Author: gracesmuggler

Image Description: Two cartoon birds (one red and one blue) are facing each other and looking at each other with three hearts flowing upward between them. Public domain image.

This summer, the Michigan Nones and Dones community is exploring spiritual values and practices, and we’re applying them to commitments of anti-racism. We’re also asking ourselves: As we think about our religious/spiritual upbringing, what did we learn about these values? What do we want to shed? What do we want to retain? What do we want to deepen or take on in a new way?

We recently held a conversation about the spiritual practice of worth. We asked, “How is worth a spiritual practice?”

With permission, I am sharing our answers.

Image Description: A teal square with the outline of the state of Michigan in white. Public domain image.

In a decision to use first names only, someone published my poetry last week in a newsletter, calling me,

Renee of Michigan.

I liked this because it made me feel like Julian of Norwich 😃 who through her writings, has become my fast friend this very month.

–Renee Roederer

— The poem is entitled, “For the Goal.” You can click on the link and read it.

— Here’s more information on the mystic writer, Julian of Norwich. I am really digging her.

Image Description: Two people prepare to arm wrestle. Money is on table. Public domain image.

Jason Hickel and Martin Kirk have written an article with a title that poses a direct question to us: Are You Ready to Consider that Capitalism is the Real Problem?

Are you skeptical of titles like this one? Would you be open to reading and seriously considering this article?

I think it’s becoming increasingly clear that if we cannot or will not adapt ourselves toward greater forms of cooperativism, both in the large and small scale, we will continue to greatly increase suffering.

Loving your neighbor includes caring for your neighbors’ freedom to have access to resources.

And capitalism. . . and late-stage capitalism in particular. . . ? Well, that’s an enormous loss of freedom for most of us – a loss of freedom to choose the direction of our lives, particularly as more wealth is concentrated among the few, and an enormous loss of freedom for our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to choose the direction of theirs.

I’d say we are more free collectively when we value the worth of our neighbors and their intrinsic right to live well. And we are more alive when we stop uplifting profit as the primary motive for work and unmitigated greed as the unquestioned pursuit for life, moving instead, toward a motive of sustainability at work and the life-filled pursuit of uplifting each other.

What is possible if we move toward such change?

– Renee Roederer

Image Description: A butterfly on a plant with blue and black wings. Public domain image.

I was thinking about the butterfly effect this week, and specifically, I was wondering, is that really real?

Do you know which thing I’m talking about? Sometimes, it’s also called Chaos Theory. Ultimately, it’s a realization that very small actions can lead to very large effects, particularly as they create a series of changes in large systems. The butterfly effect gets its name due to Edward Lorenz. He demonstrated that the flapping wings of a butterfly in one part of the world could ultimately lead to a tornado weeks later somewhere else. Thankfully, this doesn’t happen all the time; otherwise, we’d have tornados and hurricanes everywhere. But the point is this: Tiny, minuscule changes can create complex results in large systems.

It turns out that this theory is true.

It’s pretty astounding, actually. It means that every thing — every action, every interaction — is affecting a whole, enormous host of other things.

In a tumultuous time, don’t underestimate how positive actions can lead to large scale results. Even tiny ones have an effect. Each and every day, what we do matters. What we do this very day matters.

So what kind of change is possible, not only when we act alone, but when we act together?

– Renee Roederer

Image Description: Five post-it notes are placed in a stack, though offset so it looks like they are rotating (from back to front, pink, orange, yellow, and blue). A question mark is on the blue post-it note on top. Public domain image.

There are times when we find ourselves mulling over the very same themes in our thinking.

There are times when we feel weighed down by longstanding frustrations that rarely seem to shift.

There are times when it feels like things are stagnant or unmoving.

So. . . What if we ask a different question?

This is something that a friend of mine says often, and I really appreciate it.

What if we do that? What if we ask a new question? Could that open up new possibilities – creative pathways or new angles of relating?

Maybe that seems like a small thing, but it’s actually a large thing. Frameworks affect how we view situations, feel, and express hope.

So what if we try it? Might it open up something different?

What’s possible?

– Renee Roederer

I’m on an Avett Brothers kick this week.

Here’s another song I really love. Sometimes, people write music, poetry, or prose that can speak into a large variety of life directions. This song is like this, so may it encourage you in whatever direction you need.

“If you’re loved by someone, you’re never rejected.
Decide what to be, and go be it.”

Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise

There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it

When nothing is owed or deserved or expected
And your life doesn’t change by the man that’s elected
If you’re loved by someone, you’re never rejected
Decide what to be and go be it

There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out

There’s a darkness upon you that’s flooded in light
And in the fine print they tell you what’s wrong and what’s right
And it flies by day and it flies by night
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it

There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out

There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out

There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it

I just really love this video and song by the Avett Brothers.

I love the lyrics of the song (this is what I want for us, yes!) and of course, I love these babies. I mean, look at them!

This song is such a sweetie. CC available.

Image Description: A person is sitting with a laptop on their lap; the screen has an image of a galaxy.

As I’ve been doing pretty frequently these days, I led a worship service over Zoom yesterday morning. Many communities are using this platform, but I’ve noticed that each congregation utilizes it with slight differences in order to fit their own worship rhythms and preferences.

Many congregations have chosen to mute everyone during collective prayers and liturgy while one or two people speak the words aloud. This way, we don’t hear everyone’s voices at once, speaking out of sync with time delays. Muted people can speak aloud at home, but we don’t hear their voices.

Of course, we lose a sense of the collective sound in the midst of this also. The congregation I was with yesterday enjoys speaking prayers all together, all aloud, with the time delays.

I enjoyed and appreciated this too. There were times when I let all of that sound wash over me in a sense. This was especially true when we prayed the Lord’s Prayer together. I spoke the words, but I listened even more. I heard the phrases overlapping with one another as they were voiced from many places. And this felt like a true recognition of prayer over distance. We can feel surrounded in a sound like that, and when we’re physically alone, this is a lovely gift.

–Renee Roederer

Image Description: A sunflower.

“I wonder, what can I share from my walk?” I asked myself.

Questions shape what we experience. We often see and perceive what’s before us in particular ways because we’ve asked asked a specific question.

While walking alone, I looked for beauty in my very-familiar-to-me neighborhood. Because I asked that question, I noticed new things. I wanted to take a photo of something beautiful and share it.

I saw some sunflowers. I’ve never walked in their direction before, even though they are in view from the route I travel nearly every time I walk through my neighborhood. I snapped a lovely image and shared it with several people.

Sometimes, we need small glimpses of beauty, and we shouldn’t underestimate the ways they can lift people’s spirits or help us feel connected to each other. I had not thought of this in a long time, but years ago, my friend called me and left a really lovely voicemail. With her permission, I shared it on my blog. I’m going to share it again.

She said,

“I feel so happy every time I have to drive this way because sunflowers are in full bloom now. We have these huge fields and fields and fields of sunflowers being grown as crops, and they’re just so pretty. Unfortunately, they’re not ever in a place where I can pull over and take a picture because they’re on the freeway, and there’s not much of a shoulder. But I wanted to tell you about that, because I thought that is something that would also bring you joy like it does me.”

Let’s share our little glimpses of beauty.

–Renee Roederer

On behalf of the Interfaith Round Table of Washtenaw County, I had the pleasure to partner with a new local community of faith leaders, Interfaith Pride – Washtenaw, to create an Interfaith Pride Celebration. The theme was, “Each Unique, All Beloved.” It aired live on Facebook and Youtube last Thursday night, and it can be accessed now in both places.

I could not be more pleased about how it turned out. As Anna Taylor-McCants, the pastoral intern at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, says in the introduction, “Our intention for creating this event is to bring together LGBTQIA+ affirming religious, spiritual, and faith traditions across the Washtenaw County area. Our hope is that whoever you are and wherever you are, you will experience a flavor of the Divine, of the Holy One, that nourishes your soul. Tonight, some of us will be celebrating together, and others of us will be lamenting together. And for some, I hope this is a beautiful worship experience. Thank you for being on this journey with us.”

These segments are so beautiful. I provided one as did members of my Chosen Family. I’d love to share this with you today. There is an ASL interpreter throughout, so feel free to share this with your Deaf friends too.

May you be affirmed!

–Renee Roederer