Sermons

'Hello, with Whom Am I Speaking:'

"Hello, with Whom Am I Speaking"
A Sermon by Charles Blustein Ortman
February 3, 2002
At the Unitarian Church of Montclair
67 Church Street, Montclair, New Jersey 07042
973-744-6276 WWW.UUMontclair.org  

Before I start into my sermon this morning, I'd just like to say a word about cell phones. [Holding up my cell phone.] Just a couple of months ago we began announcing a request that you turn off your cell phones during worship. Your response has been most gratifying. I don't think we've heard a cell phones go off during a service since that time. I just wanted to say thank you. It really does matter by helping to hallow our special time here together.

Well, today starts the first week of our February Focus Month. Because this was originally to have been a time of Sabbatical, our focus theme of renewal was chosen. It's my hope that we can still take some concentrated time this month to do just that, to engage in a spirit of renewal.

Renewal can mean many different things at different times. To a large extent though, at least to me, renewal means taking a few steps out of pace in order to gain a fresh perspective. The object of renewal is to be rejuvenated, reinvigorated and reengaged. So I'll hope our explorations this month will be enjoyable as well as meaningful. Maybe we can even have a little fun.

[My cell phone rings.]

Oh my goodness, what's that? This is so embarrassing. Nobody even knows this number. Hello, with whom am I speaking? What?! Who is this?

You say this is God calling! But I can call you Goddess if I'm more comfortable with that. I don't think so! Who is this really? You say you're Allah, Adonai, Abraxis and the Almighty, that you're Athena, and Aphrodite, too. Yes, yes I do see how you've just begun an alphabetical litany. Yes, I do imagine it could last for quite a while. Uh huh, all the way through Isis, Jesus, Lakshmi, to Venus and Zarathustra. And that includes the concept names too? Like Spirit of Life, and the Cause of Being, the Tao and the Great Mystery. Sure, I see. You are the whole enchilada. The whole thing all rolled into one. You are THE ONE. Okay.

Wait a minute though. Why are you calling me? I don't even believe in you. At least I don't believe in any God who can talk to me…on a cell phone…especially on a cell phone.

What? Yes, you're right. Who am I to question a miracle when it's right in front of my face? Or attached to my ear? But you've got to tell me, "G", how does this work? How do we happen to be having this little chat? Do you mind if I call you G?

Sure, sure, one thing at a time. Yes, I do imagine that's how we get into a lot of trouble. We try to focus on too many things at once and sometimes we don't really get to the bottom of anything. Being centered isn't just New Age jargon then, it really is a good idea. Okay, I see.

All right first then, is it okay to call you “G” or “Big G”? Is that all right?

Well I'm glad you think that's a good question. Why’s that? Well I suppose that does make sense. No, I don't imagine that anything or anyone else has nearly as many names as you. And that's fine with you.

Big G or Holy Ghost or whatever, it's all the same to you. Oh, and when do you find it upsetting? When people use any of your names to curse their own bad luck or their own shortcomings. I can imagine that you do get blamed for a lot of stuff. What else? You hate it when people use any of your names to claim superiority over anyone else’s. For as long as people have praised your names, they've also used your names to praise themselves. I'm sure you would just as soon they leave you out of all that, "God's on our side," business. No, Big G, I don't blame you at all.

So, tell me G, why are we having this little chat? Oh, you just, sort of like the whole idea of our little worship services here then. And you were kind of hoping to take a more major role this morning. Mmhmm. And you especially like the music. No, no offense taken. I love the music, too. Sometimes I wish it could go on forever.

What? Oh, and so you thought, if you and I might have this little time to chat, then maybe members of the congregation might get curious and they might try it, too. Who knows, G. Anything could happen.

Okay then, I understand the name thing, and I know why you're here. But you've got to tell me, how in heaven's name does this work? How can we even be having this conversation? It's real hard for me to imagine that you're even real.

That's the point? What's the point? I don't get it. What ever I or anyone else imagines about you, that’s the closest we're going to get? The closest we're going to get to what? To knowing the unknowable. That's a tough one, G, you've got to help me out a little here.

Very funny. Yes, I suppose that it is a lot saying a little prayer, saying, God, help me. Uh huh. Yep, you are quite a card.

So, are you saying that I'm imagining this conversation? No, I'm not imagining the conversation. What I'm imagining is any part of the conversation that I'm attributing to you, is that it? Now we're getting somewhere.

Okay, so what you're saying is that you are unknowable. We, here on this end, all know that we're here through no cause of our own. We know that our lives and our hearts are filled with longings and hopes, aspirations and the potential for love. And we know that we aren't the inventors of any of these characteristics. Right. You're saying they come out of you, the great unknowable mystery. And since we can't know you, we have to imagine you. Is that it? Something like that.

So you're saying that if I envision you with any face, or any form, or constellation, if I attribute any intention or purpose or design to you, it's all in my imagination? It is. And if I ever feel that I'm receiving a direct communication from you, like right now, and I can hear you as clearly as I can hear my own voice, that's always my imagination, too? It is, yah.

What's that? There's another point that might be helpful here? What is it? Even when we imagine that there is no God at all, that's a way of imagining the unknowable, too. So, even though the content might look different, the function is still the same. Yeh, you did say that you have a lot of names. Well I suppose that makes sense. The story that goes with each name would have different content. God, or not-god, or any of the others.

So, let me see if I have this straight so far. We're able to have this conversation because I'm imagining all the things you're saying to me. Well, if that's right, doesn't that make the conversation rather worthless? No, I'm not trying to test your patience. I'm serious. If I’m just imagining what you’re saying to me, doesn’t that prove it’s not real?

I’m missing the point again, aren’t I? Reality isn’t what’s at issue here, then? It’s about truth, and truth is bigger and more important than reality. Okay, so what’s true about this?

Oh, I see. So, reality is about the day to day functioning of our lives. But truth is about the underlying causes and motivations. So, you don’t really care about the little stuff, only my reasons for making the choices I make. And you’re not really the one who cares about any of it? I am. Hmmm.

And it’s not worthless then because it’s what connects me to being alive? Walk me through this one will you, G.? Okay, so you say I help an old lady across the street… Be careful, G., this room has several older ladies in it. Yes, I’m fond of them, too.

Okay, so I help this lady across the street. That’s not a big deal – that’s the small stuff. But that I recognize someone is in need of help, that’s about orientation, and that’s a bigger deal? I see. Sure, that’s about recognizing that we need one another. And that’s about accepting that we’re all connected, that we’re all in this together. Okay.

So now, you’re asking me, “What are we all in together?” I suppose life. We’re all in life together. Where does life come from? Well, that is the mystery isn’t it, G? Yes.

So my conversations with you are my attempt to allow you, the mystery, to have an influence in my life.

What do I think of when I think about you? Hmmm. Well, G, this is going to sound strange, but I think of all the possibilities in the universe, and that most of those possibilities are about not being. And yet here we are. I think of you as being the energy, the cause, the desire for being.

Yes, I do think that existence is good. And so the causes for being are good, too. So, when I think of you, no matter what name I use – God or not God, Krishna or Dirga – I’m thinking of trying to allow goodness to have influence in my life. Yeh, I see. That is a worthwhile endeavor. Imagining the divine and then trying to live up to what we’ve imagined isn’t worthless. You’re right. It’s more like worship.

Say what? You don’t want me to get the impression that this is necessarily all about me. It’s not just about what I think… Go on. What couple of things?

Just because all I can know about you is what I’ve imagined doesn’t mean there can’t be more about you than what I’ve imagined? Well, I suppose that does make sense. So you think sometimes when things are going well for me, I might want to consider the possibility that I might have had more help along the way than what I’d imagined? Okay, okay. Yes, I suppose gratitude is a humbling attitude. And humility is not a bad thing.

What’s the other thing? What do you mean individualism is overrated? You want us to know you do your best work in tandem. When people get together with different perspectives of you and your role in the ongoing creation of the universe, the different perspectives complement each other and allow you to do your best work. How’s that?

If everybody thinks the same, it’s not a very creative environment, okay. But when we work together to bridge our differences, that’s when your creative juices really flow. That’s when there’s a real shot of promoting the chances of a better tomorrow for everyone. I see.

Well listen, G, this is incredible. I’m thrilled that you’ve taken the time and the effort to be here with me – with all of us – this morning. I don’t want to take up a lot more of your time, but I’m wondering if I could ask you a question that maybe a few of us here are struggling with. Oh, good. Thanks.

You know this whole September 11th thing and all that’s followed since then? Well a lot of us have been trying to …well…to make sense of it – just to kind of balance things out: the terrorism, the warfare, the hatred, the self-assuredness, the self-doubt. What do you think, G? Can you help us out here?

I’m afraid I’m starting to lose you. What did you say? Prayer? That’s what I thought you said. You know this is not a largely praying crowd, don’t you? You think maybe it could be more of one.

How’s that? We don’t need to be so hung up on prayer. We don’t need to ask for foolish things…but we could be a bit more grateful for what we have. And then we could put our energies into imagining the very best solutions for world and for everyone. You’ll work with us on the imagining part. But then the doing part, that’s up to us. Well, yes, if that’s how it has to be, sure.

Tell you what, G; we really have just another minute here. Is there anything you’d like the folks to know from your mysterious perspective? Really? You’re not kidding? Okay.

There are a lot of things you want people to know. But you’ll suffice it to say that you want people to drive with their headlights on – all the time but especially when it’s raining, or foggy, or late afternoon. You want people to stop thinking that it doesn’t matter whether or not it helps them to see well. It helps other people to see them better.

Oh, I see. It’s a metaphor. We need to be more aware of other people’s experiences, and how we impact on others. Oh, okay. It’s not just a metaphor. You really do want us to use the headlights, too.

Anything else? Well, yeh this is the beginning of our focus month on renewal. Any thoughts on that?

If we want to be renewed we need to step back from the way we normally do things and from the way we normally see things. We need to stop drinking and refill our cups. Renewal is a wellspring that comes from our source. And so to be renewed we have to imagine our way continuously into new relationships with that source – to be fed, and to grow, and to thrive and to do our part in creating a world that’s based on our best impulses. I like that, G. Yah, I think it’ll be helpful as we go through this month.

Yep, thanks, G. You take care. No, no, please, drop in any time. Okay, I’ll tell them. Goodbye.

She said that she wants you all to know that she believes in you.