I grew up a devout Atheist, and went through phases of being Jewish, Pagan and Quaker. Now I’m a Unitarian Universalist Humanist and member of The Community Church of New York Unitarian Universalist and The Unitarian Universalist Meeting House of Provincetown.

Both groups have been particularly active in promoting equal rights for same-sex married couples. I think of the Sunday service like an ACT-UP meeting but with really great music. I don’t think of myself as religious as much as socially/politically/ethically active.

Although the Unitarian Universalist movement branched off from liberal Christianity, a recent study found that today most are Humanist (54%), followed by Agnostic (33%), Earth-centered (31%), Atheist (18%), Buddhist (16.5%), with Christian (13.1%) and Pagan (13.1%) being tied for smallest segment.

Today, I got an e-mail from the Rev. Forrest Church, the minister of one of the other New York City Unitarian Universalist groups, Unitarian Church of All Souls, which is much farther towards the Christian end of the spectrum than I’m usually comfortable with.

I was so moved by what he wrote and how it paralleled my own journey that I wanted to share an excerpt with you folks (bolds and ellipsis are mine -- you can read the full text of the original here) without any further comment:

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Dear Friends,

With apologies for sending this word out so impersonally, I’m writing to share with you the news that I have esophageal cancer. A bank of tests conducted over the past two weeks has confirmed the existence of a malignant tumor high in my esophagus, and we shall determine a protocol for treatment (radiation, chemotherapy, and, if possible, surgical removal) before the end of the month. Unhappily, this is a particularly fierce form of cancer; happily, it apparently has not spread. More important than any of these cold medical facts, I am in good spirits and more grateful than ever for the gifts of life and love....

After almost three decades as your minister, I have been graced with so many teachers, whose courage in face of life’s troubles has been a constant inspiration... Our human response to the dual reality of being alive and knowing we must die, and the purpose of life being to live in such a way that our lives will prove worth dying for... offers me the same comfort during my own time of trial that I pray it has given you in yours.

...I will be taking a medical leave of absence from my pastoral duties... The best thing you can do to bolster my already high spirits is to carry on all of your good works, continue to expand our ministries during this critical period in the life of our nation and world, worship to a fare-thee-well, and keep the budget balanced!

As for my three mantras “do what you can, want what you have, and be who you are” I practice each every day, feeling myself blessed beyond measure. Please know that you live in my heart, an abiding presence that fills my life with strength and joy.

Love,
Forrest