The Pageless Book

Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Reverend Kit Ketcham from Ms. Kitty’s Saloon and Road Show. As one of the most beloved minster bloggers in the Unitarian Universalist blogosphere, it is an honor having her as my first interview on The Pageless Book. I am thankful that she agreed to the interview and hope that you visit her blog to read more of her mirth and wisdom. Namaste.

Above Photo by Philip Kromer. Photo Below of Reverend Kit Ketcham. Bread Photo by Miheco.
Volunteer Sign Photo by Tim Parkinson.

It’s hard to know when to respond to the seductiveness of the world and when to respond to its challenge. If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem. But I rise in the morning torn between the desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day. - E.B. White

John Pageless: You first started your blog about a year and a half ago. I’ve went back and read your first post, but it only indicated in a vague manner your original purpose for blogging. Can you please clarify your original purpose for your blog and discuss how has that purpose changed over the last year and a half?

Rev. Ketcham: I originally started the blog because I wanted to comment on someone’s post and found that I needed to register if I wanted to really get into commenting. And I’ve always liked to write, so it was attractive from that perspective. I had no original purpose for the blog, but my old moniker from Citizens’ Band radio days was Ms. Kitty and I wanted to use that. I also have a secret desire to be a torch singer and figured if I had my own saloon, they’d have to let me be part of the show!

JP: As the daughter of a Baptist preacher, you had a strong religious upbringing. Yet at some point, you moved on to become a Unitarian Universalist, only to later take up ministry yourself. From what I understand of your blog, this was in part to the social revolution of the 1960’s. What initially lead you on this spiritual journey and how has it impacted your ministry?

Rev. K: I think I always secretly wanted to be a minister, but when I graduated from college in 1963, the only thing they were training women to do was become Christian Education directors, aka glorified Sunday School teachers in my opinion. But the careers I have had, starting right after college, were all in social service work - welfare caseworker, community center work, teaching/counseling - and all formed a foundation for me which made ministry a wonderful next step. For me, the social service work was more important than the religion I was attached to, until I felt a strong call to the ministry and then I moved into the position of leading others in social service work.

As a minister, I feel a strong pull to do interfaith work. I think UUs will get much more done in the world if we link arms with other religious communities. I would say that my sense of this impacts my ministry deeply. I want to be involved with people of other faiths; I want my congregation to be involved with people of other faiths. I don’t see how we can change the world without creating coalitions of progressive people.

JP: Unitarian Universalism is an evolving tradition; young, yet not without a solid historical foundation. You’ve witnessed and even wrote about this religion’s evolution. Where do you see Unitarian Universalism in the future and what part do you play now to help create that future?

Rev. K: I think of Unitarian Universalism as the catalytic agent in our society; think “yeast” in a loaf of bread. I’m not sure it matters whether we have zillions of members or not. I’m inclined to think that we have made a huge difference in society since our inception. I’m also a believer in getting the message out; we have a message of salvation that is different from traditional faith. I read blogs and hear stories of how things play out in other congregations and I can see that there is a wide variety of healthy activist congregations; I think the East coast, because of its population decline, may be struggling with a lessening of energy, while the West is the recipient of new energy because we are increasing in our population. I know some of my colleagues in the East feel frustrated by that lack of energy. I don’t sense the lack of energy here; I sense a constant upwelling of energy and growth.

I hope we don’t get bogged down in the numbers game, thinking that the only way we can make a difference is by increasing our numbers. We need to focus on our mission, which is to change society. If people are attracted to us by our actions in society, that’s much healthier growth than people who come through the doors because we have cute sermon titles.

JP: One of the positive aspects of Unitarian Universalism is that we are exposed to a large number of religions and philosophies. We are probably one of the most inclusive spiritual traditions in America today. This lends itself to an honest approach to spiritual exploration and self discovery. However, suppose this religion and the religion you were born into did not exist; which other religion or philosophy would you be most likely to take up and why?

Rev. K: I am pretty sure that if I had it to do over again, I would be a Quaker, because I am very attracted to their practice of non-violence. But circumstances led me to UUism and I am happy here. However, if I ever retire to a place where there is no UU congregation and there is a Quaker meeting, I know where I’ll go! I’m a Christian at heart; Jesus’s message is foundational for me. But I’m not likely to choose a Christian church these days. Too many integrity issues bog down the message of Jesus in traditions where they are still fighting about gender, sexual orientation, etc.

JP: I’ve been fairly public about my intention to become a Unitarian Universalist minister. Even though my journey has been waylaid by recent financial difficulties, I’m still resolute on making ministry a part of my life. As someone who has been raised by a preacher and became a minister herself, is there any advice you would impart to me?

Rev. K: Hmmm. The journey into ministry often takes a long time. I would just recommend that you not be discouraged and that you recognize that every day you spend NOT a minister is preparation for becoming a minister. Use everything that happens to you as preparation. It’s the figurative money in the bank of life. I can’t visualize what kind of minister I would be today if I hadn’t put in all those years in social service work, in being a parent and spouse, in learning to lead highly intelligent people in social groups, in living from paycheck to paycheck, in volunteering in various ways. Be involved as deeply as you can in your local congregation; start something new there; try your wings at something new.

About a month ago, I had an idea to write a post regarding art and spirituality. I knew one of my frequent visitors was an artist, and had asked her for some input, and perhaps if I could use some of her art in my post. Her response was enthusiastic, but due to the Christmas season, she was unable to give the issue her attention. Earlier this week, she e-mailed me with an entire post’s worth of content! Well, I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

I would like to introduce to you Kelly Naylor. She is a true artist and I’m proud to have her as my first guest blogger here on The Pageless Book. The following article is written by Ms. Naylor, and each art piece used is her original art work. The above work is titled “Dragon Rising.”

In most of the places around the internet where I display my art, I mention that I create art because I can’t not create art. This compulsion, by the way, extends to my writing and singing as well. I do it all because I must. While reading a line in Autobiography of a Yogi about 15 years ago where Paramhansa Yogananda equates song to prayer, I realized the absolute Truth of that statement. It has always been true, and always will be true, that when I say “I will pray for you,” what I mean is “when next I finding myself singing, I will be holding you in my heart and mind and sending a request to Spirit to do the same.” (By the way, any song can be a prayer… from Shubert’s Ave Maria to The Beatles Lady Madonna to kd lang’s Crying.) So singing is my half of a conversation with Spirit.

My visual art, on the other hand, is what Spirit says to me. Very little of my art comes from my head (and the stuff that does isn’t really as interesting… to me, anyway). Most of my art comes from my heart. In fact, a lot of times I’ll put a DVD in the player and let my mind play “over there” while my heart and hands are playing “over here.” Half the time I’m not even sure what the paintings mean after I’ve created them. Perhaps the messages aren’t meant for me. I create abstract art because abstracts allow the viewer to see what they think is in the painting. On a mundane level, I could (and do) say it allows the viewer to become part of the art, part of the story. But more than that, it allows each individual to interpret the message of Spirit in their own way. Some of the pieces I create are profound, while others just flat out make me laugh. There are messages of hope, peace, love and joy… and yes, even a few about sorrow and mourning.

I think it’s important to note that I only started on this artistic path after my daughter Mackenzie died. She was born on Christmas Eve in 2000, and lived for four days. I sang (prayed) a lot, I wrote a lot, and I began dabbling with various artistic media. I went through all the stages of grief, some of them many times over. During the course of several years, I listened to Spirit. For Mackenzie’s fifth birthday, I was able to declare: I am an artist. My art honors and celebrates Mackenzie’s life.

I’d like to share one particular painting that has a powerful message for me; it’s one of those profound paintings. I was going through some employment-related difficulties at the time I painted it. Touchstone, shown right, emerged during an episode of The X-Files (where I had sent my mind to play). I was finishing up the painting just about the time Mulder tells Scully she is his touchstone (hence the name of the painting).

Looking at the painting later, I had a very clear, concise and powerful message from Spirit: You are not alone. You are loved. I am here. I love you. What is Spirit saying to you? I invite you to visit my galleries to see if Spirit has left any messages for you in other paintings.

Blessed be. Namasté.