Inspiration: 

 

If there is no reward in heaven and no punishment in hell, we will have to be good for nothing.

To Be Seen

When we choose to see and bless the world we can open our eyes and see those in need: those pushed to the fringes and forgotten. We can see the injustice, be it in access to healthcare or living wages, be it in exploitation or violence. We can see the destruction our lifestyle and need for convenience are bringing to this fragile planet earth. And we can allow what we see to transform us into people committed to healing our world. We can do more than speak about social justice and environmental action—we can devote ourselves to creating it.

To see and to be seen—this should be the work of our church community. This is the heart of our Unitarian Universalist faith. The hymns, the chants, the readings, the minister, the traditions, all are secondary. The open eyes are what matter. Our open eyes are what matter. Through those portals we will be made whole. Through the pupil of the eye, we’ll find an endless heaven.

by Tim Kutzmark TO READ MORE

Inspiration: 

Í say móre: the just man justices;

Kéeps gráce: thát keeps all his goings graces;        

 

Acts in God’s eye what in God’s eye he is—

Chríst—for Christ plays in ten thousand places,

Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his

To the Father through the features of men’s faces.

–Gerard Manley Hopkins

Earth and Spirit: Belonging to the Earth

The UU Seventh Principle reminds us that we are to hold “respect for the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part.” The “of which we are a part” section is deeply important, because otherwise we may become lost in the false separation between ourselves as human beings and the rest of the earthly realm. The teachings we draw upon as a faith—from existentialist philosophers to indigenous teachings, to cosmology and Buddhism and other faith traditions—all have a lot to say about interdependence and connection. I do believe, however, that sometimes where we may fall short in this inquiry of belonging is in how we live into the idea.

You may be able to easily identify where you feel that sense of embodied belonging. The visceral moment of remembering our connections to the All is what I call grace. It may be in the garden, or sitting with a child, or working side by side with friends on a service project. It is a practice of mindfulness, this belonging—noticing what is, feeling it in your core. The beautiful thing about grace is that it is always there, waiting for your attention. And, once you deeply know your belonging, you feel more deeply motivated and empowered to act on behalf of the All. Rainforest activist John Seed came to see this when he said, “I am not protecting the rainforest. I am the part of the rainforest that has arisen to protect itself.” This is truly a gift that serves our faith’s commitment to love and justice.

by Barbara Ford TO READ MORE

Inspiration:“Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only as first it resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens”—Plato

Justice for Military Families

As a person of Unitarian Universalist faith, I affirm the expression of love and commitment for many types of families. With the repeal of DADT, a big hurdle has been cleared in the ability of servicemembers to fully be themselves. But there is much work still to be done. The reality is that military personnel do not serve alone; their families also serve. Unfortunately, many of those families serve invisibly because the system is not set up to acknowledge them yet…

As Theodore Parker once asserted, I truly do believe that the arc of the Universe bends toward justice. My hope is that, someday, all families of U.S. military personnel will be fully acknowledged, and that all same-sex partnerships are acknowledged on a federal level. Until that day, I believe that we are called as people of faith, as Unitarian Universalists, to spread the good news of our faith and its radical acceptance of GLBT persons and their families. We offer a unique perspective that affirms diversity, and we need to join the conversation! Yes, there is an arc that bends toward justice. And we have the opportunity to push it closer and closer to its goal.

By Margaret Weis, Ministerial Intern at First Parish of Watertown, Unitarian Universalist. TO READ MORE

Inspiration:

 

Spirit of Love, teach me to love ever more broadly and live ever more boldly.

Love First

Loving our neighbor implicates us in loving the whole network of life. Science has given us photographs of the earth from space. We can see we are one blue globe, wreathed with clouds. We know the crust of the earth floats on a core of fire. Even the rocks are part of a complex flow of elements that fold down into that molten core and rise again. We dwell in our cities and towns on a living, breathing planet molded by transforming fire, flowing waters, the exhalations of trees, and the inbreathing of animals. This interconnectedness of all things calls for wisdom and reverence. We cannot trample this landscape of life as ignorant fools and expect to be safe. We cannot turn from our bonds and obligations for and with one another and expect everyone to be okay. We cannot love after the fact and expect love to be able to save life. Maybe in the end love will save us all, but it has a lot better chance at the beginning.

By Rebecca Parker, president of Starr King School for the Ministry TO READ MORE

 

Inspiration:

What is the source of your strength to stand up for what is right?

Gratitude

We are here on earth, at least partially, to practice empathy, to honor honest work and to ceaselessly embody that central Universalist principle, the dignity and worth of all human beings. This practice of radical equality is measured by the respect with which you treat others, and by the kindness in your heart. And then comes the leap. When you become the giver of kindness you are more likely to become aware of the kindness flowing towards you. You learn gratitude not only for the kindness of those around you, but also for the source of kindness described by the psalmist. Some of us call this source of all life and goodness and love by the name of God. Some of us call the sense of the whole of life a mysterious reality that cannot be named.

by Barbara Merritt, Minister Emerita, First Unitarian Church Of Worcester, Massachusetts TO READ MORE