The Soul Matters theme for May is “Awakening Curiosity.”

UU minister, Victoria Safford, speaks of curiosity using the metaphor of perception and sight.
She writes:
“To see, simply to look and to see, is an ethical act and intentional choice; to see, with
open eyes, is a spiritual practice and thus a risk, for it can open you to ways of knowing
the world and loving it that will lead to inevitable consequences. The awakened [and
curious] eye is a conscious eye, a willful eye, and brave, because to see things as they
are, each in its own truth, will make you very vulnerable.”

Consequences. We rarely think of curiosity in terms of consequences. But Rev. Safford seems to
have it right. There is a type of curiosity that is about enjoyment and adventure. This way of
understanding curiosity invites us to experience life as a playground. But when we look closely
at our lives we realize there’s another type of curiosity at play. This kind leads us, not to
playgrounds, but into dark alleys and pathless woods. It demands, not just our attention, but
our courage. It’s not interested in entertaining us with the wonders of the world. Instead, it
wants to enlist us in the work of the world.

Here are some questions to explore the theme of Awakening Curiosity:

● Are you someone who is mainly curious about the world out there or the world inside you?
● During your childhood, what were you not allowed to be curious about? And how did that shape who
you are today?
● During childhood, what one or two things were you most curious about? How do you see an echo of
that in your life today?
● If a crystal ball could reveal something about yourself, your future, or anything else, what would you
want to know?
● Have you ever been punished for being curious? Have you ever punished someone else for being
curious?
● When it comes to you worrying about the future or being curious about it, which one wins?
● What aspect of your current stage of life are you most curious about? How about your upcoming stage
of life?

There are many different ways to engage with the Soul Matters curriculum at the CVUU.

Look for announcements in upcoming newsletters and Weekly Update emails for information on how to join next year’s groups. If you would like to engage more deeply with Soul Matters this year, get in touch with Kat Beane Hanson to learn about the available ways to do that.

Volunteer to work with our Children’s RE program, which also uses the Soul Matters curriculum. Contact our CCRE to learn more about getting involved.

Keep an eye on our newsletters for an introduction to each month’s theme and info on when worship services or adult forums are being held on the Soul Matters topics.

Engage with our Facebook and Instagram posts on Soul Matters topics. Or start a conversation in our Facebook Group about the month’s topic.

Read the Weekly Update email for a new way to explore the monthly theme each week. If you don’t receive our Weekly Update email, contact Leann in the office to get signed up.

ONLINE SOUL MATTERS SMALL GROUPS

Soul Matters is now offering SIX different online groups, with each of them being a unique alternative to our standard Soul Matters small groups. 

Explore our monthly themes in new ways!
Meet and Journey with UUs from around the country!
Sign up soon. The groups are right around the corner and they are filling up fast! 

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions
Rev. Scott Soul Matters Team Lead, scott@soulmatterssharingcircle.com