These are essays Rick Childs wrote for the monthly newsletter.
Legacies (March 2010)
What will we leave behind, in goods and in the memories
of those who knew us?
Passion (February 2010)
Such a wonderful thing to have - and to feel. So invigorating, so rewarding - so making-life-so-alive-and-worth-living! We all have people and interests and things
we care about - but when we feel passionately about them, we feel an energy surge
and pleasure from deep within. What are you passionate about?
Giving (December 2009)
How can we rise to that wonderful spirit and beauty of true, meaningful
giving? It's certainly hard, given the sheer weight of the holiday
... but we can make inroads.
I Deserve (November 2009)
Rick Childs meditates on the phrase 'I Deserve'; can we accept things
gratefully - and gracefully?
The Gratitude Cycle (October 2009)
The spiritual rewards of taking a moment to reflect on the things you are
grateful for, every day.
Stuck in the Past (September 2009)
"My summer in Palestine was one of the most interesting and
challenging - but also instructive - experiences I've had in my life.
So many facets and dimensions of life I wouldn't otherwise be aware of
pushed their way into the foreground of life and my consciousness...
Palestine (June 2009)
Rick writes about his hopes and fears for his summer in the West Bank.
Observation Meditation (May 2009)
A short lesson in Zen meditation, and its benefits.
Mumford (April 2009)
Rick uses the sleeper hit "Mumford" as an example of self acceptance.
Some of the ways we show love for ourselves include: recognizing and
valuing our positive qualities, forgiving ourselves of past mistakes and
shortcomings, nurturing ourselves ... and respecting and accepting
ourselves.
Facing Our Mortality (March 2009)
An essay about facing the inevitable with courage, dignity and grace,
with some practical advice, too.
Reaching Out
(February 2009)
Rick writes about the spiritual message in Barack Obama's innauguration
ceremony, and the message of diversity it sent - even if we don't want
to be that diverse. How many conservative republicans do you know?
Esse - an essay on being
(January 2009)
Rick meditates on "Esse", a popular crossword puzzle word, which is
Latin for "being", and the Buddhist goal of being here, now.
Antidote for Economic Malaise
(December 2008)
Rick proposes generosity as a solution to today's economic problems.
Art Johnson's Message Today
(November 2008):
Art Johnson has passed on. His message lives, however; that We Unitarian
Universalists need to be here ... as a sanctuary for all those in the
community who'll be looking for comfort, support, and liberal spiritual
values. We offer a beacon of light in dark times.
Message from Knoxville
(October 2008):
Rick continues to explore the Knoxville shootings. The man who
did it was in deep pain. There may be others, whose pain we
can ease a bit, if we try.
It Is
(September 2008):
In the wake of the Tennessee shootings, Rick begins an exploration
of why bad things happen. It isn't fair, it isn't right, it isn't
just; but it has happened. It is.
Let the sun Shine In
(June 2008):
Summer brings more sun to us - and allows us to contemplate
our connection to the most basic force in our world.
UU and You
(May 2008):
The value of having a UU symbol around the house.
Physical Spirituality
(April 2008):
Living and celebrating a robust physical life as a spiritual
practice.
Need a Penny . . . Leave a Penny
(March 2008):
Lessons from a penny tray.
Voices in Our Heads
(February 2008):
Overcoming negative self-impressions. (2 of 2).
Voices in Our Heads
(January 2008):
Overcoming negative self-impressions. (1 of 2).
The Holiday Season
(December 2007):
Adjusting your expectations around the Holiday season.
Your Spiritual Journey
(November 2007):
Drawing a map of your spiritual journey as a way of understanding
where you are, and how you got there.
I Can't Move Mountains
(October 2007):
Reflections on the Muslim saying about mountains and wheelbarrows.
Loving Yourself
(September 2007):
Attaining a positive self image.
Travel
(June 2007):
Spiritual lessons gained as you see other lands and meet
other people.
Nature-Spirituality Nurturance
(May 2007):
Opening deeper connections with Nature.
Honoring With Your Feet
(April, 2007):
A new way to look at attendance.
Darkness
(March 2007):
Spiritual lessons from the dark side of human existence.
Dark Sides
(February 2007):
Musings about faults and failings at an awards ceremony.
Santa (
December 2006):
Reflections on a real-life Santa Claus.
Optimism
(November 2006):
How looking on the bright side can make you feel better.
Unitarian Universalist Theology
(October 2006):
Our theology as a springboard to growth.
The Gettin' Place
(September 2006):
Each of us has a "Gettin' Place" . . . a place each of us knows,
intuitively, we can go to, whenever we needed help, comfort or a
breakthrough idea.
The Vat
(June 2006):
You can see humans as vats, born full, but whose innate goodness
leaks out as they age.
In The Zone
(May 2006):
Athletes have a sweet time when they are "In the Zone".
We can too.
Prayer for those of the Right
and the Left
(April 2006):
A prayer seeking forgiveness from both sides of the aisle,
and for those on both sides.
Mistakes
(March 2006):
Spiritual lessons from Hopalong Cassidy.
Receiving as Giving
(February 2006):
Thoughts on deepening of our ability to give and receive love.
Ethical Holiday Consumption
(December 2005):
Ways to make Christmas more spiritual and less commercial.
That "Gratitude" Time of Year
(November 2005):
Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving.
Journaling
(October 2005):
Many people attest to the great benefits of journaling . . .
as a general practice, but especially for working through
problems.
Unconditional Love
(September 2005):
The value of unconditional love, and how it differs from
other kinds of love.
Speak Up!
(June 2005):
Reflections on public silence during the Holocaust.
The Pause That Refreshes . . .
(May 2005):
Where and when to count to ten.
Generativity
(April 2005):
Generativity is the term, generally attributed to psychologist
Erik Erikson, to describe his Stage 7 development (in his 8
stages of a "life well lived"). It is "the care for the future
world" that typically develops in mid-adulthood.
Our Capacity to Grow and Change
(March 2005):
Some thoughts on what our being
"active seekers of truth" implies.
Happy Valentine's Day!
(February 2005):
Getting "foppy" but finding some spiritual insight from the
holiday anyway.
Happy New Year!
(January 2005):
Looking both ways as the old year ends and the new one begins.
Reconciliation
(December 2004):
How we can help heal the wounds this election wrought. (2 of 2).
Reconciliation
(November 2004):
How we can help heal the wounds this election wrought. (1 of 2).
Stimulating Our Untapped Creativity
(Sept 2004):
Each of us has inherent creativity, lying dormant, untapped -
- awaiting our "inspiration and perspiration."
Gratitude
(June 2004):
The oil in our spiritual machinery.
Serving Albion, Caspar, Comptche, Elk, Fort Bragg, Gualala, Little River, Mendocino, Navarro, Philo, Rockport, Westport and inland Mendocino County.
For questions about our Fellowship or Unitarian Universalism,
send e-mail to our lay leader,
Rick Childs:
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send e-mail to our web master,
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