News: August 8, 2025
Dear Members and Friends,
You may not be familiar with Yhprum’s law which states, “Everything that can work, will work.” “Yhprum” is “Murphy” spelled backwards, and the law is the opposite of Murphy’s law, which I imagine you are familiar with. “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”
There’s been a lot of serious stuff happening lately, so I thought you might appreciate this account of a recent Friday when I was reminded of Murphy’s law.
A few weeks ago, I had the seemingly simple project of recording some elements for the service on July 13. My task was to do four pieces for the YouTube service we would offer that Sunday. I thought, no problem, I had experience recording interviews with interesting people as part of the Ministers’ Forum.
My background in theatrical set design, however, led me to overthink the assignment and imagine where I might provide the best background to make my remarks. Due to pesky fleas, we were avoiding the church, so my minister’s study there wouldn’t work. My home study looks more like a Broadway producer’s office than a minister’s study, so that was out. It occurred to me, the ideal setting to impart a feeling of calm and contemplation would be to do it outside in a park. It was sunny, but hot, and I set off.
I scurried off to Elizabeth Baldwin Park, full of gorgeous old Live Oaks, near my condo. For the first time that I had ever been there, they were mowing. Loudly. This wouldn’t work to record anything that featured audio.
I regrouped, and thought, okay, I’ll just take the train to Hermann Park and record there. There are countless gorgeous views there.
Having recorded sermons during Covid, I knew only my top half would be visible. Because it was over 90 degrees in the shade, I boarded the Metro in a shirt and tie, shorts and flip-flops, and carrying my jacket and laptop. No one gave me a second glance.
I got off the train, and headed to where I knew picnic tables were. I planned to set the laptop on the table and find a good angle that featured the beautiful park and didn’t accentuate my baldness.
But alas, the symphony was rehearsing in the amphitheater, and like the mowing, was not conducive to recording anything contemplative with audio. I took a sharp right turn and was delighted to see that the Japanese garden was open. It never had been open on my previous visits.
I entered, hoping to find tables of some sort that would facilitate my recording. There were none, but there were innumerable beautiful views ideal for what I hoped to do. And there were lots of benches. I realized, if I put my laptop on the bench, and sat on the ground (in a suit from the waist up, and shorts and flip-flops below) I could record with a lovely view behind me.
However, being near the Medical Center, Care Flight helicopters began arriving and heading out approximately every two-and-a-half minutes. Even worse than the mowing and symphony rehearsal, the roar of the helicopters led me to try to time my recordings in between medical emergencies.
Recording the last piece, with the lovely Lott Family Carousel in the background, it began to rain. Now, mind you, there was no chance of rain when I left my condo, and only 30% chance when I checked my phone as I ran for cover. Yet the skies opened, and it poured.
As soon as the rain let up, I made a dash for the Metro Station. Still in a shirt, tie, shorts and flip-flops, but this time drenched. I then walked home to review the recordings and upload them - several hours since I began and certainly not how I had planned it.
In the grand scheme of things, nothing was catastrophic, and the files got uploaded for the service. But as I was wringing water from my necktie, I was certainly reminded of Mr. Murphy and his notorious law.
I will be on the chancel the next three Sundays. I will join Rev. Colin Sunday for his auction sermon “Revelation Is Not Sealed”, I will preach on the 17th, and we will have Ingathering and Water Communion on the 24th. On that day, don’t forget to bring a bit of water that holds significance to you, and students are encouraged to bring backpacks to be blessed.
Holding you in hope and love,
Rev. D. Scott Cooper
Associate Minister
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston
You may not be familiar with Yhprum’s law which states, “Everything that can work, will work.” “Yhprum” is “Murphy” spelled backwards, and the law is the opposite of Murphy’s law, which I imagine you are familiar with. “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”
There’s been a lot of serious stuff happening lately, so I thought you might appreciate this account of a recent Friday when I was reminded of Murphy’s law.
A few weeks ago, I had the seemingly simple project of recording some elements for the service on July 13. My task was to do four pieces for the YouTube service we would offer that Sunday. I thought, no problem, I had experience recording interviews with interesting people as part of the Ministers’ Forum.
My background in theatrical set design, however, led me to overthink the assignment and imagine where I might provide the best background to make my remarks. Due to pesky fleas, we were avoiding the church, so my minister’s study there wouldn’t work. My home study looks more like a Broadway producer’s office than a minister’s study, so that was out. It occurred to me, the ideal setting to impart a feeling of calm and contemplation would be to do it outside in a park. It was sunny, but hot, and I set off.
I scurried off to Elizabeth Baldwin Park, full of gorgeous old Live Oaks, near my condo. For the first time that I had ever been there, they were mowing. Loudly. This wouldn’t work to record anything that featured audio.
I regrouped, and thought, okay, I’ll just take the train to Hermann Park and record there. There are countless gorgeous views there.
Having recorded sermons during Covid, I knew only my top half would be visible. Because it was over 90 degrees in the shade, I boarded the Metro in a shirt and tie, shorts and flip-flops, and carrying my jacket and laptop. No one gave me a second glance.
I got off the train, and headed to where I knew picnic tables were. I planned to set the laptop on the table and find a good angle that featured the beautiful park and didn’t accentuate my baldness.
But alas, the symphony was rehearsing in the amphitheater, and like the mowing, was not conducive to recording anything contemplative with audio. I took a sharp right turn and was delighted to see that the Japanese garden was open. It never had been open on my previous visits.
I entered, hoping to find tables of some sort that would facilitate my recording. There were none, but there were innumerable beautiful views ideal for what I hoped to do. And there were lots of benches. I realized, if I put my laptop on the bench, and sat on the ground (in a suit from the waist up, and shorts and flip-flops below) I could record with a lovely view behind me.
However, being near the Medical Center, Care Flight helicopters began arriving and heading out approximately every two-and-a-half minutes. Even worse than the mowing and symphony rehearsal, the roar of the helicopters led me to try to time my recordings in between medical emergencies.
Recording the last piece, with the lovely Lott Family Carousel in the background, it began to rain. Now, mind you, there was no chance of rain when I left my condo, and only 30% chance when I checked my phone as I ran for cover. Yet the skies opened, and it poured.
As soon as the rain let up, I made a dash for the Metro Station. Still in a shirt, tie, shorts and flip-flops, but this time drenched. I then walked home to review the recordings and upload them - several hours since I began and certainly not how I had planned it.
In the grand scheme of things, nothing was catastrophic, and the files got uploaded for the service. But as I was wringing water from my necktie, I was certainly reminded of Mr. Murphy and his notorious law.
I will be on the chancel the next three Sundays. I will join Rev. Colin Sunday for his auction sermon “Revelation Is Not Sealed”, I will preach on the 17th, and we will have Ingathering and Water Communion on the 24th. On that day, don’t forget to bring a bit of water that holds significance to you, and students are encouraged to bring backpacks to be blessed.
Holding you in hope and love,
Rev. D. Scott Cooper
Associate Minister
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston