By Linda Sherry
Worship Support Specialist
Awakening to What? What does Awakening even mean? In the UU context does Awakening refer to something in particular? Spiritual Awakening? Social Awakening? Becoming “Woke”?
The word Awakening suggests so very many possibilities and the Soul Matters* materials for this month offer an opportunity to choose which you/we want to dive into …
One of my favorite exercises that the Soul Matters* Small Group monthly curriculum offers is called “Which is your question?” It offers a list of questions, not to answer like a quiz, but to peruse and consider the questions and to choose one (or more) that particularly intrigues you, that stimulates you to consider something in a new way, or to ask yourself for clarity, to prompt you toward a deeper understanding, or provoke to action, or… simply to engage you in any way you find meaningful.
Rather than offering my own pondering, or selecting readings for you this month, here are some questions you might find interesting enough to spend time with privately, or to discuss with people you know, perhaps people at church or with others in your life.
Which of these questions would you like to consider more deeply, or share with others?
- In your view does awakening arise slowly from discipline and dedication, or it is something that sneaks up on us and hits us as a surprise?
- When did you first awaken to the truth that the world’s rules, judgements and strivings did not have to be your own?
- Have you ever read a book or watched a movie that “woke you up”?
- Have you ever “heard” life say “Sing me awake!”?
- What if your life is already what you are looking for and already offering you what you need? What if the path to awakening is simply “wanting what you have”?
- Could it be that the fear you’re fleeing is imaginary?
- Has pain or loss ever led you to the door of awakening? Has the time of Covid brought an awakening for you?
- They say what irritates us about others is actually something we don’t acknowledge about ourselves. So, what annoying friend or family member is trying to awaken you to something you are struggling to admit about yourself?
- Is it possible to have an awakening and your exterior life remain the same as it was?
- Could it be that your ambitions are an impediment to your awakening?
What’s your question? Your question may not be listed above. If the above questions don’t include what life is asking from you, spend the month listening to your days to find it.
Submitted by WUUC Member Linda Sherry
*The Soul Matters Sharing Circle is a network of over 170 UU Unitarian Universalist congregations who follow the same monthly themes so we can more easily share. We are companions across the United States and Canada traveling a new journey together each month.
By sharing these themes, we build greater connections as Unitarian Universalists.
Find the April Soul Matters packet here.