Lately the words of Walt Whitman have been coming and going for me. From Song of Myself: “…Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself. I am large, I contain multitudes…” I take a lot of solace in wisdom like this–it helps me feel like a whole person, instead of a sliced and diced version of myself. I am large, I contain multitudes! We can spend so much time trying to be one thing, don’t you think? Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself…
Church is a good place to witness and practice this. Together we are laughing and crying; angry and forgiving; worried and hope-filled; restless and at peace; filled with joy and filled with sorrow. I am drawing a lot of resilience from the multitudes in our midst, and the daily grace we work to give one another when they contradict each other. Or when we contradict ourselves!
These days, I feel moved to serve our church and faith in every way I can, and I am also having to protect my energy more carefully than ever before. I feel like my sacred ‘no’ and ‘yes’ are often difficult to predict. I am doing my best to take every day as it comes, to earnestly listen to what my body and being needs, to trust Spirit, to speak honestly about what I can and can’t do, to ask for help when I need it, and to lovingly accept that I contain multitudes–one day I am alight with energy and the next I am not. One day I am called to be a helper, and the next I need help. One hour I feel deep joy, and the next I am crabby and brooding. Most days it’s a dance between it all.
I have no idea what the month of April will bring–these are such disorienting, unsteady times–but I do know that there is so much to be grateful for here. We really are the hope of church–us, the people, in all our multitudes and contradictions, working together for the common good. Doing the best we can. Learning how to give and receive Love. And this gives me so much strength and hope!
Thank you for being the church. Thank you for being yourselves.
Together in faith and love,
Rev. Sophia
Reverend Sophia Lyons
Rev. Sophia is committed to radical welcome and spreading the good news that is our bold Unitarian Universalist faith. Some of her areas of interest include interfaith partnerships, addictions ministry, spiritual direction, and working towards collective liberation for all. Rev. Sophia aspires to live her life and fulfill her ministry guided by spiritual seeking, big love, and the seven principles of Unitarian Universalism.