What is left?

When I reached the mountain top and found the sage had gone I wondered what is left? What is left when my insides tremble and I wonder what might become of my dream and the questions it evokes? What is left when I no longer linger waiting for some simple sign that I have made the right choices? What is left when I finally stop and say uncle, we believe in the same universal truth but not perhaps in the way they are lived out in this world? Perhaps what is left is what is right, to open my heart and say - ah home again.
Thank you all for tending this place of wonder, 2U-Second Unitarian of Chicago, with such fierce and gentle spirits.

As I wait for some part of me to shift into a new place I am aware that nothing will happen unless I move. As I sit still and think good thoughts and move carefully around the layers of the under the parts of my life I have not embraced for some time I think - why would I want to shift that piece of my life - it seems just fine. As I respond to the nagging voices in my head saying things like "really you need to do something differently?" I side step and turn on the TV to watch Chopped just like last night. 

But something has changed in me and perhaps the biggest change is I am willing to see that change.

This is different. Someone said no to me and I did not become a weeping ball of insecurities, someone said maybe and then no and I did not stop and wonder why my entire life was falling apart, someone said yes and while I still wonder why I am stepping forward.

Today I write because I can write.

Tomorrow I will paint because I can paint.

The next day I will learn because I love to learn.

After that I will sing because there is nothing in this world that makes my heart happier.

Even as I wait, even as I wonder if I can change if the dust bunnies can be found and removed, I know that this is mine to do NOW, embrace the seeker I have always been.

May 10 - three impossible things

Author: glass artist and nature
Location: Outside

As she tries to gain courage to face the Jabberwocky Alice is reminded to do three impossible things before breakfast. Not finding God, feeling alone, breathing in the abiguity of life, may not be as scary as facing a huge monster but on days when I have trouble seeing God it can feel as big to me. Then I go looking for the obvious which has become dull. I go looking and I can find her still in places like this - the simple beauty of color and light and life. I can still find him if I look for the impossible in the simple. If I take the time to look and remember. It was me who thought it was impossible for to be God present when I am despondent. It is me that sometimes wishes to raise a fist at God when I find life is hard.

It is not impossible for God to be with me, but sometimes in very lonely moments I can draw away from God and blame God for drawing away from me. Ah then is when courage is needed. And perhaps a reminder that the impossible is still possible - Bidden or Unbidden God is present (Erasmus)

May 9 - In response to North Carolina

In response to the lunacy in North Carolina - Love is love
 
Ruth 1:16-18
But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; Where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus and so to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!” When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

Author: K Mooney (inspired by artist He Qi)
Location: All Saints Episcopal - Chicago

May 8 - Icon's in the real world

Authors: JH COS group
(note the letters down the right side are folks initials)

Location: Basement of Church of Our Saviour - Chicago

My friend Carol Cade told me recently that every halo in an icon is outlined by a line of red and a line of white.

Here then is a different kind of icon - the hopes, the wishes, the prayers for finding God in church and beyond.

Icons of how we gather and claim our world to be for, with and of God. Everything is Holy. Everything is sacred.

May 7 - In stark relief a flower mimics a flower.

Author: Carol Cade
Location: St Johns Episcopal Chicago

The grass turned green today

and spring confirmed her long anticipated arrival.

Making good on the promise of snow drops

and timid crocusi;

affirming the herald songs

of redbirds and robins

bluebirds and woodpeckers.

A verdant wave swelled across

parks and tree lawns

splashing up against houses

in the cocky stance of daffodil & tulip greens.

The grass turned green today

as I was blessed to see. - PMRumancik

May 6 - Icon in relief (St Teresa)

Authors: Carol Cade & Karen Mooney
Location: St John's Episcopal - Chicago

The saints give us an example an which to live. For St Teresa that was an example of a person working for justice and trying to stay out of trouble with the Vatican. (Her personal confessor was a spy sent to root out her mysticism and heresy.) Meanwhile she gave the world a view of how to bring God into the world. Harkening to the invitation in Micah 6:8 she states:

Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours, no feet but yours;
yours are the eyes through which 
Christ's compassion looks out on the world,
yours are the feet with which 
He is to go about doing good

and yours are the hands with which 
He is to bless us now.    
                                     Teresa of Avila

May 4 - Hail as a sign of great majesty

Author: God
Location: Chicago

It pummeled our roof these chunks of ice from the sky called hail.

The cats ran through the home and acted like fear itself was their breath.
Inconsolable, uncertain, clinging to the ground beneath a chair in the dinning room, claws thickly grabbing at a well worn rug.



HAIL was punishing the windows and hitting the ground as if to remind me that there are consequences for driving cars and creating millions of gadgets out of plastic.
Our yard was transformed, glistening with ice in May.
Yet do we hope that we will survive.
O God have mercy.
O Lord let us learn and grow and transform.

May 3 - I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Author: Corbett Lunsford, Karen Mooney
Location: 5:30 pm Contemplative Eucharist - Church of Our Saviour

Every Sunday evening on the north side of Chicago Corbett and I sit down to create a fabric in music. We weave together an odd set of instruments and songs and every once in a while we come away knowing we have just prayed. Last Sunday - an improve(ish) voice, accordion and piano to the 23rd psalm.


A Psalm of David.
¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
²   He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;^*
3   he restores my soul.^*
He leads me in right paths^*
   for his name’s sake.

⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley,^*
   I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff—
   they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely^* goodness and mercy^* shall follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
   my whole life long.

May 2 - God laughs

Author: Susan A. 
in Chicago


When a "white elephant" comes back to grace the beauty of a field of (lilies of the valley) flowers one has to take notice. This lovely lady came from my parents basement - God laughs, maybe mostly at us but s/he laughs all day long.

May 1 - Snow

Author: Karen Mooney
Location: Independence Park - Chicago

If each snow flake is unique,
each tree, each wind blow, each sun ray, each hair on your head,
if each and everything is unique

- does that mean that 

God would get bored

making us the same each time? 

Does God grow in her love

as our world / universe grows and grows.

If each snow flake is unique
how could anything be outside the love of God?

April 30 - Happy Feet

Author: Bridget Tierney                     Location: Chicago-land

The Waking (1953)

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.

Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me, so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.

This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.

Theodore Roethke

April 29 - Hospitality, a poem, a relfection

Author: Pam Rumancik
Location: Earth

Hospitality

Breathing in the sweet air of welcome~
hospitality, friendship.
Acceptance of an outstretched hand~
warm eyes, quiet smile~
Fills & refreshes the weary heart~
bouys the spirit,
quickens the step,
strengthens the persevering soul;
to move again in the world
transformed, renewed,
made whole,
made Holy.

PMR

April 28 - Thoughts on Eastertide: Aubrey

Author: Aubrey 
Music: Nice Dream by Radiohead - performed by Mara Carlyle and Matthew Herbert
Location: Chicago

My thoughts in Eastertide and my pursuit of God in the world.

April 27 - Working together we can change

Author: Karen Mooney

Location: Lutheran School of Theology - Chicago (Hyde Park)

During and anti-racism training I spent the lunch hour responding with this drawing. This is hard, chilling, anger making, weird and wonderful work. What could we do if we set our minds to changing ourselves.

Never underestimate the power of a small group of people to change the world. Indeed they are the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead

April 26 - Roosevelt High School Memorial

Author: Student at Roosevelt High School, Chicago

A person makes a mark in our lives.
Defined by concrete and sorrow this gathering of light made a loud statement into the night.
I WAS HERE. I MATTERED.

Apparently he had been one of those rare individuals who actually believed in high school students - trusted them - talked to them - helped them be better people - listened to them - watched out for them.



The gates of heaven open wide, let angels sing another prayer for a soul surely at heaven's gate.

April 25 - Separate earth and water

Author: Karen Mooney

Genesis 1:9-10
And God said, ‘Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.


As a fish swims is it aware of the water around it?
Is a wave really separate from the ocean that it come forth from?
How do I breath this sweet clean air; never stop to wonder that all of this is possible?
Earth from sea - Land from water.
How did you know what was needed - did you simply move forward knowing it would be obvious what to do only when the time was ripe?
       What am I that you are mindful of me?
       What am I that I am mindful of you?

April 24 - Joy beyond Joy

Author: Unknown (poem Mooney)
Location: Unknown
Found: Facebook conversation (go social media)

If I could laugh with abandon would the world ever again seem small or tired or colorless.
With a face filled with joy could my prayer be only to ask for my needs alone.
Could God's love ever seem so small - even in the face of barren dry ground.
Would I feel alone? Do not the outstretched hands, chest boldly forward, feet planted firmly show the very essence of my place, here.

It is my heart that needs rejoicing.
It is my mouth that needs to remember this smile.
It is my life that must spring forth.

God in this world how do you find me open to you so that I might be open to this cacophony of glee.
 - KEM 4/2012

April 23 - Youth respond

Authors: the Youth Group of COS
Location: 530 W Fullerton, Chicago

Matthew 5:14-15
¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
NSRV

Effort and Acceptance

April 22 - Hospitality

Author: Betsy Peterson
Location: Middle East


Betsy writes:
Meeting those living in a Palestinian refugee camp.

Though we knew no Arabic, she was confident in her English. Despite not always recognizing the English she used, we had a beautiful conversation based on a more ancient language - the language of hospitality.

April 21 - Icon

Author: Betsy Peterson
Location: Chicago

Mixed media of an angel with forget-me-nots and hawthorn framing a 5x7 photo of a fabulous icon we saw in the old city section of Jerusalem. The icon shows the 3 visitors who come to Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18:1-15) At their feet is Isaac who plays with the lamb/ram that was sacrificed instead of himself. According to legend, the blood of the lamb fell on the earth and up sprang the first palm tree.

Genesis 18:1-15

The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. He said, “Oh yes, you did laugh.”

April 18 - Nature is impossible

Author: Mary Diamond
Location: Midwest

Goddess Face

MINDFUL by Mary Oliver
New and Selected Poems
Volume Two

Every day I see
or hear something
that more or less

kills me with delight,
that leaves me like a needle

in the haystack of light
It is what I was born for - to look, to listen,

to lose myself inside this soft world
- to instruct myself over and over

in joy, and acclamation.
Nor am I talking about the exceptional,

the fearful, the dreadful, the very extravagant
- but of the ordinary, the common, the very drab,

the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar, I say to myself,
how can you help

but grow wise with such teachings as these
- the untrimmable light

of the world, the ocean's shine,
the prayers that are made
out of grass.

April 17 - It's all in the numbers

Author: Karen Mooney
Location: West Shore UU Church

Mathematics is the language with which God has written the universe - Galileo

The vary act of observing creation allows us to marvel at our creator. A spiral found on the shores of nature or in a flower point to a mathematical sequence called Fibonacci's sequence. (If you take the last two numbers and add them together you will get his sequence: 1,1,2,3,5,8,13.... If you draw this out the beauty of nature begins to show itself.) Mathematics and physics and chemistry all show a creation with some set of laws.





 
Where do we find God in our world?
Where don't we see God - the creator - shinning through the creation we live within.

God created everything by number, weight and measure. - Sir Isaac Newton

April 16 - Reminding us of blooming beauty

Author: Pam Rumancik
Location: West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church

Waves God ran through the yard today.

picking up the blue of eternity 

the yellow of a golden rule

I caught her smiling at me

with such a mischievous wink

I couldn't help but laugh.

pmr 2012

April 15 - Separate Sky and Earth

Author: Karen Mooney
Location: Bedford, Ohio


So began my longing O Lord.
This separation of earth from the all of the sky.
This separation from you.

Thus began the place of knowing
                                            I am not the sky.
Thus began the time to yearn for the closeness of you,
to yearn for that solid moment of breath given to dust.
For that moment of creation.

But that is days and days and days away.

So remind me God what it feels like to create,
                     to say separate
       knowing it will be painful,
knowing it is the only way to something new
and to rejoice saying it is good.

KEM - 4/2012

April 14 - What is this about?

Authors:
Lee Long,
Pam Rumancik,
Benny Long (9)



It is impossible to know what response a question will bring forward.



She said - Let's go outside and draw on the sidewalk

He looked incredulous

She said - Come on it will be fun. I have an art project.

He said - What project?

She said - We are drawing where we see God in the world today.

He scrunched his face and said - What is going on here? God isn't in the world and everyone know what he looks like.

She said - Ah but not everyone see's the same thing when they say God. Some people see nature, some people see a man, some people even see a woman... can you imagine. What do you think God looks like?

He said - Like a man but I guess I would like to draw.

Outside they knelt with chalk and he began drawing a tree - the sun - a rainbow.

God takes many different "faces" after all, and in the world today we are reminded of these in the service we give, the lives we led and the earth on which we make our way.

April 13 - Blooms in Ohio

Author: Lee Long

Rumi - The Miracle We Are

Did you hear that winter’s over? 

The basil and the carnations cannot control their laughter. 

The nightingale, back from his
wandering, has been made singing master over the birds. 

The trees reach out their
congratulations. The soul goes dancing through the king’s doorway. 

Anemones blush because they have seen the rose naked.

Spring, the only fair judge, walks in the courtroom, and several December thieves steal away, 

Last year’s miracles will soon be forgotten. 

New creatures whirl in from non- existence, galaxies scattered around their feet. 

Have you met them? 

Do you hear the bud of Jesus crooning in the cradle? 

A single narcissus flower has been appointed Inspector

of Kingdoms. A feast is set. Listen: the wind is pouring wine! 

Love used to hide inside images: no more! The orchard hangs out its lanterns. 

The dead come stumbling by in shrouds. Nothing can stay bound or be  imprisoned. 

You say, “End this poem here, and wait for what’s next.” 

I will. 

Poems are rough notations for the music we are.

April 12 - Youth

Thursday April 12th

Chicago Metra stop
near Foster and Cicero.

Sue Dunmore recognizes heaven in the eyes of our youth and their strength, honor, and determination in the face of complex challenges.

God's Face in the World

On a white board in a local hospital Chaplain Resident Pam Rumancik reflects that she sees God in what we do for each other, how we live the innocence and joy of youth, the beauty of nature, and the hand of God "reaching" toward us in love.  In the words of Spanish sixteenth century mystic Teresa of Avila:

Christ Has No Body
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands,
              with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

In the Beginning

Author: Karen Mooney
Location: Lincoln Square - Chicago

Where is God in the world? First God exists in light. In all the light that we see and feel. God exists in all the light that ever was or ever will be. God exists in all of the potential light and the light that I have failed to see with my heart, mind or eyes yet - God exists in all of THAT.

Genesis 1:1-5
(The Message translated by Eugene Peterson)

First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss.

God spoke: "Light!"
      And light appeared.
   God saw that light was good
      and separated light from dark.
   God named the light Day,
      he named the dark Night.
   It was evening, it was morning—
   Day One.

Where do you see God, today?

Eastertide is almost upon us and I can feel the questions about grace and forgiveness give way to questions about Jesus walking among us.

Here are the specifics:
I am asking different people/ groups to enter into a creative process, see God in the world, and respond. Choose a day, and draw/write/create a vision of where and how you see God today. As an image, as a reality, as a mystery - what ever works for you - it could be as simple as a listing of chosen words or as complex as your version of the trinity ....

I am riveted by the stories that we have about Christ's time on earth after his death.Walking on the road to Emmaus to reveal in his followers hearts the truth that God was in their midst when they were most alive with conversation and sitting down to share a meal. (Luke 24:15-35)  Appearing to Mary, Thomas and the disciples to dispel fears and comfort those bereft by events beyond their control. (John 20:11-31)


Stating what we know as the Great Commission to go and tell his story far and wide. (Matthew 28:16-20 / Mark 16:15-18) Being lifted up to heaven and assuring his doubting disciples that the Holy Spirit would come to be with us. (Luke 24:36-53)

All of this makes me wonder how God is seen in our world today?
I wonder what my faith looks like to others?
Where do I share and receive inspiration?
Where do I share and receive faith?
Where do I share and receive comfort, peace, joy, love?
How do I move past fear and sorrow?
Where does God show me Christ and where does God shine through me?

If God is still among us (since God is among us), and works through us with the power of the Holy Spirit, what does that look like. Where do you see God today?


To be involved is pretty simple:
1. Secure a day from me (Post a comment on this or ANY post)
2. Obtain chalk from me or the store (or obtain your ideal medium...)
3. Draw on a sidewalk square / take a picture / write a poem or a song / paint draw dance video
4. Take a picture - with your phone or a digital camera (don't let this be the stopper I will take the picture if needed)
5. Send me the following information: names of artists / location / date / digital picture / scripture or poem

The pictures and a list of locations will go up on a blogspot page for others around the city to partake in (the address can be an estimate).

Ashes Here for You

What an amazing and holy time it was this Wednesday. This is just a quick note of thanks to everyone who participated and made this possible. Thank you for taking the time, courage, energy, thank you for taking the risk to do something out of the ordinary. We imposed ashes on about 250-300 people - but more importantly we reached out into our community to remind people of God's love for us. With simple words and a well known act we reached into car windows and baby carriages. We battled through language barriers (yes next year we will take a Spanish translation with us), accepted hugs from strangers, watched as worried/ tired/worn faces brightened with a knowing smile. We responded when eyes brimmed with tears at the reminder that we are each beloved children of God. We reached out and walked into peoples lives for a few seconds and I for one was moved, who knows how many of these folks were moved as well. Go out now and tell the stories from this year in our congregation: The cops who quizzed us about the theology of ashes; The young woman who came back for ashes at least two times; The burst of laughter when someone realized the smoke/ cross/ robes were not a sign of protest; The child who questioned what was happening to mom and then proclaimed loudly "I love Jesus;" and more. Tell the stories and, perhaps, reflect with gratitude that God is present and working in our world through us.

peace -
Karen

Remaining open to the questions.

Can the world be changed by simply asking questions of each other? This season we stopped to ask how conversations are started. Conversations are at the heart of how we discover the world that we live in and each other. For me I start a conversation by asking myself questions. If I am curious about the world that I live within I might stop to wonder what I think about my world.
My loves
My loved ones
My home
My food
My garbage
You
Christ

And if I am truly curious about all of these how can I not be curious about these same things for you: 

 

Your loves

Your loved ones

Your home

Your food

Your garbage

Me

God

We have no idea who took these questions into their worlds.
If you took the challenge thanks
- if not there is still time
- there is always time to open conversations about our world and about God, Jesus, Christ within the same.

Enjoy