Taryn Strauss

Director of Religious Education

REflections

January 2009

We see in the world around us many symbols that teach us the meaning of life. We Indians live in a world of symbols and images where the spiritual and the commonplace are one.

– John Fire/Lame Deer and Richard Erodes

“Tia, today we learned about the flaming chalice.” Those are the words of Noah, my 3-year old nephew, to whom I talk almost daily. His parents have started bringing him to the UU church in their suburb of Washington, DC, and he is smitten. Lately he’s bringing to our attention the flaming chalice in all of its flaming glory. He loves the magic of ritual, and he finds joy and meaning in his family and church traditions. His church is an integral part of his spiritual identity, and it’s amazing to see how deeply he is affected by it.

At the UUCA church decorating and holiday celebration, I watched youth hang garland in the sanctuary, slipping off their shoes to stand on the pews. Younger children burst through church doors like cannon balls, running to greet me or each other, thrilled to be in this safe space with friends and loving adults all around them. As we sat down to eat together, finding small pockets of conversation amidst the crowd, I observed these children settling into their faith home. It was a joy to see everyone so comfortable together in the church, with the crackling fire and bountiful potluck spread.

These moments together are real and keep us spiritually connected as we engage and sometimes struggle in the work of community. We also come together as a people of common principles with a common faith home. Although the scene was a bit chaotic and noisy, it was exactly right. In that moment, I connected with the opening lines of our K-1st Grade curriculum Creating Home: “You are about to take a journey. It is a journey you take alone and in community – a journey of inward reflections and outward actions of faith. A Unitarian Universalist journey, open to stories and beliefs from different lands and people. It is a journey from home. It is a journey to home. Welcome home.”