Kudos for Credos

I am embarrassed now that I was not happy when I found out the first service of a Unitarian Universalist church I was going to would be the youth service. Youth services, in my previous experience, were a bit haphazard. I am a worship snob and prefer worship that is well planned and executed. I was in for a surprise.

The service was a Coming of Age ceremony for which the youth had prepared for a year. As part of the service, each read their personal belief statements, or credos. The word “credo” means “I believe” in Latin. The statements were well thought out, inspirational and meaningful. They spoke about their own experiences of spirituality, their values, beliefs and aspirations. I had to wipe my eyes many times during the service. I was impressed by the perspective and wisdom these youth had gained through this yearlong process.

The young people ranged in age from 10th grade through graduating seniors leaving for college. The purpose of this program is not indoctrination. I liked that. Participants are familiarized with the traditions of their church. They are also encouraged to think for themselves and work out what they believe, not what others tell them to believe. They are asked to reflect on what they value and why and how they intend to incorporate those values into their lives going forward. Those reflections form what they say in their credos.

The service I attended was more than 20 years ago. It came to mind as I was thinking about the forces that buffer us these days, from information overload to political clashes to economic stress and more. It is more important than ever that we have a center and stick to it. A grounded sense of self enables us to deal with challenges more calmly and problem-solve more creatively. As we act on our beliefs, they act back on us, helping us feel more whole and centered. That’s why I give kudos to credos.

Times of turmoil like ours are not new. The writer of the letter to the church at Ephesus in the Christian Scripture basically told the people to grow up. He exhorted them to not allow themselves to be tossed about by every crazy new idea or by the latest myth or scheme. (Ephesians 4: 14-15) When Martin Luther was busy fomenting the Protestant revolution, he said, “Here I stand. I can do no other.” Times of conflict and change need people who know who they are and why. That’s why I think it’s a good idea for adults to write their credos.

You will need a few moments of peace and quiet to do this exercise. You could just think about it, but there is something valuable in making the connection between your brain and your hand as you write. I am not talking about just a sentence or two either. Make yours as long as it needs to be to cover what is important to you.

One of the inspirations for this commentary came from reading a credo written and shared on Substack by James B. Greenberg on Aug. 5. He is a retired professor of anthropology and a political ecologist. This credo has to do specifically with his beliefs about this country and his ideals for it.

A friend let me think out loud with her about this topic. She shared a list of prompts she had from a workshop she attended that was three pages long. I boiled it down. Here are a few for your consideration:

• What events or people shaped your personal history?
• What brings you joy and energy?
• Can you describe an experience you had that was spiritual or religious?
• What values or beliefs do you want to guide your actions right now?
• Is there something you loved as a child you would like to rediscover?
• Are there places that are sacred to you? Are there places you long to go?
• What are you struggling with right now?

You could make notes of quotes that have guided your life and authors whose work you admire. Keep a copy where you know how to retrieve it. Better yet, post a hard copy where you can see it on a regular basis.

Frederick Buechner, 1926-2022.

One of the authors who has inspired me over the course of my life and ministry is Frederick Buechner. He was a prolific writer of fiction and nonfiction and a Presbyterian minister. I have devoured his books and recommended them to others. Here is a well-known quote from his book, "Now and Then" (1983).

"Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace."