My mom sent me a link to this drash, (a sermon or interpretation of text,) In the River of Light, by Irwin Keller, a teacher, writer, reb, and hope-monger in California. I highly recommend you read it before continuing to read my own impressions on streams of inspiration.

Reflections on the water

I loved reading this now (noonish, Sunday, September 20, 2020.) It was a perfect example of synchronicity, or seeing how the waters of that stream converge and support each other. This morning we had our annual Water Communion, which was quite different than in years past. Several of us, including me, shared appreciation of our own backyards. Someone else said, “Since we’re all almost 90% water, I give thanks for all of you!” Gwen, who led the service, invited us to share any imagined water we liked, since it was on Zoom and most folks didn’t travel this summer. So I also mentioned how I would love to visit the Ganges and make a pilgrimage from its mouth up to its source. I may not get to do that (physically) in this lifetime, but I can celebrate and splash in the river of light!

Unitarian Universalists may not believe in a God or a creator, but most of us accept that we’re all connected in a web of life. Martin Luther King Jr. referred to this as an inescapable garment of mutuality. Some of us find inspiration in the natural world around us, others in scripture, others in each other. Wherever we seek inspiration and hope–whatever that stream–it is vitally needed now. It was refreshing to get soaked by it this morning!

It’s important that we stay connected to our streams of inspiration, hope, joy and creativity. We can share and practice with each other. That’s our covenant with each other, to dwell in peace and to grow into harmony with that stream. We carry each other, as the river carries us, and we carry those waters of life outward in service to our neighbors, especially those in need. Let it sustain us this unpredictable autumn and into the next year.