Birth: Born Again

Many people have told me they are Born Again Unitarian Universalists. This is how they describe the realization that there is a religious community they can call a spiritual home … a place where they don’t have to compromise their beliefs to truly belong in the community.  The experience of being born again, as I understand it, is a transformational moment of realization that shifts a person from one world view to a completely different view. Not necessarily an “opposite” view – that would be too linear of a description.

I think finding a spiritual/religious home where one can be fully self-expressed may be one of the most liberating experiences … a liberation from the fear of rejection, fear of being wrong, or fear of looking bad. But finding such a home is just the first step. Though we may not see how these fears are operating in our lives, they can keep us from feeling deeply connected with people in our life … even in our most welcoming spiritual home. Fear keeps us playing small, failing to live into our largest possibilities. 

Do you have people in your life with whom you can explore your deepest emotions, most curious questions and your greatest dreams? Are these people part of your spiritual community? Friends you’ve had for many years? Family members? Where can you be most curious and courageous in your life? Who inspires you to be your largest self? Where are you born again … delivered from your fear into the realm of possibility?

‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond imagination. It is our light more than our darkness which scares us. We ask ourselves – who are we to be brilliant, beautiful, talented, and fabulous. But honestly, who are you to not be so? … While we allow our light to shine, we unconsciously give permission for others to do the same. When we liberate ourselves from our own fears, simply our presence may liberate others.’
– Marianne Williamson in Return to Love: Reflections on a Course in Miracles

Jan Taddeo

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