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Rev. Chris Jimmerson
June 19, 2022
First UU Church of Austin
4700 Grover Ave., Austin, TX 78756
www.austinuu.org
In 1989, psychologist and researcher Dr. Carol Ryff developed her six-factor model of psychological well being, which she has updated and many others have validated since. The model focuses on how we might not only cope, but thrive. Might these six factors also apply with our spirituality, as well as to our religious community thriving.
Chalice Lighting
This is the flame we hold in our hearts as we strive for justice for everyone. This is the light we shine upon systems of oppression until they are no more. This is the warmth that we share with one another as our struggle becomes our salvation.
Call to Worship
Now let us worship together.
Now, let us celebrate the sacred miracle of each other.Now let us open our hearts, our souls, our lives,
for the blessings of the sacred miracle.Now let us be thankful for the healing power of love,
the gift of fellowship, the renewal of faith.Now let us accept with gratitude the traditions handed down
to us from those who came before us,
and open ourselves to begin anew, with those that will follow.Now let us worship together.
– Chris Jimmerson
Affirming Our Mission
Together we nourish souls, transform lives, and do justice to build the Beloved Community.
Meditation Reading
This making of a whole self takes
such a very long time: pieces are not
sequential nor our supplies. We work here,
then there, hold up tattered fabric to the light.
Sew past dark, intent. Use all our thread.Sleeves may come before length;
buttons, before a rounded neck.
We sew at what most needs us,
and as it asks, sew again.The self is not one thing, once made,
unaltered. Not midnight task alone, not
after other work. It’s everything we come
upon, make ours: all this fitting of
what-once-was and has-become.– Nancy Shaffer
Sermon
In 1989, psychologist and researcher, Dr. Carol Ryff developed what she called the six-factor model of psychological well being.
There is even a self-test you can find, along with a Google document on how to score the test, to help you determine how well your own well-being is hanging in there.
Dr. Ryff has updated the model and demonstrated its reliability in the years since. Other researchers have also verified its reliability and validity. Dr. Ryff’s six factor model was an early predecessor of “positive psychology”, which is a relatively recent branch of psychology that is characterized by:
- recognizing the need to address mental health challenges, while also making psychological flourishing the eventual goal.
- finding meaning, deep satisfaction and purpose in life.
“Finding meaning, deep satisfaction and purpose in life.” Hmmmm. That sounds a lot like what we try to do here in church, doesn’t it? So, I thought it might be interesting to explore Dr. Ryff’s model as it might also apply to our spiritual life and to the life of our religious community.
I don’t know about you, but these days, I could do with a little psychological, spiritual and religious well being.
So the first factor in Dr. Ryff’s model is Autonomy. When we have autonomy, we are independent. We regulate our own behavior independent of social pressures.
An example statement for this psychological criterion is “I have confidence in my opinions, even if they are contrary to the general consensus.” Yeah, like Unitarian Universalists have a problem with that. Spiritually, this factor might show up as remaining true to our values even when they are challenged. One of the values that I hold is to remain in relationship even with those with whom I disagree. I struggle with how I hold that value when folks with whom I disagree are acting or voting in ways that are in opposition to other values that I hold:
– the inherent worth and dignity of every person,
– treating ourselves and others with compassion and love,
What do I do when people whom I love act in ways that I believe are oppressive and harmful to other people? What do I do when it is members of my own family that I feel are doing so? Struggling with the sometimes difficult interactions among our most cherished values, I suspect, is one of the greatest ongoing challenges to our spiritual well- being with which all of us struggle. I don’t have an easy answer to this, but I do know my own sense of autonomy requires that I keep trying.
As a religious community, you all exhibit autonomy in calling your own senior minister, electing your own governing board. This congregation functions as a free and independent church that is a part of the Unitarian Universalist Association of congregations, or UUA. The administrative body of the UUA provides guidance and support; however, each congregation ultimately determines its own path, as this church did when we twice decided to provide sanctuary to an immigrant to help them avoid devastating consequences if they had been deported.
Ryff’s second factor is “Environmental Mastery” – making effective use of our opportunities and having a sense of control regarding environmental factors. An example of what we might say about this criteria is, “In general, I feel I am capable of responding in a healthy manner to the situation in which I live”.
Now like a good Unitarian Universalist, while I like that statement, I would argue with Ryff that we can never have complete control over environmental factors.
I prefer the term agency.
We can influence our environment and try to control our reaction to what comes our way, but I think one of our spiritual challenges in life is coming to accept that do not have absolute control.
I remember something my spouse Wayne said when he was going through a disabling and potentially life threatening health situation. He is doing fine now, but at one point during that time he said, “I used the feel like the rug had been pulled out from under me. I finally realized there was never rug.”
I think the way that this religious community has weathered so many challenges, especially the recent time of having to do church entirely virtually because of the pandemic, demonstrates environmental mastery.
May we continue such resilience as we join together during this time of transition, after the retirement of a beloved senior minister.
The third factor of well-being is “personal growth”, characterized by the ability to continue to grow, be open to new experiences. For this factor, we might say something like, “I think it is important to have new experiences that challenge my world view”
Spiritually, we can nurture this aspect of well-being by trying new spiritual practices, exploring other worldviews and theologies, remaining open to mystery and that which is larger than us.
As a religious community, we can be open to new forms of worship and ritual. We can engage with other faiths and in social justice and interfaith activities. I think our growth as a religious community has recently been demonstrated by how we have adapted to new ways of doing things because of the pandemic and have carried some of those new ways with us even though we have returned to some in person activities.
Dr. Ryff’s fourth factor is “Positive Relations with Others”. If we are living out this aspect of wellbeing we might say, “I am willing to share with others. I am willing to be vulnerable and giving.”
Developing our spirituality in this area might involve working toward defining ones self not as a separate entity but as inextricably linked with other people and the web of all existence.
Our religious community is by definition one of covenant. We promise to walk together in the ways of love. We find common ground and ways to work together even with those whom may have different and even contradictory religious beliefs.
For instance, several years ago, we hosted an undoing racism session over the weekend here at the church. Near the end the event, a person of color and from a much more conservative religious belief system made a comment about our church minsters being openly gay.
She said that the next undoing racism workshop should be held somewhere that did not violate her values.
Those of us at the session, including this gay minister, had to find a way to express our strong disagreement, while also remaining committed to the anti- racism work of the group.
The fifth factor of wellbeing is finding purpose in life. “My life has direction and meaning”.
This aspect of wellbeing involves a sense of calling – most often that embraces serving others.
Spiritually it, again, often involves a sense of being a part of something larger than ourselves.
We may find that in art, music, service to others, doing justice, and the like. As a religious community, I think we live into this with our strong commitment to our values, principles and mission.
So many of you engage in fulfilling activities, both individually and communally – from the arts, to volunteerism to working for justice to getting out the vote to other forms of political activism.
And speaking of a religious community inspiring a sense of calling, in my time with this church, I have witnessed at least 6 members who have heard a call to Unitarian Universalist ministry, including this guy standing before you. We have three folks in seminary right now and at least a couple of more thinking about it.
The final aspect of wellbeing is self-acceptance. We actually get to like ourselves. “Dude, you’re pretty cool”, we might say to ourselves.
Spiritually we cultivate self- love. We affirm our own inherent worth and dignity.
Now, I know affirmations can seem hokey sometimes but every once in a while tell yourself what you like about yourself.
And we are a part of a larger faith, Unitarian Universalism, that I believe has a saving message.
We can rejoice in being a part of that larger faith that proclaims each of us, each of us, has inherent worth and dignity.
We are a part of a faith that strives to make a difference in this world – in the here and now. I shared a story very early on after I entered ministry with this church, that I want to share with you again because it speaks to the power of our faith. Several years ago, my spouse Wayne and I joined a group of Unitarian Universalists from across the state to support a large rally held on the steps of the Texas State Capital.
The rally was protesting the atrocious attacks on the rights of women that had occurred here in Texas, as well across the nation.
Scary that we are still dealing with these same attacks, except even more so, all these years later.
Anyway, we all showed up in our bright yellow tee shirts bearing the Unitarian Universalist “Side with love” public advocacy motto. The folks from our church gathered around our large, bright yellow “First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin Sides with Love” banner.
The women’s rights groups that had organized the rally absolutely loved it, so they put us right behind speakers for the rally. The event drew a huge crowd, and near the end of the rally we noticed that all eight of us holding up the banner at the women’s rights rally were men.
Being Unitarian Universalists, that did not seem so unusual, so we just had a good laugh about it. As I was walking to my car though, a woman I had never met touched my shoulder. I turned to her. She looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, “I just want you to know how moving it was for me to see a group of all men holding up your banner.”
Then she turned away briefly, turned back to me and said, “You know, I don’t think of myself as religious, but I’m going to have to find out more about you folks.”
I suppose we were both stunned by the movement of something sacred that was occurring between us in that moment, because neither of us said anything for a while. I don’t remember how long we just stood there or which of us broke the silence first, but I do remember that at some point she asked where she could get one of our bright yellow Tee Shirts, so I gave her the Side with Love web address and some information on our local churches.
I don’t even remember if we ever exchanged our names.
I will tell you though – I have never been happier to call myself a Unitarian Universalist than I was in that moment.
I have never been more grateful to be reminded that ours is a faith that calls us to show up – to live our values and principles in our world.
So, I think Ryff’s factors for wellbeing are a great fit for us as Unitarian Universalists:
- Autonomy
- Environmental mastery (Agency)
- Personal growth
- Positive relations with others `
- Finding purpose in life
- Self-acceptance
Yep, that sounds like us.
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