This I Believe...
A collection of views from UU church members
A collection of views from UU church members
This I Believe...
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Gary M. - November 2008
This I Believe...
By Gary M.
November 2008
My name is Gary and I want to thank you for the opportunity to tell my story of “This I
Believe”.
Once upon a time in a small central Pennsylvania town, a child was born to Mary and
Stanley. It was a moment of great joy and hope and anticipation for the parents, the
grandparents-maybe not so much for the older sister. It was the start of a spiritual journey
like all of the rest of us. One of those invisible threads of connection.
When I heard Ed announce that we would be doing a series of “This I believe” I was
excited about the prospects-- not only hearing everyone's personal belief story, but the
opportunity to share my own. I have always been an admirer of the series on NPR.
On reflecting on what I believe, I discovered that much of it comes from what I have heard
from this pulpit. I told Don last month that I didn’t have to do my story because he had
summed it up. I felt the same after listening to Ed. I believe in the UU principles, in the
Spiritualist principles, in the teachings of Rumi, the Buddha, Native American Philosophy
and so many more as I look around at the banners in this room. So now I get to tell my 66
year sojourn, but I only have about 1 minutes and 40 seconds left, so I thought I would
concentrate on one experience.
I chose a transformative event in my life that helped me to focus on my beliefs. Now, I’ve
had many transformative events: I was blessed to marry the person who turned out to be
my soul mate. We were blessed with two beautiful daughters and two wonderful
grandchildren. I quit drinking; I quit smoking; and I watched the Buffalo Bills lose four
straight Super Bowls. The event that brought my beliefs into center stage however was
being diagnosed with stage 4, what turned out to be inoperable cancer. About this time last
year I spent 2-1/2 months in the hospital. Cancer is not a gift, if it were it is one I would
gladly return, but it does help one to reflect seriously on what one believes. I have been
thinking about it for a year. I have come to three fundamental and interconnected beliefs: I
believe in baseball, I believe I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth, and I believe in
God.
The first book I was given when I was sick was a book by John MacFalrland entitled
“Now that I have Cancer, I am Whole”. It was a tremendous inspiration. One of the
meditations was on baseball, the author’s favorite game and my first belief. I believe in
baseball and it has always been my favorite game. Think about it. Baseball is the only game
that doesn’t have a time limit. You can be down 13-0 and still have a chance until you’ve
had your last at bat. Baseball is a game of hope. Baseball brings me to my second belief and
that is that I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. Lou Gehrig said that
on July 4, 1939. He had been diagnosed with ALS, a disease that became known as Lou
Gehrig’s disease As Lou Gehrig believed it then, I believe it now. I’ve been given a bad
break he said, but I have an awful lot to live for. Today I consider myself the luckiest man
on the face of the earth. And that brings me to my third belief. I Believe in God.
Now that requires some exploration. Lying in a hospital bed last year, very sick, afraid and
lonely. Kathy walked into the room and took my hand. We quietly looked at the mural
hanging beside my bed that the children of this Sunday School had sent to me. On the wall
at the end of my bed were the cards and notes from well-wishers. I had a printout of The
Status dot com with the prayers and from some of my closest friends the active non
prayers for a divinely inspired outcome and my well being. I felt a peace and a love. I felt
physically uplifted. I felt in the loving hands of God. I know it was your hands that were
lifting me up, that sense of love and peace. I came to believe that we are deeply connected
by the invisible threads of love that can’t be separated. And I know, like Virginia Satir, that
when I look into each of your faces I look into the face of God and I am grateful all over
again.
By Gary M.
November 2008
My name is Gary and I want to thank you for the opportunity to tell my story of “This I
Believe”.
Once upon a time in a small central Pennsylvania town, a child was born to Mary and
Stanley. It was a moment of great joy and hope and anticipation for the parents, the
grandparents-maybe not so much for the older sister. It was the start of a spiritual journey
like all of the rest of us. One of those invisible threads of connection.
When I heard Ed announce that we would be doing a series of “This I believe” I was
excited about the prospects-- not only hearing everyone's personal belief story, but the
opportunity to share my own. I have always been an admirer of the series on NPR.
On reflecting on what I believe, I discovered that much of it comes from what I have heard
from this pulpit. I told Don last month that I didn’t have to do my story because he had
summed it up. I felt the same after listening to Ed. I believe in the UU principles, in the
Spiritualist principles, in the teachings of Rumi, the Buddha, Native American Philosophy
and so many more as I look around at the banners in this room. So now I get to tell my 66
year sojourn, but I only have about 1 minutes and 40 seconds left, so I thought I would
concentrate on one experience.
I chose a transformative event in my life that helped me to focus on my beliefs. Now, I’ve
had many transformative events: I was blessed to marry the person who turned out to be
my soul mate. We were blessed with two beautiful daughters and two wonderful
grandchildren. I quit drinking; I quit smoking; and I watched the Buffalo Bills lose four
straight Super Bowls. The event that brought my beliefs into center stage however was
being diagnosed with stage 4, what turned out to be inoperable cancer. About this time last
year I spent 2-1/2 months in the hospital. Cancer is not a gift, if it were it is one I would
gladly return, but it does help one to reflect seriously on what one believes. I have been
thinking about it for a year. I have come to three fundamental and interconnected beliefs: I
believe in baseball, I believe I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth, and I believe in
God.
The first book I was given when I was sick was a book by John MacFalrland entitled
“Now that I have Cancer, I am Whole”. It was a tremendous inspiration. One of the
meditations was on baseball, the author’s favorite game and my first belief. I believe in
baseball and it has always been my favorite game. Think about it. Baseball is the only game
that doesn’t have a time limit. You can be down 13-0 and still have a chance until you’ve
had your last at bat. Baseball is a game of hope. Baseball brings me to my second belief and
that is that I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. Lou Gehrig said that
on July 4, 1939. He had been diagnosed with ALS, a disease that became known as Lou
Gehrig’s disease As Lou Gehrig believed it then, I believe it now. I’ve been given a bad
break he said, but I have an awful lot to live for. Today I consider myself the luckiest man
on the face of the earth. And that brings me to my third belief. I Believe in God.
Now that requires some exploration. Lying in a hospital bed last year, very sick, afraid and
lonely. Kathy walked into the room and took my hand. We quietly looked at the mural
hanging beside my bed that the children of this Sunday School had sent to me. On the wall
at the end of my bed were the cards and notes from well-wishers. I had a printout of The
Status dot com with the prayers and from some of my closest friends the active non
prayers for a divinely inspired outcome and my well being. I felt a peace and a love. I felt
physically uplifted. I felt in the loving hands of God. I know it was your hands that were
lifting me up, that sense of love and peace. I came to believe that we are deeply connected
by the invisible threads of love that can’t be separated. And I know, like Virginia Satir, that
when I look into each of your faces I look into the face of God and I am grateful all over
again.
