A great line (at least to me) in today's sermon at my UU church

[ar_wahan]

[Disclaimer: There are folks at my UU (Unitarian Universalist) Society who aren't even comfortable with calling our building a "church." But I grew up a Unitarian who went to The First Unitarian Church in my town, so it is kind of habit with me.]

Today's sermon by our fabulous minister (*proudly flashes badge that shows she was on search committee that found her*) was about the way UUs generally look at Easter -- as about the rebirth of life in spring, about celebrating creation and procreation. She talked about the various rituals across religions, past and present, at this time of year that promote fertility of crops, livestock and human couples. And she had a line that made us laugh and that I actually wrote down:

"There is a purpose to the pairing of the ducks on the pond."

(In response to the "innocent" Hallmark-type cards about how it's spring and a sign is the return of the innocent little ducks -- and Canada geese, in my area.)

Her point (after quoting Carl Sagan and various other scientists -- she, herself, is a scientist by training) ended up being something that I  long ago came to believe myself: The purpose of life .. is life.

Isn't that enough?

Comments

[ayeamspartacus.livejournal.com]

"The purpose of life .. is life.

Isn't that enough?"

I like that. Very profound.

[jenny_evergreen]

It is for me! I really don't understand why it isn't for so many people...

[fionnabhar.livejournal.com]

Yep. By the way, my local congregation here is a pagan-themed UU church, Gaia Community. We aren't officially a part of CUUPs, but along that line.

[verucas-chaos.livejournal.com]

Very nice. My aunt and uncle "in laws" are very big in the UU. They do national type things!
Also, the Carl Sagan stuff is cool. I was just on YouTube yesterday looking for a video clip called Pale Blue Dot. You might want to check it out!

[faeredelune.livejournal.com]

*grinns* And in the spring it is of course rather natural for us to wiggle our tailfeathers. ~.-

It was lovely for me to read this entry, I have been unaware that UU congregations were so happy to take a peer position with paganism. I have a Witch's calendar that acknowledges many celestial, harvest and historical dates including Easter (general as well as Orthodox). With the world-oriented focus you are likely already aware, or may enjoy hearing that yesterday marked the founding of The Church of All Worlds in 1962 according to my calendar. I'm thinking the principles between UU and CAW are likely close siblings to the forces of creation.

[be4u.livejournal.com]

That sounds wonderful!

[missmelysse.livejournal.com]

AS much as I like the pageantry of my current church (Episcopal), and as much as it feels familiar to me, because of my Italian-American Catholic roots, I haven't been there since January, because I feel slapped in the face with "red state" politics here in Texas, in this diocese and I can't work past it.

I'm fondly missing the UU Easter service in Modesto, CA ca. 1982, in which we toasted spring with Pomegranate juice.

I didn't need God then, so mostly, I resented being there. I think I do need something now, but Fuzzy's so very Baptist....sigh...thank you for sharing this, it brought me a sense of home.

[leatheryoldbat.livejournal.com]

Amen, Sister! Life is enough!

[annina-writes.livejournal.com]

It is indeed enough. My dad used to say, "Our reason for being here is to figure out what the hell is going on." ;-)

[bodacia.livejournal.com]

Isn't it sad how we forget that in this society? Our lives seem to be all about achieving and acquiring and keeping up with the joneses. I have to keep reminding myself to just BE.