​Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
Buddhist nun and teacher Pema Chodron offers this advice:

Part of this spiritual truth speaks to me directly in this moment. It was just over a week ago that Jerry Cavalieri passed away suddenly, and his death remains very present for me. The first two Buddhist reminders are apt: life is precious and we should remember that our days are limited—therefore make the best of each day. Nothing brings this truth home like the death of someone close in our lives.
 
In a different way, the fourth reminder really rings out for me, especially the part about being “caught up in thinking about how you are good or bad.” My own spiritual work is to pay less attention to the critical voice in my head. Discerning what is good or bad in order to my best is laudable; spending too much energy on trying to be perfect is not productive.
 
I imagine that many of us have spiritual texts or sacred texts that we turn to regularly: reading the Bible, reading poetry, or something else where we find thought-provoking wisdom and meaning. Sometimes a reading will grab me and connect to a core truth for me, which is why I shared this one. What is your truth? Where do you turn for words to inspire and motivate you--or comfort and reassure you?
 
May we all find the wisdom, ancient or modern, that connects us to deep truth and helps us live our daily lives a little bit better.
 
PRAYER:
Spirit of life and love, remind us that every day is a gift, that we may appreciate ourselves and connect with our loved ones to the fullest extent.
May we learn to be satisfied and grateful for who we are, recognizing our gifts and our wholeness as much as we dwell on our shortcomings and our difficulties.
Blessed be.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
February 18, 2025

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
Happy birthday! Today is the birthday of the trees.
 
In the Jewish tradition, the Torah forbids eating fruit from a tree for the first three years, giving it time to mature. A common date was established, therefore, as the birthday of the trees to allow for accurate counting of a tree’s age: the 15th day of the month of Shevat (February 12 on our calendar). This day, Tu B’Shevat, is celebrated with a ritual of fruits. In some celebrations, 12 fruits are named with symbolic significance assigned to each one. Another way to celebrate Tu B’Shevat is to plant a tree. In this way, the holiday is akin to Earth Day.
 
This time of year is the midpoint of winter when the sap begins to rise. In its timing, Tu B’Shevat is close to the Pagan holiday of Imbolc, which recognizes the half-way point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. In American popular culture we also have Groundhog Day at this time of year. All of these are seasonal holidays that are based on what is happening in the cycle of the year. Imbolc marks the hopeful moment when, still in the dead of winter, the ewes show signs of pregnancy: a hopeful sign for the survival of the village in Celtic times. Groundhog Day, as we know, portends the changing of the weather from winter to spring (eventually). And Tu B’Shevat celebrates fruit trees coming to maturity.
 
Around the world, holidays have become established based on the rhythm of growing and raising food, according to the local climate. Understandably, humans then attach spiritual significance to these practical realities. While we may not be Jews tied to the climate and trees of Israel, we would do well to savor the foods we are lucky enough to eat. We would do well to ponder where our food comes from, and to offer gratitude to those whose labor brings it from the orchard or field to our table.
 
PRAYER:
May every tree be honored and respected.
May we seek greater harmony with the natural world and its rhythms.
May we be grateful for the Earth’s bounty that we partake of at every meal.
Shalom. Blessed be.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
February 12, 2025

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
In today’s news I read that Donald Trump is cancelling billions of dollars in international aid, and that Elon Musk is gaining access to the personal and financial data of millions of Americans. And let’s remember that on his first day, Trump released hundreds of violent criminals from jail. This is a very incomplete list! I could name many other alarming, illegal and immoral things that the MAGA government is doing.
 
One of the important tasks during these days is to pay attention to what is happening—to resist the urge to hide our heads. This is daunting when we are living through an unprecedented time in American history and watching the destruction of American institutions before our eyes. Paying attention is important—and so is taking a break. May we all find the right balance for ourselves and our sanity.
 
Let us remember that in an environment of oppression, love looks like resistance; and that our proper place is speaking (and acting out) our values of inclusion, love, equity and compassion again and again and again. Sometimes resistance looks like political action: many members of the congregation met with elected officials at the library yesterday morning; and many also attended the school board meeting last night. And sometimes resistance looks like love and joy. In my morning message last Sunday I quoted Dan Savage, who said that during the worst of the AIDS crisis they would “bury our friends in morning, protest in the afternoon, and dance all night.” The dancing, he explains, was what kept them going--and represented what they were fighting for. Therefore when we gather--as people who hold dear the values of love, generosity, and justice—when we gather for game night or movie night…when we gather for play dates with other families…when we gather to sing songs of love and joy…when we gather to grieve and support one another: these too are acts of resistance. May we be bold and courageous in claiming our love, joy and compassion. This may not have a direct effect in dislodging treasonous oligarchs from the federal government, but every act of love and kindness does have an effect. In a scary world, every good deed matters.
 
PRAYER:
May God, also known as the Spirit of Love, bless every gathering where people share kindness.
May every act of compassion be blessed: the child helping a classmate on the playground; the nurse caring for her patient; the friend picking up the phone when someone needs support.
May we have the wisdom to practice self-care, saving our strength for the joyful gatherings that make life worth living and for the hard work of resisting injustice.
In solidarity with all those who value love and compassion above profit and retribution,
Amen.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
February 4, 2025