The Rev. Dr. Craig Rubano
Pluralism isn’t just diversity; it’s something we create out of this diversity. ~ Diana Eck
People are just as wonderful as sunsets if I can let them be. In fact, perhaps the reason we can truly appreciate a sunset is that we cannot control it. When I look at a sunset as I did the other evening, I don’t find myself saying, “Soften the orange a little on the right hand corner, and put a bit more purple along the base, and use a little more pink in the cloud color.” I don’t do that. I don’t try to control a sunset. I watch it with awe as it unfolds. I like myself best when I can appreciate my staff member, my son, my daughter, my grandchildren, in this same way. ~ Carl Rogers
The most peaceful people that I know and the most wise people that I know are the ones who have created enough internal space. To be able to allow all the parts of themselves to coexist despite the contradictions. So they have room for their creativity. They also have room for their fear. They have room for their dignity. They also have room for their shame. They have room for the parts of themselves that are glorious and divine and wonderful. And they have room for the parts of themselves that are petty and jealous and ridiculous. Right? Like, they create this big, huge auditorium of a landscape inside themselves. They don’t kick any parts out, because guess what? You can’t. ~ Elizabeth Gilbert
To see the other side, to defend another people, not despite your tradition, but because of it, is the heart of pluralism. ~ Eboo Patel
What are your various identities?
Family member status? Occupation/work status? Ethnicity/race? Political identity? Socio-economic status? Sexual/affectional orientation? Body type? Gender identity? Physical ability (able-bodiedness)? Mental health status? Earliest religious affiliation or lack thereof? Current religious affiliation or lack thereof? Generational status? Marital status? Relationship status? Gender expression? Geographic identity? Most impactful historical event in younger years (e.g. assassination of JFK, Vietnam War, Assassination of MLK, 9/11, publication of Harry Potter, cell phones, email, texting, etc.)? Traits (e.g. athletic, musical, artistic, shy, courageous, introverted, analytical, pessimistic, creative, funny, people pleaser, do-gooder, contrarian, leader, etc.)? Hobby identities (e.g. jogger, quilter, cook, stamp collector, painter, movie-goer, snowboarder, woodworker, romance novel reader, etc.)? Educational identities?… Certainly, some identities are more present to us (or to the world) than others: What identity do people first notice about you? Which identity do you tend to keep hidden? Which are you most proud of? Ashamed of? Have in common with most of your friends?
We all have multiple identities, and this is one of the ways that pluralism shows up in our lives—we ourselves, our individual selves, are, themselves, plural—we are pluralistic creations, as Diana Eck reminds us above, forged from the diversities we represent. The goals, and goals very much in line with our identities as members of the Unitarian Universalist faith movement, are to grow to appreciate our pluralisms, like Carl Rogers’s sunsets(!); and to live peaceably within our identities, not leaving any one of them out (thank you, Elizabeth Gilbert!); and, then—or maybe we take personal inspiration from our actions—in line with Eboo Patel, to defend others in their pluralisms: not in spite of our tradition, but because of it. That is central to the vision and mission of UUism and of UUCMC: we seek others out and, together, we create a world of larger justice, one that welcomes, and is enlarged by, the pluralistic complexities of as many other folks as is possible.
Last fiscal year, I forged a relationship across national boundaries, serving as a UUCMC ambassador to our sibling UU congregation in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (uufsma). While I was there, I met with an organization that has become very close to my heart: Libros para todos (Books for All), which purchases books for 1,200 rural school students a year who likely have never owned a book before, instructs the teachers how to introduce the books to the students, and then has the authors visit the schools for discussion of the texts. What a life-giving enterprise! I came back and, together with our Credentialed Director of Family Ministry Michelle McKenzie-Creech and the younger people of our congregation, created bookmarks as gifts for the children of Guanajuato province. I traveled back to Mexico with a video message, the bookmarks, and a sizable contribution from members of our community. Since you have voted Libros as our May share-the-plate recipient, on May 5th, the relationship continues with a very special worship service, live and in video sync internationally. Because of the time differences, we will begin the service at 11:30 am that morning. You don’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind experience. This coming fiscal year, I will deepen our relationship with uufsma and will select another worthy organization with which to collaborate. It is thrilling to partner for justice internationally. In fact, we, UUCMC, are now the model for these kinds of relationships: a special General Assembly presentation will feature us, and promotional materials encouraging these kinds of pluralistic endeavors will include the important work we did. I’m proud of us!
On Mother’s Day, May 12th, we celebrate the caregivers in our lives and we welcome Sari Alburtus into her role as covering Family Ministry leader during Michelle’s sabbatical (through July). We welcome back Tom McCormack to the piano for this special service in which we will hear from you—all multiple generations of pluralistic you! On the 19th, the Rev, Julie Newhall celebrates the 20th anniversary of this congregation ordaining her to the ministry! Congratulations, Rev. Julie! And, on May 26th, one of the most beloved of our annual service traditions, Music Sunday closes out a pluralistic month with a plethora of musical guests and styles.
Happy May to us, and to all of the many identities we represent!
Rev. Craig