South Fraser Unitarians · challenges and transitions. In his beloved book, To Bless the Space...

SouthFraserUnitarians

Whatdoesitmeantobea

PeopleofBlessing?

SFUCThematicPacketMayandJune2020

TableofContentsWhatDoesItMeantoBeAPeopleofBlessing?..........................................................................................1

OurSpiritualExercises..........................................................................................................................................1 OptionA-SecretBlessings...............................................................................................................................................1 OptionB-ABlessingList..................................................................................................................................................2 OptionC-BlessYourself...................................................................................................................................................3 OptionD-WriteaBlessing..............................................................................................................................................3 OptionE-BlesstheTeachers..........................................................................................................................................4

YourQuestion............................................................................................................................................................4

FamilyFaithFormation.........................................................................................................................................5 BooksandReadingsofWholenessTheBlessingCupbyPatriciaPolacco(Author,Illustrator).........5

CompanionPieces....................................................................................................................................................7 WordRoots.............................................................................................................................................................................7 WiseWords.............................................................................................................................................................................7 Videos........................................................................................................................................................................................9 Articles...................................................................................................................................................................................10 Books......................................................................................................................................................................................10 Music.......................................................................................................................................................................................11 Movies....................................................................................................................................................................................12

FutureThemes........................................................................................................................................................12

SFUCThemeMinistry–May/June2020 Page1

WhatDoesItMeantoBeAPeopleofBlessing?ASoulMattersfacilitatoronceshared,“IguessafterplanAfails,Ineedtorememberthere'sstillawholealphabetoutthere.”

It’snotjustourfriendwhoneedshelprememberingthatthere’sawholealphabetoutthere;it’sallofus.Weallgetstuckinwantingthingsacertainway.Weall,attimes,focussointentlyonthefewthingsgoingwrongthatwecompletelymissthedozensofthingsgoingright.Tunnelvisiontoooftentakesoverourdays.

ForUnitarianUniversalists,thisisthecentraltragedyofthehumancondition.Werespectthosewhoframethehumanproblemassinortwistedwills,butit’snearsightednessthatourreligionismostworriedabout.Whichisalsowhyblessingsaresocentraltoourfaith.Theyare,forus,awayofwideningourview.

Unlikesomeofourbrotherandsisterreligions,wedon’tsayalotofblessings.Insteadwepointtothem.Forus,blessingsarenotsomethingwegivetoeachotherasmuchastheyinvolveushelpingeachothernoticeallthat’salreadybeengiventous.Andit’snotjustaboutwideningourviewtoseethegiftsthemselves;it’saboutwideningourunderstandingoflife.Pointingtoblessingsrepairsourrelationshipwithlife,allowingustoseeitasgenerousnotthreatening,fullofgrace-filledsurprisesnotdominatedbyacoldindifference.

Andthere’salotatstakewhenitcomestothiswiderview.Whentheworldseemsstingytous,wearestingytoothers.Thosewhofeelblessedhavelittletroublepassingblessingson.Ourtraditiontakesthiscalculusseriously.AsUUminister,Rev.DonWheat,putsit“Thereligiouspersonisagratefulperson,andthegratefulpersonisthegenerousperson.”Inshort,bynoticingourblessings,webecomeablessing.

Sothismonththequestioninfrontofallofusisnotsimply“Doyounoticetheblessingssurroundingyou?”It’salso,“Howaretheblessingsinyourlifeleadingyoutoblessothers?”That“wholealphabet”outtheredoesn’tjusthappenonitsown;weaddtoit.Blessingsdon’tjustfillusup;theycauseustooverflow.Lifespillsintousandwespillintoothers.Inotherwords,blessingsdon’tjustenrichus;theyconnectus.Andmaybethatisthegreatestblessingofall.

OurSpiritualExercises

OptionA-SecretBlessingsWayneMuller,inhisbookSabbath,encouragesapracticehecallssecretblessing.Hewrites,“Blessstrangersquietly,secretly.Offerittopeopleyounoticeonthestreet,inthemarket,onthebus.[Silentlysaytoyourself]"Mayyoubehappy.Mayyoubeatpeace."Feeltheblessingmovethroughyourbodyasyouofferit.Noticehowyoubothreceivesomebenefitfromtheblessing.”


Atfirstblushit’shardtoimaginehowasecretblessingcanproducemuchgood.Howcanapersonreceivesomethingtheyaren’tawareyou’regivingthem?But,ofcourse,thispracticeismoreaboutwhathappenstousthanwhathappenstothem.Italtersourattention,makingusscanandbecomemoreawareofoursurroundings.Itchangesourattitudetowardothers.Justimagegoingthroughyourdaylookingforexcusestowishpeoplewellorthinkthebestofthemratherthanlookingforthreatsandassumingillintent.Anditconnectsustoothers,helpingusacknowledgecommonstrugglesandhungers.

Buthowexactlymightitchangeyou?Thatiswhatthisexerciseisallabout.

Doitforadayormaybetwo.Bedisciplinedaboutitandsetatargetforyourselflike,“Iwillsecretlyoffer10blessingsto10differentpeoplethroughouttheday.”Don’tbeafraidtokeepitsimple.Ablessingisasstraightforwardascompletingthesentence:“Iwish_________foryou.”

Attheendofthedaymeditateonorwriteabouthowofferingthoseblessingsandseekingoutpeopletoblessalteredyourday.Howdidblessingothersblessyou?

Cometoyourgroupreadytoshareafewstoriesaboutwhoyoublessed,howandwhy.

OptionB-ABlessingListOneofthemostfamousBlessingListscomesfromTheSoundofMusicandthesong,MyFavoriteThings.Thepointofthesongisthatordinaryblessingssaveus.“Wedon’tfeelsosad”thesongsays.Wealsodon’tfeelsoisolated,anxiousordisconnectedfromlife.Aswenoticetheordinaryblessingsaroundus,weexperiencelifeasagenerousfriendnotathreateningfoe.Ortousetheologicallanguage,ordinaryblessingscommunicatetousthatinsomemysteriouswaywearethebelovedofthespiritattheheartoflife.Whenwefocusonourfavoritethings,itcanfeelliketheseblessingswerecreatedjustforus.

Sotakeaweekandconnecttoyourbelovednessbymakingalistof“yourfavoritethings.”Addatleast2-3eachday.

Andyes,makeitaliterallist.Tomakeiteasyonyou,we’veputtogetheraBlessingListformforyoutodownloadandprintout:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fPKcGMWmERek9WK7BeZ-97gnxVCbt0OXo2OE5yFIVCg/edit?usp=sharing

Putthelistinaplaceyouwillseeiteachday:byyourbed,onyourdesk,onthefridge.It’simportanttowatchitfillupsoyoucanmoreeasilyseeconnectionsandthemes.Don’tworryaboutbeingprofound.ThinkoftheSoundofMusicsong:itwasfullofsimplethings.Similarly,thepointofthisexerciseistoidentifyYOURfavoritesimplethings:frenchpresscoffeeratherthanautomaticdrip;thewaythecatcurlsuponyourlapintheeveningwhenyouarewatchingTV;thewayyoursonunconsciouslystickshistongueoutwhenhe’sconcentrating;thesoundofyourdaughter'slaugh;theSaturdaymorningrerunsofcar-talkonNPR.

Cometoyourgroupreadytosharethelist,ifyouarecomfortable.Alsobereadytosharehownoticingtheseblessingsblessedyou.


OptionC-BlessYourselfInitssimplestform,ablessingisawishthatsomeformofstrengthorgoodnesscomesintothelifeofanother.AsRabbiLawrenceKushnerputsit,“Offeringablessingislikeacoachwhisperingtoanathletebeforeacompetition,"Youcandoit!"Morethanencouragement,thewordsofblessingliterallybringforthandmakerealanotherwiseunrealizableforce.”

Howthatforceisbroughtforthcanbedebated,butatleastit’sclearthatfocusingone’sattentiononsomethingmakesitmorelikelyitwillmanifestinourlives.

Sowhynotdosomemanifestingofyourown?Whynotblessyourself?Startbyasking,WhatdoIwishforinmyliferightnow?Morecourage?Patience?Awarenessofbeauty?Whateveritis,makeityourblessingforyourselfthismonth.Thinkofitassayingtoyourself,“May________bemineasIjourneythroughthismonth.”

Onceyou’vefiguredoutyourself-blessing,addaconcretedimensiontotheexercisebyfindinganobjectthatsymbolizesyourblessingandputitinaplacewhereyouwillseeiteveryday.Forinstance,ifyouwishforpatiencetoblessyouthismonth,findanoldwristwatchandsititonthetablenexttoyourbed.Ifit’sthecouragetoforgiveothers,maybefindarockthatsymbolizesthegrudgeyou’reholding.Ifit’smemoryyouhopetobeblessedby,findapictureofthedeadlovedoneyouwanttoholdtightertoandmakeroomforitonyourdesk.Letyourchosenphysicalobjectincarnateyourblessing.Letit,inasense,blessyoueverytimeyoulookatit.

Cometoyourgroupwithyourobject,ifyouarecomfortable.AlsobereadytosharehowblessingyourselfthiswaymadeKushner’s“otherwiseunrealizableforce”emerge.

OptionD-WriteaBlessingFormerpriestandpoetJohnO'Donohuewasamasteratwritingblessingsforeverydaychallengesandtransitions.Inhisbelovedbook,ToBlesstheSpaceBetweenUs:ABookofBlessings,hewroteblessingsforeverythingfromretirementanddivorcetobuyinganewhomeorfindinganewjob.Healsowroteblessingsforpeople,fromnewparentsandbusinessleaderstofarmersandnurses.Hesawblessingsascompanionsforourjourneys.Awayofmakingone’spathclearerandremindingonethatothershavewalkedthesewaysbefore.

Sowhatjourneyareyouinthemidstofrightnow?Orwhatjourneyissomeoneyoucareaboutinthemidstof?Thisexerciseinvitesyoutoofferyourselforanotherpersonacompanionforthatjourneybytryingyourhandatwritingablessing.

O’Donohue’sbookiseasilyavailableatlibrariesoronline.Weencourageyoutogetitanduseittosupportyouonyourway.

Cometoyourgroupreadytosharetheblessingyouwrote,ifyouarecomfortable.Alsosharethestoryofwhyyoupickedthetopicyoudidandifyougaveittoanotherpersontoblessthemontheirway.


OptionE-BlesstheTeachersIt’stheendoftheschoolyear.Formanyofus,teachershaveofferedusahugeblessingbyguidingandcaringforourchildren.Andyet,teachersrarelygetthankedfortheblessingstheygive.Soblesstheseteachersback.Workwithyourkidstofindyourownwayofsayingthanks.Itmightbealetteroramoretangiblesymbolicgift.Whateveritis,makesureitconveysthemanywaystheyhaveleftamarkandofferedablessingthatmattersmorethantheyknow.Here’savideotoinspireandmotivateyou:

WhatTeachersMakebyTaylorMalihttps://wordsfortheyear.com/2015/02/19/what-teachers-make-by-taylor-mali/

YourQuestionAsalways,don’ttreatthesequestionslike“homework”oralistthatneedstobecoveredinitsentirety.Instead,simplypickthesinglequestionthatspeakstoyoumostandletitleadyouwhereyouneedtogo.Thegoalistofigureoutwhatbeingapartofapeopleofblessingmeansforyouandyourdailyliving.So,whichquestioniscallingtoyou?Whichonecontains“yourwork”?Whereisthatquestiontryingtoleadyou? 1. Isittimetoembraceyourselfasablessingonceagain?Weallforgetsometimes.Weall

letothers’definitionsofworthdeterminehowwefeelaboutourown.Theworkofseeingourselvesasablessingisongoing.Howdoyouneedtore-claimorre-nameyourblessingtotheworld?

2. Whatisyourveryfavoritethingtodo?Whenwasthelasttimeyoudidit?Whyagain

aren’tyoudoingitallthetime?Oratleastmuchmoreoften?3. Somesayablessingisanythingthathelpsusrememberwhowereallyare.Wemost

oftenloseourselvesinworkorrelationshipsthataskustobesomethingwe’renot.Isittimetoblessyourselfandfindyourselfbysayinggoodbyetoajoborarelationshipthatdoesn’tblessandseeyou?

4. Hasagehelpedorhurt?Atwhatagewereyoubestatnoticingtheblessingsaroundyou?

Haveyougottenbetterastimehasgoneon?Orworse?Whatwouldimproveyourgaze?5. Didyourwordsblessorcurseothersthispastweek?ASoulMattersfacilitatorwrites,

“MyMomoftentoldustoconsiderourwordsbeforeofferinganopinion.Hermantrawas:“Areyourwordskindandhelpful?Ifbothadjectivesdonotapply,keepthethoughttoyourself!”Whatwordshavefallenfromyourlipslatelythatyouneedtogobackandturnintoablessing?

6. Isittimetoblessyourselfwiththefoolishnessofbelievingyoucandowhatotherssay

can’tbedone?


7. Haveyouthankedallofyour“fathers”fortheirblessings?Manyofushavemorethanonefatherfigureinourlives.Whenwasthelasttimeyoutoldthemthanksfortheirgifts?Andletthemknowyoucarrythemandtheirinfluencewithyoustill?

8. Inthemidstofallthepraisesforordinaryblessings,isatinyvoiceinsideyouwhispering

“more!”?Maybeit’soktoignoreafeweverydayblessingsforawhilesoyoucanmakethat“bigblessing”real.

9. Sometimestherearen’tblessingshiddeninourpain.Sometimesit’snotyouoverlookingtheblessings;theysimplyaren’tthere.Oftenwejustneedspacetoacknowledgetheemptiness,ratherthanhavepeopletrytominimizeit,makeitgoawayorconvinceusweshouldfindasilverlining.Isthattheblessingyoureallyneed?Theblessingofspacetodonothingbutmournthelossandfeelthepain?Whatwillittakeforyoutogetit?

10. Someblessingsarealwaysthere;othersarefleetingandeventuallyleaveus.Whichof

yourcurrentblessings’timeclockisfartheralongthanyouwish?Whatblessingneedsnoticedbeforeitsaysgoodbye?

11. Areyoumoreoftenanxiousaboutscarcitythanyouarestunnedbyalltheundeserved

blessings?12. Whatwasyourbiggest“unexpectedblessingmoment”?Whendidablessingsurprise

andsustainyouinthemidstofpain?Whatgiftorlessonfromthatstorydoyouneedtomostremembertoday?

13. Whatifyoutoldyourselfthatthiswasthebestandmostblessedpartofyourlife?What

mightlookorfeeldifferentlytoyou?14. What’syourquestion?Yourquestionmaynotbelistedabove.Asalways,iftheabove

questionsdon'tincludewhatlifeisaskingfromyou,spendthemonthlisteningtoyourdaystohearit.

FamilyFaithFormation

BooksandReadingsofWholenessTheBlessingCupbyPatriciaPolacco(Author,Illustrator)

“AbondofloveunitesafamilythroughoutgenerationsinthiscompaniontothebelovedandbestsellingclassicTheKeepingQuilt.

AsayoungRussianJewishgirlintheearly1900s,AnnaandherfamilylivedinfearoftheCzar’ssoldiers.Thefamilylivedahardlifeandhadfewpossessions—theirtreasurewasabeautifulchinateaset.Aweddinggiftto


Anna’sparents,theteasetcamewithawishthat“AnyonewhodrinksfromthiswillhaveblessingsfromGod.Theywillneverknowadayofhunger.Theirliveswillalwayshaveflavor.Theywillknowloveandjoyandtheywillneverbepoor.””-Amazon.

AstoryaboutpersecutioninthePogromsinRussiaaswellastheblessingsofheritage.Goodforreflectiononallmarginalizedpeoples.

OutdoorBlessingsScavengerHunt

Takesometimeoverthesenexttwoweekstogoinawalkoutinnatureandseeifyoucanobjectsandplacesforeachsense?• Smell-asmellysewer,aflower?• Taste-bewareofberriesunlessyoucanidentifythem!Whataboutprovidingatasteof

lemonade?• Sight-clouds,treelimbs,birds• Hearing-soundsallaround• Touch-textures,roughfrompavement,smoothlikeglass.• Vibration-fromabigtruckdrivingbyshakingtheground• Balance-onarockorcurb• Temperature-warmfromthesunorcoolintheshade

AnAppforYoutoExplore:WhoAmI?RaceAwarenessGame(TheBlessingofDiversity)

“DevelopedbyaHarvardprofessorandanaward-winningproducerofinteractiveentertainmentforchildren,WhoAmI?engagesadultsandchildreninfrankdiscussionsaboutsensitivesubjectsconcerningrace,ethnicity,andculture.SimilartoplayingthegameGuessWho?,parentschooseapicturefromalargegroupofraciallydiverseportraits,thenhandthedevicetotheirchildren.Kidsaskaseriesofquestionsregardingphysicalattributes,andeventuallydiscovertherightonebyprocessofelimination.Eachportraitcomeswithquotesfromthepersonexplaininghowhe/sheidentifieshim/herself.Thequotesmakeideasaboutracefeelmorepersonal,althoughsomeofthequotescouldreinforceassumptionswithoutparentalguidancetooffercontext.

Someparentsmaythinkitunwisetobroachthesubjectofracewithyoungerchildren,butthegame’sintroductorytextmakesacompellingargumentthatchildrenarealreadythinkingaboutdifferencesinthewaypeoplelookandregardthemselvesandothersatayoungage,andthatit'sbesttohelpguidethemonthiscognitiveprocess.Still,it'saparentingdecisionthatmomsanddadswillneedtomakeforthemselves…”-CommonSenseMediareview

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/who-am-i-race-awareness-game


CompanionPiecesRecommendedResourcesforPersonalExploration&Reflection

Thefollowingresourcesarenotrequiredreading.Wewillnotanalyzethesepiecesinourgroup.Insteadtheyareheretocompanionyouonyourjourneythismonth,getyourthinkingstartedandopenyoutonewwaysofthinkingaboutwhatitmeanstobepartofapeopleofwholeness.

WordRootsBlessinghasalonghistoryofmeaningsandroots.TheOldEnglishblēdsianbasedonblōd‘blood’(originallyto‘markorconsecratewithblood’)wasusedtotranslatetheLatinbenedicere‘topraiseorworship.’ThemeaningshiftedinlateOldEnglishtoward‘pronounceormakehappy,prosperous,orfortunate.’IntheSemiticlanguageofAramaic,thephrasetranslatedas‘Blessed’intheBeatitudeswasactuallytubwayhunwhichreferstobeingripe,mature;havingreachedastageofthefullnessofthepersonIammeanttobe.

WiseWordsSowhat,then,doesitmeantoofferablessing,tobeablessing?Toblesssomethingorsomeoneistoinvokeitswholeness,tohelpremindthepersonorthingyouareblessingofitsessence,itssacredness,itsbeauty,andtohelpremindyourselfofthat,too.Blessingdoesnotfixanything.Itisnotacure…Itdoesnotinstillhealthorwell-beingorstrength.Instead,itremindsusthatthosethingsarealreadythere,withinus.Rev.EleaKemler

Thereisarealityinblessing...Itdoesn’tenhancesacredness,butitacknowledgesit.MarilynneRobinson,fromGilead

Toblessistoputabitofyourselfintosomething.MacrinaWiederkehrandJoyceRupp

Togivesomeoneablessingisthemostsignificantaffirmationwecanoffer.Itismorethanawordofpraiseorappreciation;itismorethanpointingoutsomeone'stalentsorgooddeeds;itismorethanputtingsomeoneinthelight.Togiveablessingistoaffirm,tosay"yes"toaperson'sBelovedness.HenriJ.M.Nouwen

Ablessingisnotsomethingthatonepersongivesanother.Ablessingisamomentofmeeting,acertainkindofrelationshipinwhichbothpeopleinvolvedrememberandacknowledgetheirtruenatureandworthandstrengthenwhatiswholeinoneanother.Bymakingaplaceforwholenesswithinourrelationships,weofferotherstheopportunitytobewholewithoutshameandbecomeaplaceofrefugefromeverythinginthemandaroundthemthatisnotgenuine.Weenablepeopletorememberwhotheyare.RachelNaomiRemen,MyGrandfather'sBlessings

Theonewhooffersablessingislikeacoachwhisperingtoanathletebeforeacompetition,"Youcandoit!"Morethanencouragement,positivespin,orsincerewish,thewordsofblessingliterallybringforthandmakerealanotherwiseunrealizableforce.Inthisway,blessingisnotsupplicationbutsymbiosis.Godneedsustosummonblessings,justaswecouldnotlivewithoutthem.LawrenceKushner


Wheredoesitcomefrom,thisstrangeunquenchablehumanurgefor'more'thatisbothourblessingandourcurse?Ithascausedustoliftoureyestotheheavensandthreadtogetherpiecesoftheuniverseuntilwecanglimpseashadowofthedivinecreation.Yettogainthisknowledge,wehavesometimeslostthemysteryofacloud,thebeautyofagarden,thejoyofasinglestep.Wemustlearntovaluethesmallaswellasthegreat…Dowereallyneedmuchmorethanthis?Tohonorthedawn.Tovisitagarden.Totalktoafriend.Tocontemplateacloud.Tocherishameal.Tobowourheadsbeforethemysteryoftheday.Arethesenotenough?KentNeburn

Weblessthelifearoundusfarmorethanwerealize...theunexpectedphonecall,thebrieftouch,thewillingnesstolistengenerously,thewarmsmileorwinkofrecognition.Bigmessagescomeinsmallpackages.Allitmaytaketorestoresomeone'strustinlifemaybereturningalostearringoradroppedglove.Awomanoncetoldmethatshedidnotfeeltheneedtoreachouttothosearoundherbecausesheprayedeveryday...ButaprayerisaboutourrelationshiptoGod;ablessingisaboutourrelationshiptothesparkofGodinoneanother.Godmaynotneedourattentionasbadlyasthepersonnexttousonthebusorbehindusonlineinthesupermarket.RachelNaomiRemen,MyGrandfather'sBlessings

It’shardesttolovetheordinarythings,shesaid,butyougetlotsofopportunitiestopractice.BrianAndreas

SomethingWildandUnbroken(Blessedbysurprisingbeauty),CarrieNewcomerFullpoemherehttp://carrienewcomer.tumblr.com/post/122883509259/something-wild-and-unbroken“Ridingmybikedownanarrowcountryroad...AgracefulyoungdoeWasboundinginbeautifulunhurriedleaps…ThenwithaburstofspeedShedashedinfrontofmeAnddisappearedintothewoodsLeavingmebreathlessWithafeelingofvisitation...Sincethatmoment,Theworldhasfeltlessweary…”

Itcouldhappenanytime,tornado,earthquake,Armageddon.Itcouldhappen.Orsunshine,love,salvation.Itcould,youknow.That’swhywewakeandlookout—noguaranteesinthislife.Butsomebonuses,likemorning,likerightnow,likenoon,likeevening.Yes!WilliamStafford


Blessedbethelongingthatbroughtyouhere

Andquickensyoursoulwithwonder.

Mayyouhavethecouragetolistentothevoiceofdesirethatdisturbsyouwhenyouhavesettledforsomethingsafe.JohnO'Donohue

AFranciscanBenedictionMayGodblessuswithdiscomfortAteasyanswers,half-truths,andsuperficialrelationshipsSothatwemaylivefromdeepwithinourhearts.

MayGodblessuswithangerAtinjustice,oppression,andexploitationofGod'screationsSothatwemayworkforjustice,freedom,andpeace.

MayGodblessuswithtearsToshedforthosewhosufferpain,rejection,hunger,andwar,SothatwemayreachoutourhandstocomfortthemandToturntheirpainintojoy.

AndmayGodblessuswithjustenoughfoolishnessTobelievethatwecanmakeadifferenceintheworld,Sothatwecandowhatothersclaimcannotbedone:Tobringjusticeandkindnesstoallourchildrenandallourneighborswhoarepoor.

Thankyou,faithfulthings!MarkStrandThankyou,faithfulthings!Thankyou,world!Toknowthatthecityisstillthere,thatthewoodsarestillthere,andthehouses,andthehumoftrafficandtheslowcowsgrazinginthefield;thattheearthcontinuestoturnandtimehasn’tstopped,thatwecomebackwholetosuckthesweetmarrowofday,thankyou,brightmorning,thankyou,thankyou!

VideosWearegoingtodie,andthatmakesusthelucky(andblessed)onesRichardDawkinshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOXMjCnKwb4

TheBestGift(andBlessing)IEverSurvivedhttps://www.ted.com/talks/stacey_kramer_the_best_gift_i_ever_survived#t-163255StaceyKrameroffersamoving,personal,3-minuteparablethatshowshowanunwantedexperience--frightening,traumatic,costly--canturnouttoalsobeapricelessblessing.


RespondingtotheBlessingofLife’sBeauty-TEDtalkandvideomeditationhttps://www.ted.com/talks/louie_schwartzberg_nature_beauty_gratitudeNature’sbeautycanbefleeting--butnotthroughLouieSchwartzberg’slens.Heshareshisstunningtime-lapsephotographyandinvitesusintoavideomeditationonbeinggratefulforeveryday.

BlessedbytheMoonhttps://vimeo.com/259818647

TheParadox,SarahKayOntheblessingofbeingwhereyou’resupposedtobe.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VShVwQtIFF8

BlessedareThoseWhoWorkforRevolutionaryLoveRev.DavidMillerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=27&v=9u3nwyu_vHw

HowRaceSettledtheSuburbs-NotAllBlessedEqually,AdamRuinsEverythinghttps://www.facebook.com/truTVAdamRuinsEverything/videos/710617992474278/

THELGBTQAlphabethttps://www.facebook.com/Equinox/videos/10154862193754401/InhonorofPrideMonththisvideocelebratestheblessingsoftwenty-sixwaystosharewhoyouareandhowyoulove.

Juneteenth:TheBlessingofKnowingtheTrueStoryTheJuneteenthStory:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMlUkZhYtcUJuneteenth:Atruthfultelling:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7__GlJuFOM12ThingsToKnow:http://mentalfloss.com/article/501680/12-things-you-might-not-know-about-juneteenth

Articles PronounceaSilentBlessing,BarbaraBrownTaylorhttp://www.dailygood.org/story/1283/pronounce-a-silent-blessing-barbara-brown-taylor/Excerpt:“Ithinkthatthebestwaytodiscoverwhatpronouncingblessingsisallaboutistopronounceafew.Thepracticeitselfwillteachyouwhatyouneedtoknow.Startwithanythingyoulike.Evenasticklyingonthegroundwilldo.Thefirstthingtodoistopayattentiontoit.Themoreawareyoubecome,themoreblessingsyouwillfind…”

BooksTheGentleArtofBlessing:ASimplePracticeThatWillTransformYouandYourWorldbyPierrePradervand(Author)https://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Art-Blessing-Practice-Transform-ebook/dp/B002TNGBJU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1521469988&sr=1-1&keywords=9781439153635


OnGratitude:51Micro-EssaysonLife’sBlessingshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/1440505942/ref=as_at?imprToken=uVtj.s3MHDceGhhf3ADfyQ&slotNum=2&tag=braipick-20&camp=213381&creative=390973&linkCode=w61&creativeASIN=1440505942&adid=1EFV6YMKWWGYFCG3EC5G&https://www.brainpickings.org/2010/10/25/on-gratitude/

Blessing:TheArtandthePractice,DavidSpanglerhttp://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/books/reviews/view/2813https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KGJWN0/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

LGBTQBooksthatBlessedhttps://www.buzzfeed.com/farrahpenn/the-most-influential-lgbt-books?utm_term=.woAJJ1N5e#.uojmmQGDP

MusicGrateful:ALoveSongtotheWorldEmptyHandsMusichttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO2o98Zpzg8

ToThisLife,KimChurchillhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glO6eQu9OA0

Wonder,NaughtyBoyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kASjW_aPbQ

MyFavoriteThings,fromTheSoundofMusichttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IagRZBvLtw&feature=youtu.beJazzcover:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlwMTQFLHdUTheWillisClanCover(songstartsat2:40):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h8J48UXoBc

ThankYouVeryMuch,LeahSonghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKFed9LCong&index=19&list=RDm3rLLALWYyk

ThankYou,AlanisMorissettehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDp6F_Baf5I

MayISuggestSusanWerner:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW1DDSQnEYo&feature=youtu.beRedMolly:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMWk9J_riPw

ComeThouFountofEveryBlessingCoverbySarahNoëlle:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3w9nvXuVnkCoverbyElenyi&SarahYoung:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Z3pjXmNq2g&index=1&list=PLyvBLXLjvLeyj3wsVboWHgtFaev-LQfRQ


SlowDown(Savoringtheblessingofourchildren),NicholeNordemanhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clcNB_EUao8&index=6&list=RDIaOExJJa_YA

Movies GardenStatehttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/garden_stateAquietlytroubledyoungmanreturnshomeforhismother’sfuneralafterbeingestrangedfromhisfamilyforadecade.

LittleMissSunshinehttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/little_miss_sunshine

Ameliehttp://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/amelie/Onewomandecidestochangetheworldbysecretlyblessingthelivesofthepeoplesheknows…

127Hourshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/127_hours

IsleofDogshttps://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/isle-of-dogsTheblessingoffriendsandteamworkinthisWesAndersonstopmotionanimatedfilm.

FutureThemes

Themepacketswillbepostedtoourwebsite,surreyunitarians.ca,ontheThursdaypriortothethemestarting.Ifyou’dliketojoinasmallgroup,pleasecontactRev.Samaya.Smallgroupstypicallymeet:• thethirdMondayeveningofeachmonth(exceptinNovemberwhenthegroupwillmeetonthe

lastMondayeveningofthemonth);and• thefourthWednesdayafternoonofeachmonth.

Themesforthe2020-2021yearhavebeenset!Lookforwardtothefollowing:

SeptemberandOctober–Whatdoesitmeantobeapeopleofbelonging?NovemberandDecember–Whatdoesitmeantobeapeopleofawe?JanuaryandFebruary–Whatdoesitmeantobeapeopleofresilience?MarchandApril–Whatdoesitmeantobeapeopleofwisdom?MayandJune–Whatdoesitmeantobeapeopleofplay?

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South Fraser Unitarians · challenges and transitions. In his beloved book, To Bless the Space...

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