Rev. Ann C. Fox
(508) 992-7081
RevAnnFox@aol.com
Unitarian
Universalist
Society of Fairhaven
A Brave New World?
a sermon by Rev. Ann C. Fox
January 4, 2009
Note: A reading is attached, which you might like to read first
At home and abroad, 2008 was a chaotic year. But for me last week, war and peace, economic downturns, unemployment, environmental degradation, political corruption, and the like receded in importance as I discovered a truth that might just guide my life for the next decade or two. It is this: in order to ground myself in what really matters in life, all I have to do is to hold a newborn baby and look at it and look at it, endlessly. Some of you know that last week I went to California to welcome my first grandchild, Ravel. And I looked at him and looked at him, endlessly.
The rhythm of life in my son’s household revolved around feeding his son Ravel, bathing him, and changing his diapers. Feeding was easy because his mother fed him from her own body. The mesmerized new mother and father bathed him with special fragrant oils like it was a sacred ritual. His diapers are of the most high-tech design, Velcro-fastened, organic cotton pouches in the most wonderful colors you could ever imagine. If the diapers are too soiled to go into the diaper-pail, there is a spraying device that is attached to the toilet tank that does a marvelous job of making the diaper washing-machine-worthy, but not before the Velcro straps of each diaper are folded just right so that the Velcro pieces won’t stick together in the machine.
I came to look forward to the diaper changing and then the feeding because I would then receive Ravel who would be totally “blissed-out” with breast milk and I could look at him to my heart’s content. It was like the deepest meditation possible. When Ravel opened his eyes, he looked at me endlessly. Though I had taken books with me, I didn’t have time to read them, so busy was I with baby-gazing. I was in love with this little creature and totally unprepared for such an experience. It swept me off my feet.
One day, it occurred to me that in my arms was the solution to all the world’s problems … but wait, why give away the secret so soon. After all, we know that personal transformation is the way to change the world—begin with yourself, the wisdom says. Perhaps those who are successful in living out their New Year resolutions transform the world, at least partly. Did you know what the ten most common resolutions are? You can probably guess:
- Get in shape.
- Lose weight with a healthier diet.
- Stop drinking.
- Start budgeting.
- Get a new job or start a business.
- Spend more time with family or friends.
- Save more money or get out of debt.
- Get more organized.
- Give more or volunteer more time to help others.
- Stop smoking!
On the ‘stop smoking’ resolution, have you heard the story about when one man asks his friend for a cigarette? His friend said, "I thought you made a New Year resolution to quit smoking." The man replied, "I’m in the process of quitting. Right now, I am in the middle of phase one.” The friend asks, “What's phase one?” He responded, “I've quit buying them.”
Manifesting for the self: How many of you have been successful in the past at keeping your resolutions? We fail at our resolutions because of one of two reasons: 1) We’re not really ready to do much about making changes; or 2) We have not had sufficient compassion for ourselves. You might find it strange to have compassion for the self because usually we are asked to have compassion for others. To have compassion for the self is necessary for personal transformation. This connects our ego-self with our spirit within, or our true self.
Let us assume that we know we’ll be better off mentally and physically if we exercise more. The best way to approach a resolution is to first address that which in oneself needs the change. For example, I might acknowledge how I will benefit from creating a resolution about getting in better physical shape, something like this:
“I resolve to have an
exercise regimen to improve the condition of my
beloved body-mind. To aid my memory, I will write these actions on my
calendar for at least a one-month period. May I have peace and
love and
enjoyment of these exercises.”
Then I will write for one month on my calendar “walking” on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Tuesday and Thursday, I will write “muscle exercises.” Before I go walking Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I would say this:
“Out of love for the well being of my heart, may I walk for 30 minutes.”
While I’m walking, I may repeat my prayer like a rhythmic mantra. Before I exercise on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I might say:
“Out of love for the
well-being of my muscles, may I exercise for 15 minutes
with small weights in my hands and on my ankles.”
While I’m doing these strengthening exercises, I will repeat this prayer on and off.
Can you imagine that saying to yourself “Out of love for my well-being” will have a compassionate attitude for your body? Such an approach combines compassion for yourself with commitment and self-blessing.
Would you like to try making a resolution in this spiritual way? Please take a minute or two to write a resolution (if you wish) on the green sheet in your Order of Service. It has at the top “In 2009, These Are What I Want to Manifest.” Write something just for yourself. We’ll manifest for others later.
Manifesting for the world: This has been an extraordinary year of violence, chaos, and greed, and yet, with the election of Barack Obama, there is great hope. When I have talked with friends here and across the world about the state of the world, they have said hesitatingly but with excitement, essentially, “Perhaps the breakdown of the structures and institutions are really a blessing in disguise.” All the ordinary people who are not overwhelmed by the bad news, can see the great opportunity before us. It will be up to those of with clear sight to know what we must do to help create a more harmonious, equitable, sustainable, balanced, healthy life for all people and the earth and all its creatures and plants in future generations. Our communities need healing and helping. And our world needs healing and helping.
So first let us bring to mind our communities. Let us do a little meditation. Close your eyes and see in your mind’s eye in your own way something that needs change and help and visualize how help can be given by you and/or others. Write down on the sheet briefly that which needs healing in your neighborhoods near or far. Like before, you could create a similar prayer around this. Let us say that you would like the food pantries to offer fresh fruits and vegetables to poor people who now receive only the processed food that is distributed to them that does not create the healthiest diet. The prayer would be something like this,
“May there be loving kindness for those in need of food. May there be an affordable source for colorful and ample fresh fruits and vegetables for all the people in need. In my mind’s eye, I see them all happily taking the healthy food items. I see the farmers growing lots more to feed the poor people. May they feel supported and appreciated by us all by receiving the healthier food. May I take action where I can to bring about this transformation. So may this be.” In this way, mind and spirit act in unison.
Please write down your hopes for others this year and make a resolution on how you might help if you are able and ponder them, if you wish …
Here are two choices for your hopes: 1) You can fold the paper and pass it towards the center of the room and I will compost them here at the church so that they will “live on” so to speak and the worship associate will take them; or 2) You can take it home with you.
Can you guess now what my secret is to solving the world’s problems by holding a baby in your arms? The solution, it seemed to me was that mirrored in little Ravel’s eyes and mine was the world itself and the essence of what is worthwhile: in caring for the child, and all children, is giving it the right food, caring for its body, its welfare, its education, its good health, its good environment on the earth, its family, friends, and all that’s in his world and all that creates a nurturing, dignified world of freedom, truth, love and oneness. We Unitarian Universalists sometimes say that every child is one more savior. The little ones inspire us to become saviors so that the children become saviors of the generations. The child is “Everyperson” and whatever is needed to raise the little ones in a world that allows them to reach their greatest potential is what we must create. This is the brave new world—the world of creative potential. Will we help bring it into being?
In the reading, Laura McClean said, “Snow is a good medium for the birth of a new year. All that whiteness blots out the past, and a virtual blank canvas awaits. There is clarity and sharpness, and the possibilities seem as limitless as the stars….” Indeed! What we can create is limited only by our lack of clarity and sharpness. So, let us take this opportunity seriously at the beginning of a New Year to create a brave new world by making promises to ourselves to bring about transformation that will benefit us individually and collectively and remember that compassion must always underlie action to nurture the new reality for a brave new world. And celebration should not be far behind.
May we have the commitment and courage to create a new world and new economy that will support us and the earth with mutuality. And may we retain our good humor and make room for wassailing-like activities. Wassail!
A Reading from a Standard Times Column
The reading this morning is from yesterday’s Standard Times’ “Living” Section (1/3/09). It is the beginning portion of Laura McLean’s column called “From the Ground Up.” She said,
“Snow is a good medium for the birth of a new year. All that whiteness blots out the past, and a virtual blank canvas awaits. There is clarity and sharpness, and the possibilities seem as limitless as the stars.
As with every new year, 2009 brings new priorities. Children grow up and out. Careers expand and contract. And we continue to reinterpret ourselves. This ebb and flow of life has shaped the years leading up to the present. But one thing that remains constant is the garden outdoors. We know spring will bring daffodils and the returning robins will be pulling worms from the ground. From then on, it’s one prolonged rebirth.
So with this cycle comes my annual rite of resolution-making. After reading
through the old promises—some held to and some not, I’m inclined to think
with renewed optimism—here’s another chance! …”
© The Rev. Ann C. Fox