Primary Sources
At the beginning and heart of every religion, there is an epiphany. A person, usually while alone in nature, has a flash of insight that changes them and eventually, the world around them. Moses and the burning bush. Jesus in the desert. Buddha under the tree. Pagans, period. Unitarian Universalists acknowledge this phenomenon: “Direct experiences of transcending mystery and wonder are primary sources of Unitarian Universalist inspiration.” These moments of direct experience are our primary sources of wisdom, upon which all other sacred texts and wisdom traditions are built.
The beauty is that every single person can and probably does experience these from time to time. They’re usually quiet moments of feeling connected to something much bigger than yourself. Holding a newborn, the wonder of new life and the echo of ancestors. Looking at the stars, feeling small but so alive. Meditating, sitting in the moment and watching your breath transform you. Gardening, watching the birds, swimming in the ocean, cuddling a beloved pet, climbing a mountain, having great sex, hearing the perfect chord in a symphony.
A German writer named Malwida von Meysenbug wrote:
“I was alone upon the seashore as all these thoughts flowed over me, liberation and reconciling;...I was impelled to kneel down, this time before the illimitable ocean, symbol of the Infinite. I felt that I prayed as I had never prayed before, and knew now what prayer really is: to return from the solitude of individuation into the consciousness of unity with all that is, to kneel down as one that passes away, and to rise up as one imperishable. Earth, heaven, and sea resounded as in one vast world-encircling harmony.”
While moments of wonder are easier to recognize in an idyllic natural setting, this isn’t a requirement. My first epiphany, which sent me on this spiritual journey to become a minister, was at a gas station while staring at a smartphone screen. But that’s just it: I felt connected with all that is. “Nature” is not just forest and seaside, but the entire material universe. A frequent moment of wonder and joy that I encounter is on airplanes, reveling in the natural evolution of humanity’s ability to fly. I think of all the people in the rows around me, their struggles and joys, their journeys, there together in a completely unique combination for just a few hours, experiencing a little miracle, before parting.
Countless spectacular moments are available to us, within reach of each of us. But we have to be ready to receive them. In our wisdom story, Moses was astonished by a bush and a flame. He turned away from his flock of sheep, removed his shoes, and let a small, mysterious phenomenon change his life, change the world. We must make space for these moments to occur in our lives. Whether that be by spending quality time with our loved ones, going out into the woods, looking up at the sky, singing together, dancing, running, praying, or meditating. Then, when these moments occur we must really pay attention: pause, listen, receive, feel. The direct experience of transcending mystery and wonder is accessible in any given moment, but only in the present moment, not the past or future in our minds. So we must be present when it crosses our path.
The director of religious education at my home congregation in Nashville was wise enough to point out to newcomers that each of our Six Sources has a clause with the word “which”. For UUs, we don’t just lift up any moment of wonder. Rather we treasure the: “Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life.” which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life.
Christine Valters Paintner, a Benedictine Oblate and the online Abbess of Abbey of the Arts, writes: quote “One of the fruits of contemplative practice is the remembrance of our wholeness; we are able to see past the divisions we create with our egos and minds and to rediscover the truth that we are all one creation.” end quote
Starhawk, the beloved American pagan leader, shares a breath meditation to remind us of our connections across time and species:
“The air is a gift of the early ancestors. What you breathe in, this moment, originated billions of years ago. This air passed through the lungs of dinosaurs and mammoths and the earliest human beings...Just breathe in, taking in the creative power of the ancestors, of life, asking that power to infuse you.”
Practices like these, which invite direct experiences of wonder and oneness, help remind us of the true nature of reality. They raise mysterious, unanswerable questions like why is there something instead of nothing? Is there some divine wisdom guiding the universe? Did the divine create us intentionally? Or is it all random pool ball atoms and incredible luck? Why is there suffering? What happens after we die? What is the point of all this? What is my place in the world? Though we cannot answer most of these, direct experiences of mystery and wonder often stir us to support the forces of life, beauty, and creation as well as to resist the forces of cruelty and destruction. But today, let’s pause at step one before moving forward, before seeking answers, before making meaning, before taking action as we are called to do. First, make it a practice in your life to notice your own experiences of mystery and wonder. See how they refill your cup and reconnect you to the web of life. Just start there. Start with the primary sources.
Robin Wall Kimmerer shares how even small everyday acts can become sacred when we recognize the connection they foster:
“My mother had her own more pragmatic ritual of respect: the translation of reverence and intention into action. Before we paddled away from any camping place she made us kids scour the place to be sure that it was spotless...We also had to leave wood for the next person’s fire, with tinder and kindling carefully sheltered from rain by a piece of birch bark. I liked to imagine their pleasure, those other paddlers, arriving after dark to find a ready pile of fuel to warm their evening meal. My mother’s ceremony connected us to them, too.”
The people who wrote the previous versions of the UU Seven Principles and Six Sources left us a gift. We treasure that gift, as we treasure rather than fear change. In the new draft of our Values, this Source of direct experience has been preserved. In the very first lines of the new Inspirations section, it reads: quote “Direct experiences of transcending mystery and wonder are primary sources of Unitarian Universalist inspiration. These experiences open our hearts, renew our spirits, and transform our lives.” end quote
Unitarian Universalists appreciate many sources of wisdom, from ancient texts to the guidance of sages and scientists. Yet it is significant that our primary source is one that is accessible and indeed ever-present in each of our lives. There’s no barrier to the experiences of wonder in our world. No priest is needed. No month-long meditation retreat. No ayahuasca or shrooms. These can be helpful, but aren’t necessary. All that’s necessary is that we be present, that we be open, that we recognize beauty and wonder when we sense it. May it be so.
