On the Minister's Mind

by Rev. Laine Morgan

Just like everyone else, I have been processing the transition of Dolly Parton and considering the treasures she sprinkled into my life that I intend to cherish in her memory. To begin, she was the very first singer I ever adored. My father had 8-track tapes of Dolly Parton and Porter Wagner in our cars when I was a little girl, and I nearly wore them out as I sang along.  Admittedly, I was playing cassettes and CDs of Dolly well into my adulthood too!    

Her subtle messages of self-reliance and independence as a woman were not lost on me as I grew up, and my coming-of-age playlist always had Dolly Parton songs on it. And, I always admired her determination to dress and look the way she wanted to – unapologetically. I knew that took real guts, for sure! 

Her movie roles were often in portrayal of strong characters who stood firmly in their convictions, and I can clearly see that they were chosen carefully to match who she knew herself to be. She was always willing to bring her truest essence to the project at hand. 

I watched an interview last week with Henry Winkler, a director of one of her movies.  What he said about Dolly gave me a lot to think about.  He said – “There are very few people that I have ever met in my life who have an idea of who they are and then live it, as opposed to – I want something and I’m going to figure out how to get it.”

Winkler is right.  So many of us want something, then pretzel ourselves to be whatever kind of person that can get that thing, regardless of who we know ourselves to be, regardless of our inherent values and inner desires. We tend to compromise to fit a mold, but Dolly didn’t do that. 

Dolly knew who she was at a very early age and she simply made the necessary choices and  lived it.  She knew she had talent, so she lived a life that allowed her talent to shine. She knew she loved people, so she lived a life where loving people was her constant choice. She knew she wanted to share everything that blessed her, so she lived as a blessing to everyone in her world and beyond. Her highest values were diversity and honesty and kindness – obviously.

I don’t know that I considered Dolly Parton a spiritual teacher, but she certainly was, and will always be. Her message is oneness. Her message is acceptance. Her message is helping others and generosity and kindness. Her message was that the universe supported her, and it does not play favorites. Those are spiritual messages that honor the truth of oneness and the power of the individual to do good. 

I pray that we never stop talking about the consequential life that Dolly lived on the stage of everyone’s life.  She was a star we might want to keep the spotlight on quite a while longer!

Godspeed, Dolly!  Thank you!