Expanding Horizons

In this Father's Day address, Kris asks : - "What are fathers meant to be?- What makes a good father?"
Despite the merging of traditional "mothering" and "fathering" roles, old parenting stereotypes are still prevalent in much of society "out there!".
Kris's suggestions about, insights into - and reflections on - being a Father and on Fatherhood leaves fathers with much to reflect on. It speaks to Fathers about Fathering. But it also speaks to parents and those who are yet to parent - about parenting and to those - like me - who've been there and who are about to celebrate the joys of Family, Children, Grandchildren - in what remains of this Father's Day.

Kris begins today's address "Let's Play" with a brief overview of the nature of games, both traditional - 'primitive' and those more tech-focused, many of which we will remember playing in childhood and as adults.
He asks: "In the 'game of living', what should we be learning in our play today - more than we may have needed in more 'primitive' times?" Kris proffers "discernment in deciphering the news we receive from social media, sorting truth from distortion and bias, and needing more games that allow us to practise discernment". And, as scammers prey on the gullible in a world increasingly tech-connected, there are practical benefits in being more discerning.
He asks: "What if we tried playing Life - as a game"?
Listen on for some practical advice about the mindsets we need to cope successfully in the unavoidable "Game of Life".

Kris's address today - "Kicking goals", is all about finding direction in our lives: - "our need of a compass rather than a gps" to navigate our lives through calm - as well as stormy - weather. "But - are you ready for the journey?" Kris asks.

Kris begins today with the inevitable question asked of Unitarians: "What do you stand for?" Christians or Post-Christians who subscribe to a Faith tradition that adheres to a Credo dictating what the faithful are to believe - are especially curious.
Kris suggests an appropriate rejoiner is: "This is a place where we Unitarians are free to explore what we stand for". And while Unitarians belong to a "non-credal" tradition, it's not that we are without beliefs and the consensus needed to define ourselves as Unitarians. Kris explores just what those beliefs are, how we came by them and how even those beliefs are capable of refinement as societal values and the stuctures that defined them, undergo change.
Today's service was blessed with choral music from Margaret Lambert and the Terrace Singers. Their choral contribution has been added to today's Expanding Horizons. To hear them, just continue playing the sound track of today's service.

At a "packed" Shady Grove combined service this morning, Kris continues his narrative on Prague Unitarians - Czechian Unitarianism - its founder, Norbert Čapek and the influence of Tomáš Masaryk, who later became the Founding Father of Czechoslovakia. Kris also reads to us our seven (UUA) Unitarian Principles, which we are in the process of revising - followed by a reading of the nine Unitarian Principles of the Prague Unitarians. We also savoured fresh strawberries for reasons that Kris explains. And Brendan played some much-loved Mozart and Beethoven on the piano keyboard he brought with him.

Today, Kris leads us into the life of Baruch (Benedictus) de Spinoza, the 17th Century Portuguese-Jewish philosopher of the 'Dutch Golden Age' who heralded in the Age of Enlightenment. Unitarians may discover that they share a lot in common with Baruch Spinoza. 

Kris has returned from his annual leave which included a visit to the Český lid Unitarians in Prague. Although he arrived home yesterday, no-doubt jet-lagged, he uses this opportunity to report back to Adelaide Unitarians about the many things we share, but also describes some innovations from which we may benefit. Listen on for some glimpses of what he might have in store for us!

Jennie begins her address, today with an assertion of social commentator, Hugh MacKay's - in his book - The Way We Are - "that we are not as well equipped as previous generations to deal with sustained challenge". In probing and testing this assertion, Jennie takes a contemporary snapshot of the way we are, commencing with the bushfires of 2019-2020 and the Covid-19 Lockdowns that followed. Jenny draws on the strength and spirituality of poetry emanating from The Effective Living Centre of the Uniting Church, Wayville to help in her evaluation of how we Australians are faring. Are we wilting at the external and internal challenges Australians - young, old and in-between - are now facing? Listen on!

In this address, Aaron reintroduces us to Monsters - whose personification - or rather "monster-fication" is Fear.
Helen's reading leads us into Monsters: "The truth is this: every monster you have ever met...was once a human being with a soul that was once as soft as silk. Someone stole that silk from their soul and turned them into this. So when you see a monster next, always remember this: Do not fear the thing before you, fear the thing that created it instead".
After Pauline led us in meditation, Aaron soon reveals that, with a little editing by Pauline, it was composed by a "new-ish" monster - one which we now call "AI" (but one that must draw from the well-spring of human wisdoms) Aaron sees our darker and lighter sides as analogous to two wolves: one of darkness; one of light - each vying for dominance. The one we fear is the one that grows. There is wisdom in identifying the dark wolf in ourselves. Aaron's address is about facing our fears: Embracing, accepting and integrating them!

Through the medium of Boris Pasternak's novel, Dr Zhivago, Peter takes us on a nostalgic journey through the political upheavals that occurred within Russian society a little over a century ago, as Communists wrestled power from Czarist Russia. Peter's address focuses on the despair caused when ideals for a better, fairer, more equitable society fall short of expectations. Peter uses the plots and sub-plots within Dr Zhivago, and the life of its author, Nobel Laureate - Boris Pasternak, to dramatise how Czarist hegemony was replaced with one under the guise of "Communism" - but falling well short of the Marxist ideal. Alas, poor Russia! The nightmare of Zhivago continues, much to Russia's, its neighbours' - and the rest of the World's cost. Perhaps Russia's greatest fear has always been its fear of itself: our greatest enemy is always the "enemy within". The exercise of power must also come with liberties: checks and balances that allow dissent to be heard and injustices resolved peacefully and fairly.
Peter's address closes with Janet's reading of Pasternak's hope that "The Power of the darkness, will - in time - be crushed by the Spirit of Light". And today we are bathed in the light of Barry and Brendan's playing of three of Dvorak's short romantic sonatas for violin and piano. And Boris smiled!