So, there I was, at the culmination of the whole trip, my former intern Chris Bell’s installation as minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa, the congregation I was a member of when I went off to seminary. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge in the ensuing twenty years. Among other things they sold the old building and have purchased a movie theatre right in the middle of thedowntown – a courageous act considering our Western UU style of going for putting our churches in the beautiful grove at the end of a long and winding road somewhere in the countryside. They’ve done a very good job of making the old theatre into a sacred space, and it was obvious to me that with just a little time it will be something very special for the congregation and for the larger community.
Among the dignitaries there was Santa Rosa’s mayor who expressed the city’s gratitude for this commitment that the congregation has made to being a presence within the city. There were various speakers, some quite inspired. Probably my favorite, certainly the one whose words I most clearly recall was the UU minister of our Sacramento congregation Doug Kraft. He gave the charge to the minister, both humorous and deadly serious all at the same time. He framed it within a reflection from a twentieth century Hindu teacher, Nisargadatta Maharaj who said: “Wisdom says I am nothing. Love says I am everything. Between the two, my life flows.”
I found those words taking my breath away. I felt it was the most eloquent “elevator speech” any UU could hope for. “Wisdom says I am nothing.” Unitarianism, with its relentless analysis, mostly intellectual, but also ever offering the opportunity to take the mind to its greatest depths: toward a glowing no-thing, a non-dual encounter with what is. This is wisdom as I understand it. But right on that, the assertion of the heart, the Universalist way of deepest reconciliation: “Love says I am everything.” Here reality as love asserts itself, that sense of something larger within which we all rest. It is the other classic way of our liberal religious inheritance.
Then, following close upon these assertions, the major invitation, what can really be, if we’re willing to let it, to be our contemporary spiritual path: “Between the two, my life flows.” I felt inspired. The service ended, I could only stay a little while as I had to drive down to Oakland from which I would leave quite early the next morning. But I got lots of kisses and hugs.
Rita and Chris stayed for another hour or so, packed up the family and returned home. Chris had a call waiting for him. His father who was at dinner in Ohio at about the same time as the installation service was going, was stricken with a massive heart attack and died. Chris had to fly out to Cleveland at the same time I flew home. We were able to speak briefly while I was at the Oakland airport and heat the San Francisco airport. He’s doing as well as one can hope under such circumstances.
But I’m glad he had those words to carry with him on that lonely flight to Ohio.
Wisdom says I am nothing.
Love says Iam everything.
Between the two, my life flows.
So, there I was, at the culmination of the whole trip, my former intern Chris Bell’s installation as minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa, the congregation I was a member of when I went off to seminary. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge in the ensuing twenty years. Among other things they sold the old building and have purchased a movie theatre right in the middle of thedowntown – a courageous act considering our Western UU style of going for putting our churches in the beautiful grove at the end of a long and winding road somewhere in the countryside. They’ve done a very good job of making the old theatre into a sacred space, and it was obvious to me that with just a little time it will be something very special for the congregation and for the larger community.
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