At the Moment

By Reverend Doug Kraft, September, 2009

I unfolded the last piece of paper and read a hand-written question to the congregation: “What is spirituality?” Melissa raised her hand and said, “What I’d really like to know is what is Unitarian Universalist spirituality?”

I knew Melissa had a Buddhist meditation practice. And we had sat together in a nursing home by the bed of her dying mother. She had a sense of spirituality grounded both in formal practice and in life’s poignancy. But she was relatively new to Unitarian Universalism. She wasn’t asking about spirituality in general. She was asking what is distinctive about Unitarian Universalist spirituality as compared to, say, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian or Sufi spirituality.

This dialogue service was that last service before I left for General Assembly and vacation. We were past closing time. It was the last minute of the last service of the season.

My mind went blank.

“That’s a good question,” I said, to buy time.

I smiled. I love it when my mind goes blank.

Thoughts and images flashed in that mental void. Out loud I said, “It’s a good question because Unitarian Universalist spirituality has not fully emerged. We are only 450 years old. That’s not long enough to mature. However, there are signs of what it may become.

First of all, it won’t be stupid. We place too much importance on intellectual cogency to accept gibberish.

Second, it must go beyond intellect. We are so much more than thought. Mature spirituality moves the heart, cultivates consciousness and informs how we relate to the world.”

I went on to suggest a few distinctively UU spiritual practices. I concluded, “Holding the question ‘What is UU spirituality?’ in our own inner stillness will help it emerge. I wish we had more time to reflect now. But it’s late and the kids are upon us.”

Over the summer I’ve reflected more and would like to speak about it several times from the pulpit this fall. However, I think it will take you and me and all of us reflecting together to encourage UU spirituality to emerge.

So I’d love to hear your thoughts. Specifically, what do you think a distinctive UU spirituality would look like? What kinds of practices might it include? What about UUism has touched your heart, deepened your consciousness or guided your actions? What do you yearn for most deeply?

Please send me an e-mail (doug@uuss.org) or snail mail me at the church. I’d love to hear your musings.

Namasté,
Doug