SpringFest 2007
Photos and Report by Alison Barrows YoungClick Here for more photos of SpringFest
Spring Fest, held at Unity of Denver, was a lot of fun this year. Columbine Unity was well represented with 22 members in attendance. Our hosts were very warm and inviting and the special music by Twin Flame was a real treat throughout the day.
The main attraction was the keynote address given by Dr. Marvin Meyers. This was a wonderful 2-hour experience with a short intermission. Dr. Meyers is an illustrious scholar who is infectiously enthusiastic about his field of Anthropology as it relates to Theology and the interpretation of ancient texts. He is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on the writings of the Gnostics and has played an important role in the rediscovery and interpretation of a number of gospels not included in the New Testament.
His stories of how these ancient books and scrolls were discovered, how they passed through the hands of a variety of treasure finders and dealers of antiquity, was both fascinating and amusing. His reflections on how our world has been influenced by the loss, and will perhaps be influenced by the return, of these important writings were deeply moving.
Throughout his presentation, Dr Meyers stood away from the podium returning to it only to read from various selections of text that he wished to introduce to further clarify his thoughts and findings. This unfathomable genius practically balanced on the tip of his toes as he leaned towards us and animatedly gestured to bring the large audience immediately into a feeling of intellectual intimacy.
He casually moved from one side of the stage to the other in a genuine and successful attempt to engage us all. Readings from his books as well as a yet to be published manuscript were elegant and flowed without pause from the text to his accompanying explanations and discussion of their imbedded meanings. Meyers held us in intense anticipation even as he read to us in Coptic in such an expressive voice that we were left with the impression that we had perhaps comprehended its meaning.
Most intriguing were the Dr.'s explanations of the gospels of Thomas, Mary and Judas, which introduce the modern world to the words that reveal an, until now, "hidden" Jesus. Jesus not as the crucified savior who died for our sins but, as Yahweh the Jew, the teacher, the brother, the friend, the companion and the man.
Mary (Magdalen) comes forward as perhaps the most elevated of all the disciples of Jesus. Consequently, the question marks surrounding her character fall away and her place as the most favored among his followers takes shape.
Judas (Iscariot) sheds the image of the betrayer as he intellectually discusses spiritual meaning with Jesus in a way that keeps the other young men and women surrounding the prophet at an abstracted distance. Moreover, Judas conspires with Jesus in a plot to shed the last of the Messiahs humanity: His encumbering physical body.
The vision of a chosen twelve disperses as an undetermined number of followers from many cultures and backgrounds take form. Dr Meyers concluded his lecture by offering an ancient and powerful vision of diversity that is not just of tolerance but also of celebration and may potentially inspire humanity to create the peaceful world of which the Christed Jesus spoke and the one we all yearn for.
Following the intermission, Dr. Meyers fielded questions from the audience, which came mostly from students from Iliff School of Theology, located a short distance away from Unity of Denver. Their questions were compelling and his answers were highly informative. It felt exciting to be in the presence of keenly interested theological scholars. However, I have to wonder if it might have been even more exciting if the Iliff students were not in attendance since they represented a number of diverse denominations and their questions were posed mainly for their personal religious study needs.
As it was a festival for Unity Thought, I would have preferred to hear questions posed to Dr. Meyers from the perspective of our deep thinking Unity Ministers and long time members, subsequently followed by his answers. I can't help but imagine that such an opportunity may have shed some awareness on the subjects we as a Community hold most dear to our hearts and our spiritual journey.
One individual did manage to ask him what he thought of the Course in Miracles to which he replied that he found it to be a compelling writing of which was only recently introduced. Ultimately, Dr. Meyers' revealed himself to be thoroughly honest and interested down to the last word he spoke.
Prior to the keynote address members of the conference were registered to attend two each of a variety of mini workshops. Although the workshops all sounded delectable in the program, I heard very few positive reviews from those who attended them. Word has it that the one on journaling was quite good and there is some interest in bringing this particular practitioner to Columbine for a more in depth workshop.
The presentation on prosperity was generally considered to be entertaining as well. The Minister of 30 some odd years from Grand Junction CO, likened planting a single bean and nurturing it; to creating a vision of prosperity and adding just the right amounts of intent, effort and prayer to bring it into manifestation. The room to which he was assigned was in the basement of a neighboring home and was too crowded (probably against fire codes) and overly warm. The light kept dimming in a distracting way, which may in fact have been the minister's wife signaling him to the passing of time although I never caught her at it.
Overall, I would say that the general impression of those I consulted was that the workshops lacked depth and played out more as a shopping spree for possible study areas rather than offering any immediate insights.
After our two workshops we walked across the street for lunch at a large Episcopalian Church. There were sandwiches, ice tea, water and lemonade and brownies, potato chips, cookies and rice crispy treats. There was seating either in the cafeteria or the courtyard. The Columbine attendants seem to be unanimous in their preference to the courtyard dining. The weather was exquisite. Water was available throughout the day at $1 a bottle, offered as a fundraising project for Unity of Denver's Y.O.U. program.
Spring Fest ended after Dr. Meyers enlightening talk on a surprisingly uncertain note without a closing prayer or song. Dr. Meyers was kind enough to sit past the conference hours, in the vendor's portion of the church, before a long line of book wielding participants who wished to have his autograph and best wishes placed upon the front pages of his various publications. Dr. Meyers had a kind word for everyone, and my group and I left feeling like he was truly one of the most extraordinary people we had ever had a chance to listen to and converse with.
