August 6th Minister’s Message

Aloha mai kakou!

NYC access to Culture
I saw “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” – a new, moving feature-length documentary. It follows her journey from a lonely, often difficult childhood to becoming a Pulitzer Prize– and National Book Award–winning poet, highlighting her decades of walking the ponds and forests of Cape Cod/Provincetown, where attention to the natural world became a contemplative, almost mystical practice. Portraying her as an openly queer, intensely private, often sardonic “unlikely contemporary mystic,” living for nearly fifty years with her partner, photographer Molly Malone Cook, the film emphasizes how her work speaks to contemporary anxieties about attention, presence, climate crisis, digital distraction, and social fragmentation.

It is not booked to be shown on Oahu, though it is playing in Hilo now. So I have submitted a request to show it here at the church! If you have not read Mary Oliver’s poetry yet, dive in, you are in for a treat!

On the crazy funny side, I saw “Oh Mary” – a very different Mary, on Broadway. This is a recreation of the history of Mary Todd Lincoln and her husband, Abraham. It is a scream. If you have a chance, see it. If not, ask me about it and I will tell you the hysterical, though based on some truths, story.

California notes
My granddaughter Aurora and I spent the weekend painting, baking, and helping some of our ailing relatives. These were her first nights without her parents in her 5-year life! Her father and mother each kept texting me– “How is Aurora?”, “Is she upset?”, “What are you doing now?” “Could you get her to sleep?” Maybe her parents had trouble being without Aurora? As I lay with her and we told stories, she put an arm around me and said, “I love you more than you can imagine!” And I could feel the love my daughter and son-in-law have surrounded her with, flowing out of her to me. No worries. Blessed be!

Creative Women
Last night I met up with 3 women who built learning for students and teachers with me at TeacherUniverse. We had not been together for 16 years. They are each still building learning; one teaches PGE employees to climb towers and creates apprenticeships. They all loved hearing about UUHonolulu and about Oberon and want to come see!

Today I help my eldest daughter Gwendolyn move into a new apartment; tonight we celebrate birthday dinner for her and my son, Max, and tomorrow I help Max move into his new house.

Crystal and all the worship team are building another important experience for Sunday morning. I am enjoying laying it out in our Order of Service while listening to music choices. I wish I could be there in person to hear it, but I am also so glad to be participating in the lives of family and friends here in the SF Bay area.

I feel connected, though at a distance via emails, texts, planning, an OMG Zoom, and you all present in my heart and mind. Email me as needed – minister@unitariansofhi.org

Mahalo for all you do!
Rev. Deborah