Randy Becker is a retired Unitarian Universalist Minister, community innovator and mayoral candidate in Key West, Florida. He is also from my home city, Utica, New York. Because of Facebook, I can tell when he is on retreat at his family camp at Cedar Lake. And so on a recent Sunday morning during a quick jaunt to visit my Dad, to sit at my mother's resting place, and to spend time with my friend and confidant, we noticed each other's same location. Let's go! To sit in the shade of tall and old trees and talk about innovations in spiritual community was more than I imagined for my sabbath. With the backdrop of nostalgia, we quickly caught up and got to the "what's new" part of the conversation.
When, in our work or circles, we talk about new ideas, it's not often that we come across people who are actually taking action. A new idea put into motion is risky. An innovation requires experimentation. To try out a new way of doing something means there must be trial, and error. This flies in the face of our culture of expertise, perfection, and security. If we imagine making the world a better place, we have a picture in our heads of what it might look like, who is in the scene, what they are doing, what the feeling and energy is. I can tell you this -- an innovator can't not innovate. Innovation is about creating something that is a product of the imagination. It is a deeply creative, and spiritual process, that is the substance of moral imagination. All innovators are artists, in my view; but not all artists are innovators. Both are Creatives. Innovators forego a feeling of being settled or knowing what comes next or being able to just sit and rest without a care in the world. It's a beautiful life yet it can be a lonely life. People, perhaps sensibly, do not want to make small talk with a Creative. "So what's new?" Laugh out loud. I would never ask me that if I didn't plan to sit for awhile. Divign Talks are unrehearsed conversations among strangers, acquaintances and friends. They are intended to not be overly directed so that viewers can be inspired by the every day conversations that can be found all around us, if we are curious. While some Divign Thinking resources are specific to Unitarian Universalism, pieces are curated for a wider appeal to all those who live out and act on their inner purpose, while connecting with others. Spiritual Leadership. Shared Ministry. Sharing Purpose. In this clip, Rev. Randy shares what's going on with his start-up community, Spiritual Seekers. He also reflects on some points on the timeline of Unitarian Universalism. Hope you enjoy.
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Anne Principe
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