I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

John 15:11

Dear Friends,

As part of their ancient spiritual practice, the Navaho nation of Native Americans had a ritual chant that was used to celebrate the gift of life and the world. They would say:

BEAUTY BEFORE ME…BEAUTY BEHIND ME…

BEAUTY TO MY LEFT…BEAUTY TO MY RIGHT…

BEAUTY BELOW ME…BEAUTY ABOVE ME…

I AM ON THE POLLEN PATH.

Pollen coats the world in springtime and despite the allergy discomfort it can bring, it is absolutely crucial to life on our planet. Each tiny pollen grain is a miracle to contemplate, perfectly unique to its plant species and able to transform a flower into seed bearing fruit…a delicious Macintosh apple, for instance, that becomes food for our nourishment and pleasure. The Pollen Path of the Navaho therefore, is symbolic of life itself and the ritual indicates that you are on this path when you are able to deeply appreciate the beauty around you.

Jesus makes it clear that our experience of God is meant to be joyous. To rise from our bed each day intentionally looking for the beauty all around us is certainly a way to feel the joy of being alive. The Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh actually hangs a small tree branch over his bed to remind him upon waking to begin the day looking for beauty. And being reminded is what we need!

Our lives are often filled with an overload of stress and busyness. To remember the beautiful chant from the Navahos is a wonderful way to remind ourselves that beauty and joy are right in front of us if only we will pay attention. So hang a branch or do what you need to do to remember to pay attention, to look deeply for the wonder right here, right now. Put yourself on the Pollen Path.

JOHN

Here is a wonderful newspaper account of a Memorial Day service which took place in our sanctuary in the late 1890’s.

Honor to the Dead

According to previous announcement, the soldier dead, whose last resting place was found in the quiet churchyard of the quiet village of Huntington Centre, and who lie beneath green mounds in that “City of the dead”, were remembered by their comrades and friends yesterday, as shown by appropriate exercises and the decoration of their graves with flowers. At 2:30 pm Kellogg Post, G. A. R., o f Birmingham, accompanied by the Sons of Veterans and a number of citizens, arrived in Huntington by carryalls and teams to take part in the memorial exercises which had been arranged for that hour. After being formed in line, the veterans and the “Sons” in full uniform, marched into the Congregational church and were assigned seats in the main body of the edifice. Large numbers of the people of that village and vicinity were in attendance and nearly every seat of the church was occupied.

The church is located opposite the green which plot of land is of considerable size, well covered with a thick verdure, thoroughly protected by a substantial fence, all of which reflects credit upon the community in whose care it rests. The interior of the church is somewhat quaint in its style, having a high gallery over the entrance, in which the choir formerly raised their voices in songs of praise, but which now seems to have been abandoned by that body for a more convenient place near the preacher’s desk. Willing hands had prepared profuse and handsome floral offerings for the occasion. Back of the pulpit was festooned the American flag, and on either side a triangle of apple blossoms. The altar and tables in front were laden with wreaths, bouquets, and a cross, from which was emitted a delightful fragrance.