto the roof, where the gutters not rigged with leaf guards could be accessed. I looked at the window with the ladle like scoop that Roger lent me to use in my hand, then down at my 6’1″, 180 lbs. frame. I repeated this a few times, as if by magic this would make these two pieces seem more compatible. Now or never. I stepped on the chair and crawled head first through the window. Read the rest of this entry
The Legacy of Spirit and Service: Reflection on the 2011 Baccalaureate Mass and Leadership Recognition Ceremony
With Hattie Bertschausen at Awards Ceremony
Yesterday was a very spiritual and powerful day for me, as it was the last day I would see many people whom I have spent the last four years with at DePaul University. This weekend is about being with family and those who have supported us along our way to graduation. Tomorrow is about celebrating the hard work of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Class of 2011. I look forward to this day now more than ever because of the events that took place yesterday and the effects they had on my heart and spirit as I approach graduation.
The two events were the Baccalaureate Mass and the Leadership Recognition Ceremony. Both of these events had distinct purposes, aesthetics, and meanings to the students who attended them. For me they represented two parts of my extra-curricular career at DePaul University (and outside throughout these years), namely spirituality and leadership work. Each have been and will continue to be integral to my formation as a Unitarian Universalist minister, but also as a global citizen of this world. Read the rest of this entry
Life Transitions (Part 2): Communities of Support
A couple days ago, I commented on the state of transitions in this country, namely how we, as a collective people, view and prepare for changes in our lives. In that article, I discussed some concerns I had about how our social structure fails to embrace this change and effectively prepare individuals who are going through transitions, ranging from coming of age to graduation to death. My hope is to reflect in this article on ways to make this transition more beneficial for all.
I write this as I just completed my last final exams at DePaul just over an hour ago. It is a time of great transition in my life and therefore this topic is of personal importance, as well. The concern I have with the issue at hand is that I feel that the transitions we face in life our not fully being embraced and recognized in all of the beauty and complexity they possess. It is an odd occurrence because innovation and change is appreciated and encouraged quite a lot in the marketplace in this country.
Life Transitions (Part 1): Complexities and Challenges
The Bertschausens
Thursday evening was an exciting day for students at Appleton East High School, as the seniors, their families, friends, and guardians gathered for the 44th Annual Commencement to honor the hard work and accomplishments over the past four years. I sat in the audience on relatively hard bleachers in a fairly cool gymnasium with Hattie and her mom and dad, as we waited anxiously to see Ian, Hattie’s younger brother, enter in the processional parade.
It has been four years since I have been in a similar situation, although that time I was waiting in an endless line with my classmates ready to graduate. I thought about gathering in the U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee wearing my cap, gown, and honor cords, and suddenly the emotions rushed back. Good and bad, but mainly good, the feelings of nostalgia and agedness began to creep over me as I sat on the gymnasium bleachers Thursday night, which felt harder and more painful than ever. In one week, I would be crossing a stage to graduate from college. Many thoughts and questions about the process of “coming of age,” “societal rites of passage,” and the infrastructures both private and public that support these times in human life began to ruminate and surface in my heart and mind.
