The poem by David Whyte that I read this morning uses the metaphor of the sea to express a sense of belonging that is at once deep and transcendent. One thing that we all have in common is an understanding of the sea. Living in coastal towns as we do means that each one of us has experienced the pull of an ocean wave, and has an intimate knowledge of the ebb and flow of the tides. I have always loved the ocean and feel at once a sense of self-confidence and a broader connection to the world at large when I walk along the shore. Perhaps this is why this poem resonates for me.

The pull so strong we will not believe
the drawing tide is meant for us,
I mean the gift, the sea,
the place where all the rivers meet.

Easy to forget,
how the great receiving depth
untamed by what we need
needs only what will flow its way.

At the same time that David Whyte beautifully illustrates the ebb and flow of the ocean, he describes an inability to truly connect with it; to "believe the drawing tide is meant for us"; to remember that we need only be open to experience and to connect with those around us.

Easy to feel so far away
and the body so old
it might not even stand the touch.

There are many experiences in our lives that have blocked our ability to be receptive. Wounds from times when we experienced loss, failure or betrayal that cause us to keep our distance from others. However, Whyte offers a vision of allowing the tide to rise up and wash over the concerns that keep us stiff, numb and closed off.

But what would it be like feeling the tide rise
out of the numbness inside
toward the place to which we go
washing over the worries of money,
the illusion of being ahead,
the grief of being behind,
our limbs young
rising from such a depth?

There are so many anxieties that we carry around with us: financial concerns, self-criticism, judgments about other people, fear, doubts. Instead of numbness and focusing only on our status, the poet invites us into greater depth.

To be a Unitarian Universalist is also an invitation into greater depth. Central is the belief in the inherent worth and dignity of every person. This means that even if you are in the midst of despair and doubt your own worth, there is a community of people who will affirm your dignity. This principle also serves as a challenge for each individual to move past our own prejudices to truly appreciate our common humanity and work for equality.

What would it be like
even in this century
driving toward work with the others,
moving down the roads
among the thousands swimming upstream,
as if growing toward arrival,
feeling the currents of great desire,
carrying time toward tomorrow?

The movement of cars along the roadways is a parallel image to rivers flowing to the sea. However, when we are driving in our cars, we are each in our own metal boxes, self-contained, isolated even though many may be traveling in the same direction. Poems tend to have many layers of meaning so these cars driving to work could also be seen as people on their path through life. Whyte seems to be asking what would it be like if each person was actually conscious of their deepest desire? What would change if life was perceived as a quest for ultimate meaning?

Tomorrow seen today, for itself,
the sea where all the rivers meet, unbound,
unbroken for a thousand miles, the surface
of a great silence, the movement of a moment
left completely to itself, to find ourselves adrift,
safe in our unknowing, our very own,
our great tide, our great receiving, our
wordless, fiery, unspoken,
hardly remembered, gift of true longing.

Longing is commonly perceived as desperate- a craving after something unattainable. Instead the poet says that true longing is a gift. The preoccupation with the surface values of money, appearance, and status can cut us off from our deepest yearnings.

What is my place? Where do I fit in? With whom will I associate? Do I belong? These are questions of ultimate meaning. The answers determine a great deal about our lives and the answers can change over time. They are part of a journey toward greater wholeness.

Each one of us holds many allegiances. Some we are simply born into. We are attached or bound by birth to certain people. Our nationality arises from the country where we were born and links us to our fellow citizens. Our race is our inheritance from our parents and countless generations that came before. Our ethnicity is also a gift from our ancestors and carries with it the customs and traditions of culture. We belong to a certain family whether biological or adopted. Children are largely dependant upon those adults that provide food and shelter. All of these: nationality, race, ethnicity, and family of origin, are significant factors in our personal identity. They tell a story about where we are connected within this diverse world of people.

As we grow into maturity, many of our affiliations become a matter of choice. The ability to make decisions about our employment, whom we love, where we live, and where we worship are not universal freedoms. Today, I will examine the most basic forms of belonging: work, committed relationships, our homes, and religion.

First let's consider employment. Family names like "Goldsmith", "Miller" and "Baker" remind us that vocation was an inheritance not long ago in this country and continues to be so in other parts of the world. Just as an individual is born into a certain family, he may be born into a certain role in society. He follows the footsteps of those who went before. The family name tells of his place. The caste system in India is an example of society dictating levels of worthiness and behavioral expectations among its people. In the United States, there is the concept of the American Dream. There are countless examples of people who begin with virtually nothing and rise to success in this land of opportunity. However, we must be mindful that economics continue to play a significant role in American society. Many people who are born into the lower classes are not afforded the same level of education and so do not have the same skills or opportunities to make choices about their jobs or housing.

So, it is a gift to be able to have a rewarding life's work. As we all know, there is a difference between going to a job and having a vocation. When we find a satisfying position there is a sense of belonging that we have found work that truly matches our talents, skills and values. A vocation is also known as a calling because we bring our best selves to the task and the work brings out the best in us. When an individual excels in her work, it is said that she has found her niche, it suits her, she belongs in that arena.

It is a gift to commit oneself in love to another person. Not that long ago in this country and in many places through out the world today, marriages have nothing to do with love. Instead young couples are arranged much like business deals. In fact, the standard wedding service reflects this exchange of property with the bride being brought to the husband by the father. Whenever I work with a couple on their wedding ceremony, I make sure that they are aware of the origin of this tradition and offer some alternative suggestions. The couple is welcome to have a traditional Processional but I refuse to make the inquiry "Who gives this bride away?" because in this day and age the woman has made her own conscious decision to join in matrimony. Both parties have experienced a sense of belonging. The vows are exchanged as a promise to form a lasting partnership. This same sense of a belonging and a committed loving relationship is also celebrated in ceremonies of union between same sex couples.

It is a gift to have a home. Even in our local community, there are people who have no shelter, no safe place to rest or to keep their property, if they have any. The loss of a job, death of a loved one or the end of a committed relationship, can all be contributing factors to the loss of a home. Interesting how the loss of one sense of belonging can lead to the unraveling of another.

Ideally to have a home is to have a place to hang your hat, put your feet up, let your hair down, and let it all hang out. In other words, a place where you can relax, have your privacy, spend time with loved ones, and create an environment where you feel most comfortable. As Dorothy says "There no place like home". The Land of Oz is exciting but it is reassuring to be surrounded by the familiar and embraced by people who know and understand you well.

It is a gift to be able to choose your religious affiliation. Like race and ethnicity, religion is often considered an inherited part of identity. There are many families in the United States that have held the same religious affiliation going back as far as memory allows. To be Jewish is considered an ethnic identity whether or not one goes to Temple or observes the religious practices.

We have cause to think with gratitude of all those who fought for the principles of religious freedom. Through out the ages, many people have suffered harm for their religious beliefs. There have been forced conversions and mass killings and to this day, people are oppressed for belonging to a minority religious group.

So, to be able to choose your religious affiliation and openly practice your beliefs is indeed a precious gift. Faith journeys take many forms. Life experiences sometimes lead to a conversion or a change of beliefs. Other times, life circumstances (like a job, committed relationship or move) can lead a person to simply move away from a religious community to which they once belonged. Many Americans have been raised in families where institutional religion was simply not a part of their lives. These various backgrounds can lead people to search for a faith community.

What does it mean to join a Unitarian Universalist congregation? We are a liberal religious tradition with no common assent to creed. There is no doctrinal test for membership. We do not ask our children or our adult members to memorize certain statements of faith. To become a member, an individual signs the Membership Book when he or she feels they have discovered a religious home. Even those of us who were raised Unitarian Universalists, needed to make a conscious decision about membership once we reached adulthood. Those children who are in our religious education class today learn about many traditions. They are taught in the tradition of the Radical Reformation that religion is a choice based upon individual discernment.

Oftentimes there are people in Unitarian Universalist congregations who have whole-heartedly joined without actually becoming members. They attend worship regularly, have children in the Religious Education Program, even contribute financially and actively participate in fellowship and committee work. This happens for a variety of reasons. Sometimes people have reservations about officially changing religious affiliations although it is possible to have a dual affiliation. Some people do not feel ready to make the commitment. Others have been so seriously wounded by organized religion as not to feel safe. Sometimes there is concern about the feelings of extended family members. There are also cases when folks have simply never been asked. If you fall into any of these categories and would like to discuss them, you are welcome to talk with me or to anyone on the Membership Committee when you are so moved.

Like a wedding vow, becoming a member is a public expression of a deepening sense of commitment. This promise is made on many levels:

To yourself- as a pledge to enrich your own life through continued personal growth

To the church- to contribute your talents, resources, and experiences to enrich this fellowship

To the movement- to strengthen the liberal religious voice in the local and global community

As was stated in the New Member Affirmation, an individual finds him or herself in sympathy with the Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the purposes of this particular church. To join this congregation is an invitation to bring all of who you are: your unique history, hopes, struggles, and values, into a community of seekers. As a religious body, we support one another in times of challenge, and celebrate with one another in times of joy. Ideally, the connections made here in worship, fellowship, education, social action, and even committee work will also help to deepen the sense of belonging in all other aspects of life.