Be a Stream, Not a Swamp
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I invite myself to grow my sense of abundance in these ways…
- Remind myself to bless other people, even if it’s only by saying “I like your laugh,” or “It’s good to see you this morning.” Blessing can be asking a question about the other person’s life or family, and then listening with full attention to the answer.
- Serve people, especially people I don’t know. Make some food for them, serve at a soup kitchen, lobby for legislation that will make soup kitchens less necessary, learn the names of the children in my congregation.
- My spirit deepens into abundance when I practice gratitude. For the food I eat, for the beauty around me, for conversations and encouragement, for the things on my body that still work well, for hot water that comes right out of a tap in the wall, for family and love, for a car that runs, for the chickens in the yard, for the congregation I serve, for the feel of wind and water. For the bravery I see every day, for kindness and unexpected good, I am grateful. When I remember to be.
- I grow spiritually by giving, even when I don’t have that much stored up. One writer, Victor M. Parachin, put it this way:
Be a stream, not a swamp. Remember, it is the mountain stream that carries fresh, life-giving water because it flows out. However, the swamp is stagnant. A swamp collects and retains water that comes its way. Don’t be the kind of person who seeks to accumulate much before allowing a little to flow through.
When I own things I don’t use—clothes, furniture, even books—spiritual teachers will say that those things don’t belong to me. I need to let them go find their rightful owners.
When I lose track of a sense of “enough-ness,” it becomes a sickness of the spirit, and I start feeling stagnant, anxious and swampy. I heal my spirit by finding abundance in what is already there, and by keeping it flowing like a stream.
Senior Minister at First Unitarian Church of Austin, Texas
Meg Barnhouse grew up in North Carolina and Philadelphia. After graduating from Duke University and Princeton Theological Seminary she spent a chapter of her life in Spartanburg, SC, working first as a college chaplain teaching Public Speaking, Human Sexuality, and World Religions, trying not to get them mixed up. Earning her credentials as a Pastoral Counselor, she ran her own counseling practice while raising her two sons who are now in their twenties.She was active in the community, preaching and teaching in many churches, recording commentaries for NC Public Radio and "Weekend All Things Considered," serving as Interim Minister in several congregations andhelping to found the SAFE Homes Network for battered women. Along the way she earned a second-degree black belt in American Karate. She finished up that southern chapter with seven years as the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg.After serving as the Interim Minister at the UU Congregation of Princeton, Meg is now the settled minister at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin.
She travels nationwide as a speaker, singer/songwriter and humorist.Often her partner, award winning singer/songwriter Kiya Heartood accompanies her.
Her books, “Rock of Ages at the Taj Mahal,” “The Best of Radio Free Bubba,” “Waking Up the Karma Fairy,” “Return of Radio Free Bubba” and “Did I Say That Out Loud?” are compilations of stories from the radio. The newest book, "Broken Buddha," is a compilation of columns from the UU World online. Her CD, “July Blue,” is a mix of 12 original songs and 3 stories. TheCD, “Mango Thoughts in a Meatloaf Town,” contains more original songs, including “All Will Be Well.” The CD,"Heart of Compassion," is a collection of Meg reading her favorite stories from her books.Ther fifth book is a collection of stories entitled "Broken Buddha".Meg's latest release is a story for all ages and control freaks called," The Couch of the Grand Kokolorum."
She travels nationwide as a speaker, singer/songwriter and humorist.Often her partner, award winning singer/songwriter Kiya Heartood accompanies her.
Her books, “Rock of Ages at the Taj Mahal,” “The Best of Radio Free Bubba,” “Waking Up the Karma Fairy,” “Return of Radio Free Bubba” and “Did I Say That Out Loud?” are compilations of stories from the radio. The newest book, "Broken Buddha," is a compilation of columns from the UU World online. Her CD, “July Blue,” is a mix of 12 original songs and 3 stories. TheCD, “Mango Thoughts in a Meatloaf Town,” contains more original songs, including “All Will Be Well.” The CD,"Heart of Compassion," is a collection of Meg reading her favorite stories from her books.Ther fifth book is a collection of stories entitled "Broken Buddha".Meg's latest release is a story for all ages and control freaks called," The Couch of the Grand Kokolorum."
Latest posts by Rev. Meg Barnhouse (see all)
- Managing Mistakes - June 1, 2020
- Joy in Ordinary Time - July 1, 2016
- Be a Stream, Not a Swamp - October 1, 2015
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