TRIPLE THREAT

10/26/08  Summit UU Fellowship   Rev. Kathleen A. Green

     A triple threat is defined as a person adept in three different fields of activity.  A triple threat is also a move in wrestling, in lacrosse, in basketball, other sports, and in show business it’s someone who can act, sing, and dance.  I considered demonstrating for you several examples of a triple threat, but my better judgment took over.  And the ‘triple’ part of the phrase is pretty self explanatory.  But it doesn’t really address the ‘threat’ portion of the phrase.  Threat – a word that conjures up feelings of fear and defensiveness, anxiety and negativity.  A threat is, after all, a source of danger.  Let me assert here that all prophets, throughout time, have been threats.  They’ve each been a threat to the status quo.  Now, some were perceived as more ‘dangerous’ perhaps than others, but by their very messages they were a danger to the injustice and oppression and indifference that was, and is, prevalent in the status quo of society.

          Claims of prophets have existed in many cultures through history, including Judaism, Zoroaster in Persia, Delphic Oracles in Ancient Greece, Christianity, Islam, and many others. Traditionally, prophets are regarded as having a role in society that promotes change.  Change due to their messages and actions. 

          As people of faith, as a religious community, as Unitarian Universalists, we have a role in society that can promote change due to our messages and actions.  We have a message to share.  A message about the inherent worth and dignity of every person.  A message about justice, equity and compassion in human relations.  A message about acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.  A message about a free and responsible search for truth and meaning and the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process.  A message that speaks about a goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all, not some.  And a message that teaches respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. 

     A message known as our principles.  Is it a perfect message?  No.  Is it a challenging message for us?  Yes, I believe it is more than innocuous jargon and Pollyanna sentimentality.  But it is only worth more than the paper it’s printed on each week in our order of service if we are willing to engage deeply with our principles; if we are committed to living our principles - definitely challenging.  And it is important to note that it is a message that is not sealed.  It is a message that evolves to reflect our changing world and the wisdom gained through experience of life.

     The message that we have to shake up, to challenge, to threaten the status quo is supported by the sources we draw upon for our living tradition:

1.  Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to renewal of spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life.

Mattie Stepanek, the young prophet I spoke of last week.  Born with a rare form of muscular dystrophy, died just short of his 14^th birthday; touching lives all over the globe with his message of peace and compassion;  a threat to the status quo.

2.  Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.

Our Unitarian ancestor, Michael Servetus who was burned at the stake near Geneva, Switzerland on Oct. 27, 1553 – 455 years ago tomorrow.  His execution was at the instigation of John Calvin - sentenced to death for his heresy - challenging the doctrine of the Trinity and publishing his book On the Errors of the Trinity.  Sevetus was not notified of his sentence until two hours before the execution and want to his death with his books chained to his thighs.  His martyrdom became a prophesy that cries for tolerance in religion.

Martin Luther King, Jr. – with his message of justice for every one of us

Jan Garbosky, the UU (pres. Of First U San Diego) who spoke here last week, sharing her life and her message of equality for all regardless of sexual orientation; a threat to the status quo.

3.  Wisdom from the world’s religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life.

Prophets of Buddhism, Jainism, Shinto - compassion and right relations with humanity and all of nature; even today a threat to the status quo.

4.  Jewish and Christian teachings, which call us to respond to God’s love by loving our neighbors as ourselves.

Hebrew prophets - Amos, Micah, Elijah

Jesus   And Jesus said, "Who do they say that I am?"  The UU said, "You are the eschatological manifestation of our being, the kerugma in which we find the last sense of our interpersonal relations."  And Jesus said, "What?"

Certainly all of these prophets a threat to the status quo.

5.  Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.

My gifted prophetic seminary professors, David Bumbaugh and William Murry

John Dietrich, John Dewey – all humanists who threaten the status quo of a religious climate that claims there is but one truth and one way to such truth.

6.  Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions, which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

The Hopi Prophecy--The Elders, Oraibi, Arizona Hopi Nation

"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.

Now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.

And there are things to be considered:

Where are you living?   What are you doing?

What are your relationships?   Are you in right relation?

Where is your water?  Know your garden.

It is time to speak your Truth.

Create your community.   Be good to each other.

And do not look outside yourself for the leader.

This could be a good time!

There is a river flowing now very fast.

It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.

They will try to hold on to the shore.

They will feel they are being torn apart, and they will suffer greatly.

Know the river has its destination.

The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of

the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.

See who is in there with you and celebrate.

At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally.

Least of all, ourselves.

For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a

halt.  The time of the lone wolf is over.  Gather yourselves!

Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.

All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.

We are the ones we've been waiting for."

 
A message for our time.  A message that threatens the status quo.

     We can be the triple threat prophets:  skillful, proficient, and practiced in our principles, supported by our sources, and confident in our message.  Is there any doubt that our message is needed? 

     This nation is in an upside down, turned around, confused, disappointed, and feeling-desperate time.  The election on Nov. 4, no matter who is elected and what happens with the various propositions in our state, will not automatically turn everything right side up.  There will still be some people feeling confused, disappointed, and desperate. 

     My husband, Mitchell, and I went out for coffee and bagels the other morning.  Our favorite spot for such as treat – a fairly unassuming shopping center in LaMesa.  A favorite for our dog, Lucy, as well.  It wasn’t long into our relaxing breakfast out, sitting outside in the glorious morning air last week that a disheveled man wandered over to one of the tables to sit down.  He clearly had not bathed in a while, was probably carry everything he owned on his back, with a vacant and slightly confused look on his face.  He sat for just a few seconds and then must have realized that the tables and chairs were meant for paying customers.  He left the chair and sat on the ground against the wall.  As I fed Lucy yet another small bite of bagel, Mitchell and I just looked at each other and knew that this was not an invisible man, this was a brother.  If I could feed my dog a bagel, could I not at least offer the same to my brother?  A cup of coffee was all he would take from us.  It wasn’t until we pulled out of the parking lot a short while later than I was absolutely overcome with emotion when I saw another brother, standing at the shopping center entrance with his sign:  disabled father, 3 kids, having trouble making ends meet.  Two men who may, or may not be, helped by the outcome of our upcoming election.  Two men each in their own time of desperation.  Maybe it was a scam, maybe they were addicts, maybe they would spend whatever we gave them unwisely, maybe, maybe.  It is not our call to question the authenticity and the why and how.  Leave that to the prophets of doom.  The prophets who would qualify who is worthy and who is not.  Who deserves dignity and who does not?

     The false prophets who speak of “us” and “them”.  The false prophets who speak a “truth” that is divisive, exclusive, knows little compassion are not what is needed in East County, in our country, in the world.  Prophets who are willing to stand up today and speak out against injustice, who speak up for those who are oppressed, who recognize the invisible and marginalized, are what is needed.  Prophets who speak their truth not from a place of fear and hatred but speak their truth from a place of love. 

     This sanctuary is filled with prophets.  Some of us speak gently and others of us speak strongly, but all of us can speak our truth from a place of compassion and respect.  Some of us will be in the front lines of our social action work and others of us will be the behind-the-scenes support that the front line needs. 

     Summit is an institutional prophet.  As a religious community, our message is shared by our public worship, our religious exploration for all ages, and our social action.  This is how our message is shared not only among us but also with the world.  We have a collective message that cries out on behalf of those two men in LaMesa.  A message that stands in solidarity with sisters and brothers who are fighting to maintain their right to marry the person they love.  A message that calls for us to be committed to  confronting, and yes, threatening,  the status quo.       

    As the prophets of world religions continue to teach us; as our sources – with their depth and breadth of wisdom and enlightenment and truth – continue to inspire us; as our principles continue to challenge us, and as our message continues to offer hope and healing, may the prophecies of justice and  compassion begin with us.  Right now.  Because we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

May it be so.

CALL TO WORSHIP:  Suzanne Meyer

We have come together today, not because we expect find answers here,

But rather because we expect to be encouraged in our questioning.

We have come together today, not because we expect to find perfect people here,

But rather because we hope to find authentic people here.

We have come together today, not because we are certain of our own righteousness,

But because we are continually searching for the right, the good, the uplifting.

We have come together today, not because we need to be told what to believe and how to act,

But rather because we need each other’s encouragement to act according to our own best beliefs.

We have come together today, not because we believe that holiness exists within these walls alone,

But rather to have our hearts and minds directed to the holiness in the world.

For all of these reasons, we have come together today.  Let us worship.

BENEDICTION:  Gordon McKeeman

Worship need not cease.  It can echo in our lives, in our words, in our deeds, in our moods, in our dreams.

Carry it with you wherever you go, wherever you come.

Be a blessing in your going out and your coming in.  Amen