​Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column

Many of us will be enjoying some time off from work in the coming weeks, and many of us will be celebrating Kwanzaa, Christmas, Yule, and/or Hanukkah. The winter holidays are a time of darkness and coldness. In that way, it is a good opportunity for the kind of sitting in silence that author Andre Dubus is talking about in the quote above. What he expresses is what many of us think: that we don’t have the right skills to do meditation “the right way” – the way that would lead us to peace, equanimity, and a greater awareness of the Divine that is present everywhere. Ironically, some of the most well-known spiritual leaders say the same thing. I’m thinking of Buddhist nun Pema Chodron, who teaches meditation and says that her thoughts are always intruding on the peace of her meditation. The trick is to do it anyway. The benefit of meditation is in the practice, not in the perfection of the practice.
 
May your holidays--whichever one or ones you celebrate--be relaxing. May your gatherings include real connection with your loved ones. May you have solitude and quiet to reflect, heal, and renew yourself. May you be free from expectations of perfection (from yourself or from others) and have a holiday that is good enough. Blessed be.
 
PRAYER:
God of Christmas and Kwanzaa, God of Hannukah and Yule, Divine presence that is with us when we celebrate just as when we mourn, smile upon our holiday gatherings this winter.
 
May we be blessed with satisfaction, feeling happy that we have enough.
 
May we take care of ourselves, acknowledging sadness as well as joy.
 
May we share love with everyone, building a world of greater peace and joy.
 
Amen.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
December 17, 2024

​Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
Psychologist Amy Cuddy offers this wisdom: “Presence is removing judgment, walls and masks so as to create a true and deep connection with people or experiences.” Being present to experiences is important, as this Sunday’s worship service will explore…but for me, what Cuddy is saying here relates especially to how we interact with other people.
 
Being truly present is a gift that makes authentic connection possible. But sometimes our mind is focused on ourselves instead of the person we are with—and sometimes we spend our energy keeping up our own appearance (the mask Cuddy refers to) instead of fully paying attention to the other person. Often the mask is a form of protection because we are afraid to be authentic and vulnerable. Judgment is the other side of the coin. If any part of my brain is busy judging the person I’m with (as good or as bad), then I am not seeing and hearing how they truly are.
 
As an example, yesterday I was in Ohio and had lunch with my brother and step-mother, my son and his girlfriend. It was a special moment because we don’t all get together too often—and I was able to be present to the moment. I had little need to mask any part of myself, and I had little feeling of judgment toward anyone else. This allowed me to listen fully, to ask real questions, and to express myself authentically. I was in the moment and not worried about what came before or after—which, ironically, makes it a good memory to reflect on.
 
May we all cultivate a sense of presence in our interactions: with loved ones; with fellow members of this congregation; with co-workers. May we be brave enough and self-aware enough to remove our masks, to let go of our judgments, and to tear down the walls that separate us.
 
PRAYER:
Spirit of life and love, our lives are full of encounters with other people. Some bring us joy. Sometimes we are called to listen with compassion.
May we be present to the fullness of each encounter, showing up with love for ourselves and for one another.
Blessed be.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
December 10, 2024

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
Winter arrived suddenly during Thanksgiving weekend--with a touch of Christmas magic. On Friday evening we took our visiting grandchildren up the street to Kinney Lodge Christmas House amid the first snowfall of the season.
 
This home, at 321 North Kinney Avenue, is decorated extravagantly with Christmas lights, and visitors are invited to stroll around the property. The fresh snowfall made the scene more magical, and experiencing it with young children even more so. The gracious hosts provide cups of hot cocoa and cookies for free. They can be found on the patio dressed as Santa Claus and The Grinch, respectively. Delighted by the experience, I have learned a little of their history.
 
Dominic and Kevin (Santa and the Grinch) are the current owners of the house, and it previously belonged to Dominic’s grandparents. For years, the grandparents would decorate the house and yard for Christmas, and townspeople would come by to visit. Today they are reviving this tradition from the 1990’s. The Facebook page dedicated to Kinney Lodge is full of people sharing their childhood memories being renewed thirty years later. The light display is open from 5:00-10:00 daily through the Christmas season, and on Thursday and Friday from 6:00-8:00 is the full experience with hot cocoa, cookies, and Santa.
 
In many ways I don’t feel ready for the winter season—the dark and cold can be a challenge. Thus it is all the more welcome to experience the holiday lights and friendly people that make Kinney Lodge an oasis of snowy fun. Long live holiday traditions and neighborhood gatherings.
 
PRAYER:
As Christians everywhere celebrate the advent of Christmas, may all people know warmth and love, friendship and neighborliness in this dark winter time.
May joy and peace come to everyone, everywhere, with no exceptions.
Amen.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
December 3, 2024