The Rev. Melanie Morel-Ensminger
INTRODUCTION TO “SPIRIT OF LIFE”
Adapted from the “Spirit of Life” Workshop Program by the Rev. Melanie Morel-Ensminger
This worship service, adapted from the first of 9 Spirit of Life workshops by Barbara Hamilton-Holway, offers members of the congregation an opportunity to explore their Unitarian Universalist spirituality, by focusing on the lyrics of Carolyn McDade's song "Spirit of Life." Like the song, this service and the Spirit of Life workshops are designed to be welcoming to Unitarian Universalists of many spiritual sensibilities and theological persuasions. In this service, each of us, young and old and in-between, is invited to claim our own definition of spirituality and to recognize the spiritual aspects of our own lives.
The word "spirit" derives from the Latin word for "breath" and "inspiration." That means that the Spirit of Life can be understood as inspiration for life, or the very breath of life. It can be felt as a loving force, a life force, or what Howard Thurman calls a "growing edge"—"the upward reach of life when weariness closes in upon all endeavor." The Spirit of Life can be experienced as god or goddess, as deity unfolding, as divine comforter; it can be felt as the collective human spirit, the power of nature, the forces of the cosmos, or innate wisdom. Each person finds meaning for the words "Spirit of Life" that works for them, for our own understandings and experience.
Carolyn McDade's "Spirit of Life" may be the most loved and the most often, most widely sung hymn in Unitarian Universalist congregations across the country and even around the world. One visitor to a Sunday service in a UU congregation said that as soon as she joined her voice with the congregation in singing "Spirit of Life," she knew she had found her religious home.
In this morning’s worship, we will reflect on the questions, “What does the song ‘Spirit of Life’ mean to you?” and "What experiences or moments have you had of feeling 'wow'—feelings of oneness with the earth, feelings of connection with the mystery and wonder of the universe, feelings of connectedness with other human beings, or a sense of God or the Spirit of Life?" Sharing how we feel and what we think to one another helps strengthen our congregational connection, across all the lines that separate us. May the Spirit of Life move through each of us individually and collectively as we sing this beloved song, in English and in Spanish.
READING BEFORE SMALL GROUPS
Adapted from the “Spirit of Life” Program by the Rev. Melanie Morel-Ensminger
True spiritual growth can be achieved only through the persistent exercise of real love. …The principal form that the work of love takes is attention. When we love another we give him or her our attention; we attend to that person’s growth. When we love ourselves we attend to our own growth. …By far the most common and important way in which we can exercise our attention is by listening. — M. Scott Peck
Reflecting, speaking, and listening are core activities in each of the Spirit of Life workshops, and they are core to this worship service as well. Listening, M. Scott Peck writes, is a kind of attention that fosters spiritual growth. As in the workshops, this morning we will take some space to silently reflect, to listen to the still small voice within. Then you will be invited to move into small groups, and to speak and to listen to the folks in your group as we share our thoughts and feelings about the song “Spirit of Life” and what it means to us.
Think about the words we’ve just sung in both English and Spanish – all the ways the Spirit of Life is called forth, to “come,” to “sing,” to “blow in the wind” and “rise in the sea,” to “move in the hand.” Notice how the depth of “roots” is contrasted with the freedom of “wings.” It’s a fairly easy song to sing, even children learn it easily, and yet it seems to have so many meanings.
Take some time right now to think about “Spirit of Life.” Why do you think it is so loved and is sung in so many UU churches? What does it mean to you? What does it make you think about or remember? Does the song “stir” something in you? If so, what? How do your feelings about the song relate to your idea of spirituality? After a short time of reflection, you will be given the signal to move into small groups and to share with the people in your groups.
“WOW” REFLECTION
Adapted from the “Spirit of Life” Workshop Program by the Rev. Melanie Morel-Ensminger
No matter how old we are, no matter what our beliefs about religion or God or spirituality, each and every one of us occasionally gets an experience in life that makes us say, or think, “Wow.” A “wow” moment is when you are overwhelmed by feelings that you have trouble finding words for later – but at the exact “wow” moment, words aren’t necessary. A “wow” can be happy or sad, or it can be a moment of oneness, of unity – although with precisely what, you can’t always say.
Maybe you had a “wow” moment when you first saw the Gulf or the ocean. Maybe it was a clear night away from city lights when you could see the stars and the Milky Way above you. Maybe it was a grand mountain view, or maybe it was an intimate campfire in the dark. Maybe it happened at a concert, when you were swept away by the power of the music. Maybe it happened at a gathering of family or friends. Maybe it was when you first held or saw your child, or your partner. Maybe it was a beautiful sunset, or a walk through a forest. Maybe you were touched by the exquisite simplicity of a mathematical equation or scientific formula. Maybe it was while you were participating in a protest with a group of other people on an issue important to you. Maybe it was at the moment of the death of someone you loved.
We all get these moments, which my colleague Barbara Hamilton-Holway calls “wow” moments, but that you might call “ahas” or “eureka” moments or revelations or epiphanies. We may describe them differently – some may feel lifted outside themselves, and others might feel more deeply inside themselves. For some people, “wow” moments are more likely to happen when they are happy, but some people have found deep meaning in times that were challenging, or even sad. Some people have them in crowds, and some people have to be alone to feel them. Whatever you call them, and however and how often they occur for you, “wow” moments have a way of making the world look different, even if only for a short time.
One of my favorite “wow” moments happened at a Jazz Fest years and years ago. I was alone in the crowds, and had just bought myself a plate of food and a strawberry lemonade. I walked over to a stage where the Creole Wild West Mardi Gras Indian tribe was performing. Both hands full, I made my way to the front of the stage. Around my waist was a fanny pack, and into the web belt of the pack I had stuck a maraca. To keep from losing it, I had tied it to the belt with a long shocking pink shoelace. The Creole Wild West began their peace chant, “Hatchet in the Ground,” and I and the other people in the dancing crowd were chanting with them (me still with both hands full). As we were singing and dancing, a woman standing next to me reached over as natural as you please and took the maraca from my belt, still tied to me by the pink shoelace, and began shaking it in time to the music.
I do not know how to explain this, but suddenly, I had a birds-eye view of the Fairgrounds, and I could see, as if I were very high up and looking down, the whole crowd in front of the stage with the Creole Wild West, as well as the crowds beyond there, moving around the fest. I was amazed at this view, and was enjoying everything I could see, and then I saw myself down there, holding the plate and the cup, and tethered to the unknown woman next to me by the bright pink shoestring. “It’s wonderful,” I thought to myself, “We’re all one thing -- it’s a mistake to think we’re separate.” But by thinking the words, suddenly I was back in my body, smiling at the woman next to me, just as the chant ended on stage.
For a brief time, I knew my unity with every single person at Jazz Fest, on stage and off, black and white, old and young. It was an amazing moment, and it has meant a lot to me, even though it only happened that once.
Think back to some of the “wow” moments of your life. Where were you? Who were you with? What was happening? How did it make you feel? Do you think of these “wow” moments as “spiritual”? Take some time to think of your favorite “wow” moments, and then share in your small group.
CLOSING STORY "AN EXTRAORDINARY HOUR"
Adapted from the “Spirit of Life” Workshop Program by the Rev. Melanie Morel-Ensminger
Once upon a time in an ordinary worship service, a group of ordinary people gathered, sitting in folding chairs in a Unitarian Universalist congregation, and shared their feelings and stories from their lives.
Peter told of his first time attending an AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meeting. At first, he was uneasy and uncomfortable, he said, but then meeting got started, people introduced themselves, and they told their stories. When Peter spoke, the group listened and welcomed him to the group. Peter said he felt he was not alone.
Molly told of joining with four people she had just met at a party to spontaneously play bongos and drums and flutes. Together they found their rhythm and made music as one body.
Preston told of crying in the shower when he learned his grandmother had died.
Randy spoke of his partner, during labor and delivery, pushing so hard her face turned purple as he witnessed his baby's arrival into the world.
Ramona spoke of her feeling at the time of adopting her child. Though not born of her body, still, really and truly her child. She said she was swept over with a feeling that anyone could be her child. Anyone.
Yassir spoke of his feeling of oneness when he was alone in the brilliant, white snow-filled mountains.
Jim remembered a childhood experience of watching a spider kill a caterpillar. Though as a child he didn't have the words for it, he knew the oneness of creation and destruction, of life and death.
Judi told of being with people from a variety of religions and backgrounds, living all over the city, working together, hauling and stacking sandbags during a flood of her hometown.
Maria spoke, beginning by saying "I can't speak in front of people." She went on to speak of being Hispanic and being raised by a loving white Mormon couple, never feeling like she belonged. She thought she had said all she had to say. She was silent and then got in touch with more. "My whole life," she said, "I have been searching for home."
As each one spoke and they all deeply listened, as they looked into one another's faces, as eyes met eyes, it was as if they were all saying, "Welcome home, welcome home, welcome home." An extraordinary hour with extraordinary people.
