“Investment: A Spiritual Thing?” February 24, 2023

Investment: A Spiritual Thing??

Feb. 24, 2023

A few weeks ago UCN began our pledge drive, with a service on why we support Unitarian Universalism (and Unitarian Church North). One thing I didn't have time to mention (since we were going overtime) is a word that most people associate with the stock market or treasury bonds. That word is "investment."

We tend to think of investment in terms of wealth management, high finances, and "vested" interests. So it's not a word most of us use that often in church--it sounds more materialistic than spiritual. But its etymology is rather interesting, if you delve into it. It comes from the Latin "investire" ("in" meaning "in" or "on," and "vestire" meaning "to clothe"). So it originally meant "to put clothes on." (We have a few remnants of this meaning left in English: The robe and stole I might wear for weddings and christenings are called vestments; the room where a cleric dresses is called a vestry; the inner jacket I wear in the winter is called a vest; and the room between the outside and inside of a building--where people take off their coats before going in, or put them on before going out--is called a vestibule.)

So what's the tie-in with the pledge drive? Well, we all have values--the things we believe in, the things we care about, the things we want to "clothe" with a garment that will help them come to fruition. Unitarian Universalism is one of those values that I want to put clothes on. It's not the only thing, but it is an important thing. That's why I can say that I am investing in Unitarian Universalism and in Unitarian Church North. I want it to be there--not just now but in the future--for all the people on the margins who need to hear an affirming voice; for a world at war with itself that needs to see a little tolerance and understanding; and for individuals in that world who've been given too much hell in their lives, and not enough hope. I want this to be there for them, so I will "clothe" these values with time, energy, and money. I hope you will want to do that too.

peace and unrest,

tony