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
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
SFUCThemeMinistry–May/June2020 Page12
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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