The Coffee House - the UU Fellowship Thread (churches, experience)

[Green Gaia]

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.

© Mary Oliver. Online Source






May the long time sun
Shine upon you
All Love surround you
And the pure Light within you
Guide your way home

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Green Gaia

This is not goodbye forever

Um... Amy, what does this mean? Did you change your username just to leave us? If RF is too much, can't you just hang out in the UU forum?

[Green Gaia]

Originally Posted by lilithu

Um... Amy, what does this mean? Did you change your username just to leave us? If RF is too much, can't you just hang out in the UU forum?

Because I can't just hang out in the UU forum. If there is an anti-gay post/thread somewhere else, I have to address. There are several right now that it's taking everything bit of will-power I have left to not respond to. I'm running on empty right now and instead of responding with understanding and a willing to teach, I'd be responding with bitterness and anger. There's just too much negative energy going around right now without me adding to it.

PLUS, I'm moving this week and probably won't have internet at my new house for a while, although I plan to frequent the library.

I greatly dislike the "goodbye/I'm leaving" threads that have become popular, so I won't be posting one. But I had to let you guys know that I didn't just disappear. I'll be around for another day or so tying up loose ends.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Green Gaia

Because I can't just hang out in the UU forum. If there is an anti-gay post/thread somewhere else, I have to address. There are several right now that it's taking everything bit of will-power I have left to not respond to. I'm running on empty right now and instead of responding with understanding and a willing to teach, I'd be responding with bitterness and anger. There's just too much negative energy going around right now without me adding to it.

PLUS, I'm moving this week and probably won't have internet at my new house for a while, although I plan to frequent the library.

I greatly dislike the "goodbye/I'm leaving" threads that have become popular, so I won't be posting one. But I had to let you guys know that I didn't just disappear. I'll be around for another day or so tying up loose ends.

Understood. Outbreaks of anti-Muslim threads have caused me to take a break twice. (Obviously I'm not Muslim but emotionally I respond to Islamophobia the same way I do racism.)

And I totally understand about not wanting to post a "goodbye" thread. And thank you for letting us UUs know.

Go take care of yourself!! We'll hold down the fort.

[jamaesi]

We'll miss you, Amy. Come back soon!

Understood. Outbreaks of anti-Muslim threads have caused me to take a break twice. (Obviously I'm not Muslim but emotionally I respond to Islamophobia the same way I do racism.)

Me too. That's why I drop off the forum from time to time without saying anything. Just the same lies and misinformation and "why arent Muslims doing anything!?!?!?!?!!!?" over and over and over and over and over until I just want to beat my head against the monitor.

[Tigress]

Originally Posted by Green Gaia

Because I can't just hang out in the UU forum. If there is an anti-gay post/thread somewhere else, I have to address. There are several right now that it's taking everything bit of will-power I have left to not respond to. I'm running on empty right now and instead of responding with understanding and a willing to teach, I'd be responding with bitterness and anger. There's just too much negative energy going around right now without me adding to it.

PLUS, I'm moving this week and probably won't have internet at my new house for a while, although I plan to frequent the library.

I greatly dislike the "goodbye/I'm leaving" threads that have become popular, so I won't be posting one. But I had to let you guys know that I didn't just disappear. I'll be around for another day or so tying up loose ends.

We'll miss you, Amy! Good luck with moving!

[jamaesi]

Originally Posted by lilithu

Jamaesi, for some time now, I've been thinking of documenting some of the stories of anti-Muslim incidents that I've heard as a way to "make real" the people affected. The stories are out there - I read them in newspapers occasionally and have heard first hand some awful experiences, but so far as I know there is no place where such stories are collected with the intention to present them to a non-Muslim public. That was my thinking...and then my boss mentioned that she would like the UUA to take a more vocal stance against the Muslim-bashing. Which would just make me even prouder of the UUA if we can be another strong voice of conscience on this matter. But I don't know what is the best way for the UUA to go about this. Do you have any thoughts on this?

I'll think this over and get back to you in a PM...