As I write this article, I am sitting in the backyard of my family farm in
When despair
for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and
lie down where the wood drake rests
in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who
do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
I come into the presence of still water,
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light,
For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
There is a lot of fear around these days--fear of economic collapse, fear of terrorists, fear of shifts in political power in this country, fear of global catastrophe. Then there are those everyday concerns about paying the bills, how our
children and grandchildren are doing, the uncertainties of employment
and incomes, and our health and well-being.
As Wendell Berry observed, a journey into nature beside some stream or pond
is one place to find respite from these fears and concerns where we can to gain perspective. Another place to find the same
respite and gain is in a spiritual community like Hopedale Unitarian Parish. I write “spiritual community” because some churches
are not spiritual communities because they increase fear in people and create divisions that lead away from peace, compassion, and
love. Places like Hopedale Unitarian Parish provide the opportunity to find peace, compassion and love in the midst of it all;
to put aside fear, worry, grief, and concern; and to “rest in the grace of the world” for awhile.
Each of you will have the opportunity during the All-Congregation Conference to express what this spiritual community, this church, means to you, what you would like it to become in the years to come, and what values you want Hopedale Unitarian Parish to sustain. These may be values like Wendell Berry expressed in his poem—like peace, inspiration, insight into the nature of things and other values like caring, compassion, providing board religious perspectives to our children and youth that will enrich their lifetimes, meaningful and fun connection with others, and making a difference in the world.
Please come on Friday evening October 21 and all day Saturday
October 22 to participate in this event that will set the direction for Hopedale Unitarian Parish in the coming years. Everyone’s
opinion counts and matters.
We begin our new church year at our Ingathering at 10:30 am, Sunday September 11. I look forward
to seeing each of you. This is going to be a wonderful church year with lots of fun, connections, inspirations and good works.
Many Blessings,
Paul
Rev. Dr. Paul Hull
Minister