Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
On Monday morning, out of nowhere, I got a shooting pain in my lower back. I tried to move through it and go out to do what I had planned for my day, but it got worse instead of better. By the afternoon I was afraid to stand up after sitting down, because as soon as I was upright the pain was staggering. A day later, thanks to rest and pain medicine, I was fine: most of the pain was gone and I was able to go for a walk and do all of my normal activities.
 
The experience, however, was a humbling reminder.
 
I don’t get sick very often and my body is usually free of pain. A sudden debilitating pain, then, is uncommon and very unwelcome. I was super grouchy, and also scared. Standing up from the desk was scary, because I knew the pain would kick in as I became upright. Walking across the room or down the stairs took planning and courage.
 
One lesson from this day of pain is the miraculous way that my body works normally. Like anything we rely on (a car, a computer, a cell phone, a furnace), we only notice when it doesn’t work. We don’t celebrate when our car starts every day, or when our computer doesn’t crash. And I don’t celebrate my good health with gratitude every day. I felt resentful when my body gave me pain instead of easy function. May I be grateful for my good health.
 
A second lesson from this experience was to increase my compassion for the many people who have chronic pain. If this made me grouchy and scared for one day, I can’t imagine what a mental and emotional burden it would be to have similar pain every day (or most days).  May I be compassionate for those who are sick and those who are in pain.
 
The final lesson from my brief experience of back pain is that all of us, if we live long enough, will suffer decreased function in our bodies. This collection of nerves and muscles, skin and blood, is an amazing machine that keeps our brains alive and our souls connected to our bodies. For a while. As Cat Stevens says, “Lord, my body has been a good friend--but I won’t need it when I reach the end.” We can and should take care of our bodies with hydration, nutrition, exercise, and rest. And there will come a day when we part ways with our bodies, becoming something else that we can’t know. May I remember that every day is precious, and that life is fleeting.
 
PRAYER:
Spirit of Life and Love, bless the sick and the healthy today.
May the sick be eased of their pain. May their suffering be less.
May the healthy be grateful and compassionate.
May all know that they are loved, just as they are.
Amen.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
December 20, 2023

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
This week is the celebration of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, commemorating the ancient time when Jews were in a war-time siege and the little oil they had for their lamps miraculously lasted for eight days instead of one. A minor religious holiday in Israel, Hanukkah has great prominence in the U.S. because of its proximity to Christmas on the calendar. Including both Christmas and Hanukkah in public recognitions of December holidays is a symbolic gesture of honoring religious diversity. Often it feels to me like religious diversity in mainstream America is limited to Jewish and Christian religion—and that the recognition of Judaism is limited to Hanukkah. Little by little, a few other (non-Christian) holidays are finding their way into American consciousness. Ramadan is one that more Americans are becoming aware of—certainly more than a few decades ago.
 
At this moment, Hanukkah celebrations are tempered by the fact that Israel is engulfed in a horrible military conflict with Hamas, and that antisemitic speech is on the rise here in the U.S.  The Anti Defamation League tracks antisemitic speech and actions (such as vandalism,) and reports that both are at all-time high numbers since the October 7 Hamas attack (as reported on their website adl.org.)
 
Unitarian Universalists have a history of supporting both Israel and Palestine, including being critical of aggressive Jewish settlement programs in the region. This has led to deep disagreements in UU spaces. Indeed, in the current conflict there are passionate feelings and differences of opinion among UU laypeople and clergy. The UU Association has published a discussion guide called “Template: Congregational Conversations on Israel/Palestine” that outlines a comprehensive process for hosting a discussion in UU spaces. It calls for skilled facilitation, grounding and ground rules, and a spirit of sharing rather than debating. Some of the core questions that such a conversation would include are:

• What is on your heart right now as we gather? What feelings have been most present for you as you’ve followed what’s been happening in Israel and Palestine?
• How does your own constellation of identities, experiences, and familial/cultural inheritances shape your experience of the current conflict in Israel/Palestine? 
• What have you learned or been taught about what is happening in Palestine and Israel?
• How does grief for human suffering inform your response?
• What do you see as your obligation as a person living in the United States?

 
To me, these questions and this way of thinking offer a way into our humanity as we contemplate the terrible conflict and its humanitarian cost. As a people of love, I believe that Unitarian Universalists must be centered in minimizing human suffering.
 
Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate. To my Jewish friends and loved ones, and to all Jews around the world: may the light of the menorah shine on you to bring good health to you and your family, to bring love to your heart, and to bring peace to the world. May it be so.
 
PRAYER:
This is the English translation of the Hebrew prayer said with the lighting of the Hanukkah candles:
Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.

Amen. Shalom. Blessed be.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
December 13, 2023

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
I was in a store yesterday and the cashier remarked on how it felt super late even though it was just after 7:00 p.m.  “Yeah, the sun goes down a lot earlier this time of year,” I said.
 
“Ugh,” they said. “It went down before 5:00 today.”
 
I too take notice of the earlier and earlier sunset times in December, so I knew they were right. I wanted to say something like, “Hang in there,” because I sensed that this person was feeling the holiday blues. I wished them a good night and went out into the darkness to drive home.
 
I’ve been aware of the phenomenon of holiday blues for quite a few years now. According to the Very Well Mind website, it is a feeling of mild to moderate depression during November and December with possible causes including lack of sleep; excess eating and alcohol use; financial stress; and unrealistic expectations of happiness (quoted from Kendra Cherry, MSEd., on verywellmind.com).
 
Many of us know these feelings either first hand, or by having loved ones who struggle during these months. Like the cashier who seemed to be feeling bummed by the early darkness, many people have moments (or days) of sadness at this time of year. As strategies to cope with the holiday blues, the website quoted above recommends exercise and other forms of self-care, and connecting with others instead of isolating. Anyone reading this is invited to reach out to me for support (I’m a good listener although not a therapist or counselor) and to attend our special service on December 16th. The Blue Holidays service is a mostly quiet service with the chance to acknowledge any difficult emotions you are feeling, an invitation to hope, and an encouragement to self-care. This year’s Blue Holidays service will be on Saturday December 16 at 4:00 p.m.
 
In this time of gathering darkness, this season of holidays with the pressure to be happy, please be good to yourself. Remember that you are loved and you are not alone.
 
PRAYER:
Goddess of darkness, spirit of growing silence and stillness, be here now. Remind us of the healing that can take place in the quiet and dark. Remind us to snuggle in our beds and take our rest.
 
May all who suffer depression--mild or strong, seasonal or pervasive—find help and hope. May we all be part of active communities of care for one another. May each of us know hope and love.
 
Blessed be.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
December 6, 2023