You might wonder sometimes how much time I put into writing my
newsletter columns. If you read one you like, you might imagine that it
took a great deal of time to write. If you read one that doesn’t do as
much for you, you might imagine that I whipped it out pretty quickly.
The truth? I usually write them pretty quickly, relatively speaking. More
often than not, I’m pleasantly surprised at how quickly they come along
once I sit down to do it – they virtually write themselves. I like some
better than others, just like you… but usually the process is fairly painless.
Much easier than writing a sermon, for instance.
Except for this week, I went through four versions of this column. The first was an attempt to
summarize some highlights from my recent thinking about the 5th Principle and the importance of
voting on January 19. It turned out to be far too dense for a newsletter column. The second draft
was an attempt to say something about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But Thea will lead the
congregation in thinking about MLK on January 17; no need for me to do that here. In the third
draft I was thinking about fear, on one hand, and positive thinking on the other. But I realized
that those are my topics for sermons on January 24 and 31, respectively. So you see how I
struggled, but at least it was comforting to discover that the themes that seem to be on my mind
truly are on my mind. Besides, summarizing my struggle is a sneaky way to give you a snapshot
of some upcoming services – and reminding you to vote!
I believe the reason I struggled to write this particular column is that I’ve been with you for more
than half a year now, and my head is swimming with the richness of what is here in this
congregation. There’s so much potential! It boggles the mind.
And so, what can I possibly say in the length of a newsletter column? I keep coming back to a
quotation that is usually attributed to Howard Thurman:
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the
world needs is people who have come alive.”
Ultimately, that is my wish for each of us and for us as a congregation: to come alive. What
makes us come alive? What would you just love to do together in 2010, and beyond? Howard
Thurman also writes:
“There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in
yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your
life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.”
May we have the courage and vision to listen for the sound of the genuine and to pull our own
strings. May we discover together what makes us come alive, and reanimate ourselves and our
world. I remain plumb excited to be a part of this wonderful congregation!
In faith,
Lara

Posted by Rev. M. Lara Hoke on January 13th, 2010