Well, the first thing I learned is that the official name for my lifestyle is “quarantine.” That’s right. Stay home, don’t go out. I’ve been quarantining for years and never knew it. Maybe that’s why I’m so healthy. Or not. No hugs. No bugs. They used to call it being anti-social. Now it’s called social distancing. I’m not an introvert. I’m socially distant. No hugs, no bugs. Six feet back, not six feet under. I figure, better cabin fever than the fever cabin, ICU. Tulsa’s new park, the Gathering Place, is now the Distancing Place. March Madness? Try March Sadness. […]

The post What I’ve Learned From The Corona Crisis appeared first on BeyondBelief.

One of the hardest things a person will ever have to do is to deal with the death of someone they love. It is especially hard for a parent to deal with the death of a child, even when the child is an adult. Children are supposed to bury their parents, not the other way around. As people always point out, we have words for an orphan and a widow, but none for a parent who has lost a child. And when the child has taken his or her own life, it is especially hard to handle. Last summer I lost […]

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Unitarian Universalist and atheist

My Unitarian Universalist congregation meets at an interfaith center in Columbia, MD that we share with other faith groups, including a Muslim mosque. Today as they gathered for jama masjid (Friday prayers), members of UUCC lined up outside to welcome them. 1/

You know the mantra: spiritual but not religious. I’m not entirely sure what that means. I think it means warm and fuzzy on the inside but cool to anything that’s recognizably religious. Now me, I’m just the opposite. I’m a hardcore churchgoer. I try to go every Sunday, and I usher at our mid-week Worship on Wednesday Chapel service. I love church music, the traditional style, not Gospel pop. I sang in a children’s choir until my voice changed. The choir director cupped her hand to her ear, pointed to me, and said, “Don’t sing.” I never sang again. I’m […]

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Today I learned that the only Unitarian Universalist member of Congress, Amerish "Ami" Babulal Bera, is Indian-American. (I'm both UU and Indian-American, and that's pretty damn rare.)

As a lapsed Catholic I feel vaguely guilty about not watching this Notre Dame game. But as a Unitarian Universalist, I know I won't go to hell for missing it.

Just after Thanksgiving, a lady from my high school, a friend on Facebook, posted a picture of a flickering candle with a message which said, “In memory of all the loved ones who cannot be with us this holiday season.” A carillon played an endearing melody. She asked us to comment “Amen” if we agreed. This brought to mind a little song I had written many years ago which I thought might be used at the holidays when people were lighting candles to celebrate the season. I decided to post it as my comment. The words of the song go […]

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“Listen!” Jesus said. “The sower went out to sow.” This is the way the Parable of the Sower begins, with listening. The next parable tells us, “Pay attention to what you hear.” He emphasizes the point. “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” The difference between listening and hearing There is a real difference between hearing and listening. I once knew a deaf boy who wrote a note to a girl he met that said, “I can’t listen.” I had to explain to him in sign language that “listen” means “pay attention while you are hearing.” He didn’t have any […]

The post Listen and give a chance to be heard appeared first on BeyondBelief.

The bell rang, and Bobby Murdock ran down the hall to find his friend, Beverly. “Hey, Bev,” he shouted. “Walk home with me? I want you to meet my Mom. She’s swell. You’ll like her.” “I guess so,” she said. They walked three blocks to his house. It was an older, two-story house on a tree-lined street. As they went up the front walk, Beverly let out a chilling scream. “What’s wrong?” Bobby asked. She pointed at the front porch. “What—? Oh, that. It’s just a jack-o’-lantern, silly. Did it scare you?” The carved pumpkin sat at the top of […]

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Actual exchange during church school this morning. Me: “Is this Unitarian Universalist behavior?” Kids: “APPARENTLY.” (They continue to throw things.)

#todaysoffice @ Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta https://www.instagram.com/p/BngocICB4TR/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=eekydr5eabcf …

See what's coming up this week and beyond in Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo! http://eepurl.com/cFj0Mf 

See what's coming up this week and beyond in Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo! http://eepurl.com/cFj0Mf 

Here's why you need to join our church, @HeidiAnnDugan @ Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta https://www.instagram.com/p/BRO3zM1gVEN/ 

Here's why you need to join our church, @HeidiAnnDugan @ Unitarian Universalist Society of Oneonta https://www.instagram.com/p/BRO3zM1gVEN/ 

See what's coming up in Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo, this week and beyond! http://eepurl.com/cEcZ01 

See what's coming up in Religious Education at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo, this week and beyond! http://eepurl.com/cEcZ01 

10am, Jewish & Unitarian Universalist Day at the Capitol with Coalition of Religious Communities https://www.facebook.com/events/218512665256777/ … #utpol #utleg

10am, Jewish & Unitarian Universalist Day at the Capitol with Coalition of Religious Communities https://www.facebook.com/events/218512665256777/ … #utpol #utleg