February 13, 2012 - "Lighting The Fire of Commitment"

Dear Friends, 
 
My favorite spiritual metaphor is water, especially water flowing from a spring, a place among the rocks where the waters of life well up.  It speaks to me of the source of life.
 
But my second favorite metaphor is fire: the fire burning in a chalice, in a bush in the desert, in our hearts to be part of something nobler than purely our self-interest.  A fire speaks to me of the transformations that life can involve, ones that come out of situations of necessity - such as death or loss - and those that come from our own choices, such as a decision to be part of a spirituality group, to develop a personal spiritual practice like meditation or daily prayer, to commit to working with folks from another community to help make the world better in some way, together.
 
We can choose other things.  We can choose to take care of only our own, we can choose to stiffen against the changes and opportunities that life inevitably brings to us.  We can choose to refuse the invitation to authentic community, with the challenges and demands such a commitment entails.  But, if we make these kinds of choices, we miss out on the fire along the way. 
 
In the end of course, we will all burn, we will all change, for we all die.  But there is something in us that seeks to be burnished in use before that end, something that seeks to realize a higher, better self embodying greater love toward others and our world.  Ours can be a slow burning, banked under a blanket of ash for a long time, or a sudden flaring with the transformation occurring quickly.
 
In the coming weeks, you will be asked to consider what you will pledge to the church in financial support for the upcoming fiscal year.   Budget drive folks may give you guidelines for giving.  I hope you take them seriously.   But first, ask yourself, ‘how does this church fan the embers of my desire to be burnished in use, to be part of something nobler?  To become better at loving?’   Name that, lift it up.  Only then, I hope, will you consider your pledge.
 
Blessings to all,
 
Meg Soens
Acting Minister