This title for a homily on "individualism" occurred to me many years ago when I went to Marshall Fields State Street store to replace my holey size 91/2 "Gold Toe" anklets and saw labels that now read "one size fits all", a patently ridiculous oxymoron, since clearly "one size fits hardly anyone." But a connection between socks and religion didn't hit me until some time after I joined First U in 2003 and realized that I could never be part of a church (or any organization) that expects (requires) all of its members to think or act alike.

Further reflection led me to a historical perspective that a "one size fits all" mentality which embraces "old" ideas and demonizes "new" ones, inevitably creates a society in which oppressors and their targets both suffer. I have been compiling a list of words, e.g. polygamy, which refer to practices or concepts that are either widely rejected or accepted, often from habit or social pressure rather than for any intrinsic merit or fault. Someday I hope to explore this idea, on paper or orally, in much greater detail (and more controversially).

At the Central Midwest District Assembly in April I was impressed by the inspiration provided by a profoundly insightful and challenging call for action to "Take Back our Country from the Religious Right" by keynote speaker Rabbi Michael Lerner (author of The Left Hand of God) and the practical advice on creating effective congregational participation in social mission that was provided in two workshops chaired by First Unitarian Madison's full time Social Action Director (Wendy Cooper) and her colleagues.

May Mystery Member: Which of our members has twin daughters, both of whom will be presenting her with grandchildren in the coming months?

Church History: When and where did we have an earlier problem with a "bell tower"?

Humor: Unitarian bumper sticker- GIVE ME AMBIGUITY - OR GIVE ME SOMETHING ELSE!

April Answers:

Mystery member with a daughter (Jala) who was once a popular TV newscaster in Toledo, Ohio, is Betty Holcomb

Church History: Our church had 21 ministers from its founding in 1836 to 1997; three were named William - no other given name occurs more than once.