Expanding Horizons

Novalis: German Philosopher and Poet

Kris begins his address with a question: "Who was Georg Philipp Friedrich Fruihwald von Hadenburg - alias Novalis?" a corruption from di Novali - "The Newcomers" - the name his ancestors gave to themselves when they settled on their land. Novalis b. 1772, was a Lutheran, (Pietist) mystic, in awe of the beauty and mystery of Nature and the universe that surrounded him. It was the beginning of the Age of Reason that applied Reason and Intellect to understand Nature and God. As a young mystic poet, novelist and philosopher, aged only 28, Novalis contracted tuberculosis or cystic fibrosis and died at 29 but had packed so much into his short life. Kris's biographical research will encourage you to listen on to find out more about the contribution of this young, free-thinker and "Unitarian", who expressed his "Thoughts - through Philosophy" and his "Feelings - through Poetry", but concluding - "Humanity is a comic role"?

Lessons from The Church of Saint Porphyrios

Kris introduces us to a remarkable, Eastern Orthodox Church which has stood in Gaza City for more than a millennium - resolute, obdurate - a beacon of hope and tolerance amidst the rubble, turmoil and despair.
Kris asks - "What lessons can we learn from the microcosm that is this Church of Saint Porphyrius. They were lessons that needed to be learned by Saint Porphyrios himself.

A New Beatitude? - "Blessed are those who practice Tzedekah!"

Courage and Sacrifice

In the context of an approaching Anzac Day, Kris begins today's address today by reading our seven Unitarian Principles. Altruistic as these 'Seven Principles' are as Unitarian Universalist aspirations for a better world for all, the community consensus with which they are received encourages "a certain kind of passivity" ... lip service?
"Something is missing!", Kris observes.
It's this missing thread - in the 'aspirational fabric' of our seven principles that Kris weaves into his Anzac Day address: "Courage & Sacrifice". It elevates our Seven Principles beyond banality ...beyond tokenism. It will strengthen our Unitarian fabric, but it will take us out of our comfort zone. What is Courage? Who...What are the dissuaders of us acting courageously when challenged? Do I ... Do you... Do we - have what it takes to act courageously? Listen on!

Enter the Dragon

Those lucky enough to be born in the Chinese "Year of the Dragon" are said to be endowed with Power, Abundance, Majesty and Longevity. Kris's address today takes its title from Bruce "The Dragon" Lee's martial arts film - "Enter the Dragon". It is about a darker side: that "dragon" within ourselves and commences with a reading from an interview with the Mythologist, Joseph Campbell.
At the outset, Kris asks us: "Have you got your 'inner dragon' under control?"

Well have you? Listen on to find out.

"The Matrix"

Today Kris delves into the symbolism behind the plot of the 1990s film "The Matrix", drawing from the Matrix's similarities with the Martin Scorsese film, "The Last Temptation of Christ, the folk-law of the Greek heroes and (Joseph Campbell's) The Hero's journey". There is also a Christian context to the symbolism of "The Matrix". Kris asks - "What is Reality? It is also about the choices we make - or choose not to make, and the consequences of our choices. So often it's a choice between complacency, stasis - or risk the unknown. Our journey is all about exploring Reality. It's about discovery, especially "self-discovery", risk taking, growth, especially treading the spiritual path - a spiritual journey leading to spiritual growth. Intellect will only take us so far. Listen on to begin - or to continue - your spiritual journey. Kris concludes: "Let us choose Love!"

Risen!

On this third day of Easter, Resurrection Day, in an address called "Risen", Kris explores some of the Resurrection Mythology from other cultures and religious traditions that preceded the New Testament account of the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Kris asks: "Why have humans throughout history and in so many cultures from around the world, woven stories of Gods - and even ordinary people like us, dying and being reborn again?"

It is still all about Hope, suggests Kris. But it's something more certain than our own immortality. What's more - it's something we are all capable of, and it's something we can - each of us - take away with us today.

A Good Friday Service

Today, as the focus of our Easter service, Kris talks about Courage in defiance of Authority:-

- that ultimate sacrifice of Jesus as Messiah, - to the Jews, that ultimate blasphemy.

To get us into an Easter mind-set, Kris asks us some key questions:-

• Is there a cause we feel very strongly about?
• How far would we be prepared to go in pursuit of that cause - especially if we were challenged by Authority?
• Would we be prepared to make that ultimate sacrifice - of our life in fulfillment of that cause?

We learn of one Messiah who made that ultimate sacrifice and is remembered;

- another, "wanna-be" 'messiah' who fell short but lived to tell the story - albeit one of capitulation to power - of failure and ignominy.

Our Water Service

Today our young people joint with us in celebrating our annual water "communion" . We were each given an opportunity to contribute our water offering to the common bowl which our young then carried out with them to to add to our garden, to feed other living plants and animals. As our water has intermingled, so do we. It is it illusiory to think that we are all separate. Today we come together to celebrate the wonderful diversity of cultures to be experienced in Adelaide; yet we are still - One Humanity, united by our common needs far more than what may divide.
In extending this water theme, Grant reads from the poet, Rumi about water followed by Kris's reflections on water. Despite the illusion that we are solid, Kris points to the the disproportionate amount of water that comprises all life on earth - the "sine-qua-non" of life - "without which we are nothing". Kris then reflected on Babylonian and Jewish creation myths separating water and sky (the firmament). And when humans arrive - well, that's when all the trouble began! Other water practices include ritual cleansing, immersion (the Jewish, Miqveh), absolution, baptism, "World Water Day", "Water for Peace" , ...the needs of Palestinians in Gaza and Rafah! We need the thirst to become better people!
Listen on for more of Kris reflections on what was a memorable celebration of Water!

Getting ready for a new year

Kris commences "Getting ready for a new year" with some illustrations and observations on ancient stone monuments, astronomically aligned to identify the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, which - since the stone age, heralded in the commencement of a new year. With Spring came fresh aspirations, to be energised into new resolutions for the year ahead: in Japan: Shunbun no Hi; amongst Kurdish and Iranian people - it's the rapidly approaching Nowruz.
Kris observes that the sum of our past thought and actions bear fruit and we "reap what we sow." Hopefully that fruit is wisdom and - if not loving - then at least positive, productive relationships that we can build upon.
Kris asks: "How did you go with your New Year resolutions?" We are invited to start afresh with the approaching Nowruz of the Kurdish and Persians? However, it's not the day or date - but the strength of our resolve to bring about change within ourselves that really matters. A New Year - the time for new resolve, a fresh start - can be any day, like now!
Kris begins the denouement of this address with a memorable quote from Unitarian, Ralph Waldo Emerson - "....every day is the best day of the year...." and follows this with some ideas for new resolutions which I found to be very relevant. Hopefully, you will too! So do listen on!

Ramadan

Today we were privileged to have Salim return to address us about Islam, and especially the Islamic practices and observances during Ramadan - commencing after sunset, tomorrow. After his address, Salim gave us all the chance to ask some questions about Ramadan, and Kris followed with some questions of his own.