• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
MENUMENU
  • Visitor Card
  • Calendar
  • Latest News
  • Generic selectors
    Exact matches only
    Search in title
    Search in content
    Post Type Selectors

OUUC

Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation

MENUMENU
  • About
    • Visitors
      • Directions, Parking, Transit
      • What to Expect When You Visit
      • Accessibility
      • Safety
      • Visitor Card
    • Who We Are
      • Mission
      • Covenants
      • Org Chart
      • Staff
      • Board
      • Bylaws and Policies
      • Leadership Development Committee
      • OUUC History
      • About Unitarian Universalism
    • Membership
      • Membership – Why & How
      • Membership Classes
      • Newcomers
    • Facilities
      • Use Our Space
      • How We Care for Our Space 🏗️
    • Contact Us
  • Worship
    • Upcoming Services
    • Worship – Why & How
    • Recent Services
    • Music Ministry
    • Spiritual Practices
      • Spiritual Practices – Why & How
      • Spiritual Practice Groups
    • Holidays & Holy Days
    • Offering
      • Offering – Why & How
      • Share the Plate
    • Rites of Passage
      • Rites of Passage – Why & How
      • Child Dedications
      • Weddings 🏗️
      • Celebrations of Life
  • Learn
    • Children’s Programs
    • Youth
    • Our Whole Lives Sexuality Education Classes
    • Adult Faith Development
    • Volunteer Training
    • Growing as a Leader
    • Learning about UUism
    • Learning About Justice
      • Faith in Action Forums
  • Act
    • Current Justice Efforts
    • Being of Service
      • Simple Volunteer Opportunities
      • Teams Within OUUC
      • Teams to Serve Wider Community
    • Faith in Action Alert List Sign-up
    • Connecting to Advocacy
  • Connect
    • News & Communications
      • Sign Up for Mailing List
      • Weekly Update
      • The Spark
      • Latest News
    • Community Dinners
    • Congregational Care
      • Pastoral Care
      • Caring Friends
      • Support Groups
      • Personal Care And Support Record
      • Healthy Congregations Team
      • Safer Congregation Response Team
    • Social/Affinity Groups
    • Young Adults & Families
    • Volunteering
    • Partner Church in Kissolymos, Romania
    • Contact Us
  • Give
    • Ways to Give
    • Stewardship
    • Capital Campaign
    • Legacy Giving
    • Fundraising Events
      • Auction
      • Book Sale
    • Share the Plate
    • Donating Stuff
    • eSale Giving
    • OUUC Merch
  • Visitor Card
  • Calendar
  • Latest News
  • Generic selectors
    Exact matches only
    Search in title
    Search in content
    Post Type Selectors
Home / Minister / Such is Life, Such is Love 

May 12 2022

Such is Life, Such is Love 

by Rev. Mary Gear

I expected the phone to ring on Wednesday morning. I’d been to visit Celia & Gary Tobin the night before and knew that Gary was close to the end of his life. OUUC’s Music Director, Troy and his friend, Becky Owens, gave the gift of music to Gary & Ceilia, calming us all, easing Gary’s transition.  

So, when Celia called Wednesday morning to say that Gary had passed, I was ready to receive this news. And then I wasn’t. Once we hung up, tears came. Tears that have been below the surface for a while, tears for Evey Greenberg, for George Lanning, for Gary, for the state of the world. It’s a lot right now.  

In the moments when I mourned Gary and all the losses, I let the tears wash over me, through me, and I wept. The sorrow didn’t last forever, or even for very long. I appreciated the release that comes from tears. I remembered that we mourn because we love.  

Don’t worry that I cry. It makes me human, and when I stop being human, I lose the connection to my call as minister. I am grateful for that connection, especially at times like these. 

And don’t worry that you may cry or do whatever you do to notice and express your feelings. There’s a lot in the world right now, in the public sphere and in our private lives. Suffering is a universal experience. Facing it all is what makes us human in our wholeness.  

This week I invite you to be with whatever is arising for you. I hope you can find moments of joy and beauty amidst the sorrow. 

Last Sunday, the service was on suffering…and joy and beauty. You can access the service here.  

In the service, Troy offered music from John Denver that captures all of this in a few words:  

All this joy, all this sorrow
All this promise, all this pain
Such is life, such is being
Such is spirit, such is love 

Enjoy the song here.  

May your week be filled with blessings of life in all its fullness.  

Rev. Mary  

Minister@ouuc.org 

Written by Media Specialist · Categorized: Minister

Footer

OUUC Logo Olympia
Unitarian
Universalist
Congregation

Contact Us:

2306 East End St. NW
Olympia, WA 98502
(360) 634-2005
Send Us a Message


Office Hours:
Tuesday and Thursday, 12-4 pm
Sunday during services

Follow Us:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
OUUC Connect/Realm Login

Copyright © 2025 · Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation · Log in