A Ram's Horn and an Uncertain World in Everyday Ramblings

On Monday the fall session of my yoga class started. We run it through the adult programs package, which gives its availability a high profile in the large church community of which I am a part.

It is kind of confusing how we do this as the adult programs are not set up to have an ongoing class but yoga is best done regularly, not in eight week segments. None of my students practice at home on their own, most people who take yoga classes don’t.

So just before class my coordinator (who stays and practices often with the class) tells me that the powers that be at the church are concerned about the Wednesday class, which operates on an informal donation basis is in peril and I may not be able to teach it after tonight.

The reason? The ministers were looking at the calendar of events in the church and asked what does yoga have to do with Unitarianism? Why can’t the classes be held elsewhere? Someone, I am not sure who, piped up and said, well I go because they are inexpensive and I can afford to go. There are three people who take my class for free.

I get $200 for 8 weeks of classes total. And then for whatever donations I get $3 per student goes to the church for the sextons. It is not like I am raking in the dough you know…

The board and ministers are trying to implement this idea of “simple church”, which is bizarre to me as we are a huge vibrant congregation with a big set of buildings that take up most of a block that are often not in use or are in use by groups other than by our congregants. We have a Climate Change activism event practically every week.

I don’t know what is going to happen. I do know that it has brought up a bunch of insecurities in me. You know, the demon that says, these people only come because it is cheap… You don’t do something for two years because it is cheap. You do it because you get benefit out of it and many of my students have been with me for at least a year and some the whole two years.

Yesterday in my regular reminder email I put out a call to my students to tell the powers that be at church how they feel about the class. And right away, a retired minister who I adore (and is a relatively new student) says she will stand up for the continuation of the class.

It makes me realize that I just took for granted that I could carry on teaching there for the next 15 years, which has been my plan all along. I worked really hard and operated at a loss for most of the first year to get this slot.

So I don’t know if I will have a room next week on Wednesday to teach.

I was feeling pretty grumpy about all this last night, tired from work, (I am so sick of working overtime) as I walked to our annual Yom Kippur Service. I have been trying to get to it for a few years. One time I went on the wrong night, one time something came up…

Anyway, it was serious and beautiful and hardly anyone but the participants were there in our historic chapel. A professor of music at our local college that has this gorgeous old cello played with our fabulous pianist “Kol Nidrei” Op. 47 by Max Bruch. It was haunting and the vibratory quality in that smaller space affected the whole body. The women’s chorus sang and we did the long responsive participatory readings for the holiday.

The fellow that sounded the Shofar was wearing a suit that was a little big on him and sneakers but it was a real Shofar.

And of course the service was about reflection, atonement and forgiveness.

And sitting there with many of the folks that were thinking about canceling the class that I teach I accepted that I needed to forgive them.

They have their reasons. I shall make my case and hope for the best and remember not to take anything for granted.

Last updated October 12, 2016