Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

From Where I Sit

April 20, 2007
Rev. Alicia McNary Forsey

Tuesday evening it was still warm when I left my office. I decided to sit for a few minutes on a bench in the garden and take in the quiet beauty of my surroundings. It was one of those moments Kurt Vonnegut would have said something like “Now, isn’t this just right?”

Yes, it was just right. Since my arrival at UUCPA on February 12, I have spent too much time and energy noticing what is not quite “just right.” I want to be of use to the church, and do see some things that could be improved upon — but not at the expense of noticing what is good, right and beautiful.

When I am walking around the grounds, I see the care that has been given to an environment that is home to an enormous amount of activity. It is very difficult to keep everything in good order when there is a fairly constant stream of activity, but good order is everywhere.

When I am speaking on a Sunday, it is difficult to keep to my notes because I am captured by so many attentive faces — so much brightness of presence in the room. I think about the many remarkable people who are members of this church and wonder about your lives. In meetings of small groups I feel the respect you have for each other and I witness the broad and creative talent devoted to the good of the church.

I see these kinds of things and I also see that now it is especially important to concentrate on noticing what is good. Tensions in the church will come and go, but the church will stay. As long as church members live the covenant of the church — embody it and act on it, then the church will stay.

Before coming to UUCPA as a consulting minister, my previous visit here had been about fifteen years earlier. I noticed the positive changes right away. Perhaps, if you are a longtime member, you don’t see the changes in the same way I do. Or, if you are a newer member, you are not remembering a church of many years ago. I’m very glad to be able to wish you a Happy Birthday as your church turns sixty.