Taking It Home 1/29/2012

Unitarian Universalism is a faith without creed, we are a faith that strives to embrace without dogma, we are a faith that welcomes everyone, even you and even me.

On Sunday, Jan. 29, Rev. Kent, our senior minister, shared how the role of technology has changed the face of our day-to-day lives and interpersonal connections. He talked about how in our fast paced world we lose sight of our mindfulness and the interdependence that is our seventh principle.

One thing that resonated for me was this:

As a faith movement we need to help one another use technology mindfully as a bridge to experience life itself as an ecstasy, and the divine that is everything. I fear, however, that too often technology serves as an impediment to “all the glories of nature and the cosmos.”  The questions we all need to ask ourselves are these: First, in the configuration of your life how much time and space do you give yourself “to listen to your soul”?  Second, how many of your activities allow you to appreciate that “the days themselves are gods?” 

I invite you to Take It Home this week with reflection and action!

These are some tips to be part of the solution:

Reflection:

Let us nurture our own spirit and continue our daily meditative practice. When we choose to make time for mindfulness, we choose to make time to better our lives. First find a quiet spot, and place a tea-lite candle in a little bowl. Look, you have an instant chalice, symbol of our progressive and free faith, a symbol of freedom.

Recite and reflect upon these words from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

I will not live out of me
I will not see with others' eyes  
my good is good, my evil ill…

I will be Lighthearted as a bird & live with God.
I find God in the bottom of my heart  
I hear continually his Voice therein...

Ask yourself in this sacred moment how you can use peace to heal spirit, memory to warm your soul, and vision to change your heart. 

Taking time each day to meditate even just for a few moments intentionally can bring great clarity and feed your soul beyond Sunday

Action

1: Practice deep listening in our daily lives, and allow for people to listen to their souls without distractions. When we live our lives using our eyes and listening to our hearts we can know a true, almost perfect joy. 

2: Invite a dialogue at your dinner table with your children about how to engage in mindful eating. This is a practice of eating in silence being cognizant of the food we are eating. 

3: Turn off technology, that's right TURN OFF the cell phone, stay off Facebook for one day, and don't check email. Take a moment to sit outside, head to the shore, take a walk, and listen deeply.

Resources

Both of these books are available free at your public library.

Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful Relationship with Food

One City: A Declaration of Interdependence

Kindness: A Treasury of Buddhist Wisdom for Children and Parent  (great for small children)

Please consider attending Mindfulness Training with David Zeitler, M.A. on February 18th @ USG!