When will things get back to normal? When will we be able to worship in the sanctuary? When will the choirs be able to sing again? When will our children be able to have religious education classes?

All these questions are natural. The problem is that there are not good answers to any of them. We don’t know. We are planning for virtual-only worship through the end of this church year. My personal forecast is that we will remain in virtual mode for longer than that.

So many of you have praised our virtual worship. So many have spoken of lighting a chalice at home, of singing Spirit of Life, or being moved by the music and the prayers and the preaching. I believe that we are touching, helping…nurturing folks every Sunday…on line…not in the same way perhaps but nurturing folks nonetheless. Is one of the lessons of these days that we can experience being held by community even when we are alone, even at a distance?

What I am learning is that the possibilities for First Unitarian are not to be found by asking when things will get back to normal, but in different  questions.

There is a story, shared by Rev. Joanna Crawford:

“The Zenith Drilling Company prided itself on being the best drill-bit producing company in the world. In many ways, they had revolutionized the industry, using tungsten-tipped drill bits. The problem is, the competition caught up with them and began to erode Zenith’s market share to the point where profitability was in question. The board of directors decided to get a new CEO who could perhaps help the company recover its previously held market-leader status.

The new CEO called all the leaders and managers to a three-day crisis conference, where he asked everyone to clarify what they thought the mission of the company was. After much conversation and deliberation, they decided that their mission was not only to make drill bits, but also to make the best drill bits in the world. They all agreed this was an excellent purpose for the company.

At this point the new chief executive said, “No! Your job is not to make the best drill bits in the world; rather it is to make the best holes in the world.” They went on to innovate laser drilling and became the best hole-making company in the world.”

The best hole-making company in the world.

Those of us who love the ministry of First Unitarian as we knew it 60 days ago can be forgiven for asking when what we love will return.

But there are other questions. How do we sustain intimacy and connection when we have to stay at a distance? How do we bring both our vulnerabilities and our strengths into the virtual spaces where connection remains possible? How do we make sure that people don’t just drift away from their church? How do we reach out and make connection with all of the new individuals and families that are “attending” our virtual worship?

How do we remember that our mission is to nurture our spirits and build beloved community?  Our mission is not to sustain the specific practices of particular programs, as much as we may love and miss them.

When we return to the sanctuary, which we will at some point, we will return as individuals that have been changed by this experience. We will return as a community that has been changed as well. We will return clearer about why we come, I hope.

 We may even, if we are faithful or lucky or both, return with habits and practices that can deepen our connection to one another and to the Spirit of Life and Love about which we continue to sing each week.

Stay well and stay open to what is stirring in your heart in these days.

Blessings,

Bill