Quick as lightning, the long-armed monkey snatched the keys from my hand, yanking them into its cage. It immediately began biting into my new keyring with its sharp teeth, then started grinding it back and forth against the concrete floor, as if to taunt me. As I wondered if and how I might get them back, a friend went to the opposite side of the cage and started flicking his Bic. Attracted to the bright flame, the monkey temporarily dropped my keys and dashed toward the light. I made my move, leaping over the barricade between me and its cage in the hope of retrieving my abandoned keys. Realizing it had been tricked, the confused simian stopped halfway between the lighter and my keys, it’s shoulders jerking left, then right, in a moment of indecision that was all the time I needed to reclaim my now disfigured keyring.
From monkeys to moths, so many creatures are attracted to shiny things. Humans value gold and diamonds above all other forms of wealth, admire brilliant people and stars, and often seek enlightenment for themselves. All this comes to mind as I think about this year’s generosity campaign and its theme, “Shining Our Light.” I like to imagine there are many out there who, like the monkey I encountered, would be attracted to our shiny light, to the light of Unitarian Universalism, if we only showed it to them. I imagine they too might pause between it and all the other bright possibilities to compare and determine its worth, if they could better see us shine. Now, more than ever, our nation and our world needs Unitarian Universalism’s message of hope and love, of justice and equality, if we are to overcome these dark times. As you pledge your financial support during this year’s generosity campaign, please know that it will enable our church to shine a light for our community and our world to see.
-Rev. Dr. Todd F. Eklof, UUCS Minister