The Rev. Phil C. Mason is a native of Austin, Texas and a graduate of The Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in the class of 1996. He was ordained in the Diocese of Colorado and served there as priest and rector for 13 years. On retirement in 2009 he and his wife Susan moved back to Texas and built a home near San Marcos and Wimberley. Since returning “home” Rev. Mason has served as Interim Rector at Grace Episcopal Church, Llano, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in San Antonio and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Brady. Obviously Phil have flunked retirement and continues to serve as “supply clergy” throughout the diocese.

Our 19th century Unitarian ancestor, Ralph Waldo Emerson, opened a famous speech at  Harvard Divinity School on July 15, 1838 with those words. Emerson’s address harshly criticized and profoundly altered the nature and character of the Unitarianism of his day. Is the Unitarian Universalism of the 21st century in need of a similar change of course? In our own "refulgent summer", let us consider what we might learn from "Waldo", as Emerson's friends called him. (P.S. "Refulgent" is a wonderful word that means "shining brightly, resplendent".)

Recent research indicates that differences in our society on issues such as global
warming, defense spending, immigration, and gay rights is, to some extent,
deeply rooted in neurobiological differences, particularly in regard to the prefrontal
cortex and the amygdala. If the brains of liberals and conservatives tend to function
differently, is there a path toward reconciliation? What are some of the ways pointing towarda more perfect union? Are there ancient mythologies of war and peace that illustrate our genetic variation and offer hope for humanity?