Since moving into my house a year and a half ago, I’ve had a squirrel problem. Many times, squirrels could clearly be heard in the ceiling above my bedroom–seemingly romping and running and rolling nuts around. It took three exterminators to finally solve the problem, and during this time I had a real war mind-set. Killing the squirrels was part of the intervention, and I was OK with that. Finally the squirrels seem to be gone from the walls and ceilings of my house. In the yard and garden, however, they are still abundant. I see sleek black squirrels, small red squirrels, and large gray squirrels up and down the tree that is their home and food source; they leave shells of nuts all over my porch and stairs; they dig little holes all throughout my garden. My main feeling lately has been relief (no more squirrels in the house) mixed with annoyance (squirrels messing up my yard), and my murderous antagonism toward the squirrels was fading away slowly. Then something happened a few days ago that made me embrace the squirrels more fully. I was standing in my kitchen looking out the window. A gray/brown squirrel was there in the grass, on its hind legs, with a large nut in its front paws. It was chewing and turning the nut, chewing and turning–its jaws and teeth moving really fast with tiny but forceful motions tearing the husk of the nut, little pieces flying all around. My heart softened as I looked at the little beast and noticed how human the gestures of the front paws were. And then the squirrel cocked its head and looked straight at me. Our eyes met and locked for a long moment, and I felt appreciation for and connection with the squirrel. In that moment I released the hatred I had been holding for squirrels, which included wishing them dead. I felt freer. Dealing with the squirrels in the garden is not simple, and I will still get angry and frustrated when they destroy one of my plants. But there is a deeper acceptance along with that anger and frustration–it is part of coexisting with other living beings, like the anger and frustration I get from coexisting with other human beings from time to time. There is a story of a meditation center where people would meditate on benches near a pond, and there was a problem with turtles from the pond nipping at the feet of people when they were trying to meditate. A turtle expert was consulted and asked, “Can you do something about these turtles?” He studied the situation and came back with his conclusion: No, it was best for the turtles to remain in their habitat and it was best for the people meditating to learn to cope with turtles occasionally nipping at their feet. PRAYER: May turtles and humans and squirrels be blessed, each blessed by the creator, the mysterious Giver of Life, each blessed to live their life in the way that they know is right. May I find my place in the harmony of the universe, my steps in the Great Dance, my voice in the Great Choir. May my yard, my neighborhood, my city, be home to many living creatures. May it be so. Rev. Andrew Frantz |
I have a cherished family photo taken on the day of my oldest child’s graduation. Along with me and his mother are his brother and all six of his grandparents, posed in front of the Japanese Maple tree at the house in Ohio.
In the seven and a half years since that photo was taken, the grandparents are older and one has died; teenagers have become grown ups; their mom and I divorced and I no longer live in that house. Even the tree in the background of that photo is no longer there: it died from disease and I eventually cut it down. Yesterday I planted a tree in my yard, at my new house in Michigan: a Japanese Maple. I did the planting with fertilizer and also with ritual, adding sage and echinacea to the soil; saying prayers to the four directions before and after planting; creating a circle of stones around the tree. Planting a tree is a sacred act, a way of faithfully connecting with the future.The tree is leafy, red and gorgeous, and stands a little taller than I do. When I cut down the dead tree in Ohio I decided to keep the trunk, cutting off the limbs and sripping the bark to create a staff. The staff is curvy, strong and smooth, and stands a little taller than I do. When I make a sacred promise to myself, or perform other rituals, I use this staff, connecting me to Mother Earth. The living tree in my yard contains the magic of growing: of taking in sunlight and water and air and turning them into beauty and life. The wooden staff in my living room contains magic as well: years of life and growth made solid, a strength and rootedness I can hold in my hand. Maybe it is just me, but I guess this is true for many of us: living things (loved ones, pets, plants in the garden) connect us with the present and point toward the future; special objects that we possess (photographs, jewelry, a piece of pottery) connect us with the past through memory and love. PRAYER: May trees grow and flourish in abundance. May beauty surround us, may it be the constant background of our lives. May we rejoice in the cycles of life: birth, growth and death–and may we be rooted in the present even as we connect to the past and the future. May it be so. Rev. Andrew Frantz
Yesterday the voters in Kansas voted to affirm the legal right to abortion—by a surprising 60-40 margin in a traditionally conservative state. Abortion rights are strongly supported by Unitarian Universalists. This summer, 99% of General Assembly voters approved the reproductive rights statement that includes this language:
Our Unitarian Universalist faith affirms that all of our bodies are sacred, and that we are each endowed with the twin gifts of agency and conscience. Each of us should have the power to decide what does and doesn’t happen to our bodies at every moment of our lives because consent and self determination are holy. In the words of SisterSong, the Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, we unequivocally support every person’s right · To maintain personal bodily autonomy · To have children · To not have children · To parent children in safe and sustainable communities …and goes on to frame reproductive justice in terms of freedom from oppression: Controlling people’s bodies during pregnancy is about enforcing white supremacy, patriarchy, and ruling-class power. Historically, those most affected by reproductive oppression have not been centered. Again, as advocated by SisterSong, we must: · Analyze power systems · Address intersecting oppressions · Center the most marginalized · Join together across issues and identities It is expected that Michigan voters will be asked to consider abortion rights in November, just as voters in Kansas did yesterday. I believe that UU’s can and should act on their religious and moral convictions to advocate for issues in electoral politics. The national effort called “UU the Vote” puts the organizing power of our religious institution into such efforts. I felt joy and relief upon hearing the results from Kansas. The overturning of Roe v. Wade was disheartening, and it is wonderful to get some good news for a change. I also reflect that these issues are not absolute and black-and-white. When I get pulled into an “us versus them” mindset, when I start thinking that those who disagree with me on issues like abortion are evil people, I need to remind myself to take a broader perspective. All people deserve love. All people want to feel safe. I want to keep struggling against unjust laws, and I want to do so with love and joy in my heart. PRAYER: Spirit of Infinite Life and Love, Bringer of Blessings: Bestow your blessings of Joy, Love, Comfort and Belonging on those 6 out of 10 Kansas voters who affirmed the right to abortion yesterday Bestow, Gracious Spirit, an equal share of these blessings to the 4 out of 10 voters who disagreed. May all be blessed by Love. May all know that they are worthy and enough. Amen. Rev. Drew Frantz
My vacation this summer included a week in Maine, and part of the adventure was driving there and back with my wife. Going to Maine we travelled through Ontario and Quebec, including a night in an inn with French-speaking hosts. On the way home we took a different route, down through New Hampshire and across Massachusetts. At the end of a long day driving on interstates, we got off the highway just over the state line into New York and followed a small road for the last 5 or 10 miles to our place for the night. As the road went up and down gentle rises, around many curves and past small houses and farms, I felt something: a sense of being home.
Something about the contours of the land and the character of the houses was very familiar to me, although I had never been to that particular town. It was subtly different from Maine, from Ohio, and from Michigan, in a way that was felt rather than known. I lived in western Massachusetts for 16 years, and this area felt just the same. I was home. We only stayed one night in that Air BnB. We didn’t have time to take up the host on his invitation to walk around the property and into the woods, where he said he had recently seen a mother bear and her cub. But one night was long enough to let the familiarity sink in. Long enough to reflect on a chapter in my life when I went to college and grad school, bought my first house, and when my kids were born. This was that place: I knew the geography. I believe that geography imprints on us as we live our lives: the natural land as well as the built landscape; the plants and animals of a place, the people and the weather—they all seep into us when we spend time somewhere, and this adds up to a feeling of belonging and a feeling of home. Travelling for me reminds me of where I have been home and where I feel home now. May we all know that sense of home, and may we open our senses to it. PRAYER: Spirit of Life and Love, energy that dwells in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts, I honor you. Divine Energy of the coast of Maine, I welcome you. Breath of Life that rustles the trees outside my window right now in central Michigan, may you bring love and peace. May the spirit of each place bring life and peace to those who dwell there and to those who pass through. Blessed be. Rev. Drew Frantz July 20, 2022 |
Rev. Andrew FrantzUUFCM Minister Summer Hours
Rev. Drew takes six weeks of time off during the summer months, and is also away for a full week at General Assembly. Although regular office hours are suspended for the summer, you may still contact Drew with any urgent Fellowship business if needed, or with significant pastoral care needs. Texting 440-935-0129 is the best way to reach Rev. Drew. [email protected] Phone/text: 440-935-0129 Pastoral Care Concerns
For support with life’s challenges, please contact Drew during his office hours or make an appointment with him. For specific needs such as rides to medical appointments or meals for people recovering from illness or surgery, please contact the Caring Team (formerly Arms Around) via Jen Prout at 989-400-3130 or [email protected]. Every effort will be made to lessen the burden on the individual or family who is dealing with a difficult circumstance. Archives
June 2024
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