The Question

What are we here for? Why do we gather at UUFG and contribute our resources to its support?

We are here, I believe, to be transformed, to become other than we are, to do the work of deepening, of growing, of living out love.

So how do we do that? To what shall each of us commit, as members of UUFG? Who do you hope to be? Who is the person you hope UUFG will help you become? What is the work that will produce that transformation? What kind of work -- inner and outer -- are you ready to do, and that UUFG can help you with?

It's not that you need "fixing." It's just that your perfection, just as you are, is not static. Bringing intentionality to the further unfolding of your perfection is helpful.

Assuming that you are here to develop, deepen, grow, and learn, then in what ways do you hope to develop, deepen, grow, and learn?

In other words: How would you complete the following sentence? "I would like my connection with UUFG to help, guide, provoke, and facilitate my transformation toward being a person who ___________________."

Here’s a sampling of the answers I’ve gotten from UUFG members so far:

• better understands God.
• is more spiritually developed.
• has stronger relationships in the Fellowship and a deeper feeling of community.
• more wisely discusses and processes interactions with the Other.
• has better learned how to be radically hospitable.
• has been pushed beyond my comfort zone enough to expand my comfort zone.
• really is as tolerant, open-minded, and accepting as I sometimes assume I am.
• embodies compassionate wisdom and equanimity; constantly and continuously at every moment serves justice, peace, and the needs of sentient beings. 
• performs more -- and more effective -- service to others.
• is a better parent for my child.
• is a better person.
• spends more time serving the community and expresses love more deeply through that service.
• develops and uses my skills for helping the Fellowship and the community.
• is filled full with the charge of the spirit.
• knows more about myself, and about social issues, and knows how to put that knowledge to good use.
• has more balance in my life.
• is a more reflective and deep-thinking person, knowledgeable about more different ideas, and strengthened and deepened in my understanding of some of my present ideas.
• is more of an environmental activist, spending more time in clean-up projects and protecting water supply and air quality.
• has deepened my personal spiritual connect to Self, our UUFG community, and the wider community.
• has learned with our congregation how to be a truly loving, community, welcoming of diversity; feels this love emanating through and from our congregation into the wider community.
• has deeper spiritual connections; has learned better ways to deal with my feelings around conflicts; shows, and helps others show, more love and trust.
• is continually challenged and made uncomfortable and is thereby learning how to step back from judgmentalism.
• has built the habit of reflecting; has really deep acceptance and appreciation of others, especially those I see as different from me.
• has discovered my gift; has joined with other UUs on a project to enhance UUFG's profile in the community; attends a support group for my spiritual practice; has friends; promotes UU.

If you haven't given your answer, please do. I'd like to get every member's answer on this list.

The question, again, is this: How do complete the following sentence? "I would like my connection with UUFG to help, guide, provoke, and facilitate my transformation toward being a person who ___________________."

Why am I seeking answers to this question? If we can encapsulate most of the answers into about three or four overall phrases, we can put those into a mission statement that will direct UUFG in creating programs and policies that will more effectively realize those intentions.

Email your answer to me (minister@uufg.org), or use the comment box below to register your answer (don't see the comment box? Click on the word "comment" immediately below this post).

Don't feel you have to be original. If one or a few of the answers listed above particularly resonate with you, feel free to copy those answers and send them in as yours. (None of the answers are copyrighted!)

Thank you, and blessings upon your, and our, spiritual journeys,
-Meredith