In Chapter 9 of her book, The Green Boat:
Reviving Ourselves in Our Capsized Culture, Mary Pipher writes about the
growth of the Nebraskan coalition to fight the TransCanada XL pipeline crossing
their state. Pipher describes the Festival activities sponsored across the
State of Nebraska for the purpose of convincing the Governor and State
legislature to block and not approve the legislation necessary for the building
of the pipeline. Pipher writes:
“That night, we had crested a wave. But Monday
morning we were exactly in the same situation with our politicians that we had
been in before the festival. This bittersweet phenomenon of a successful event
paired with no discernible political gain seemed to be a chronic problem for
our group.
However, we were experiencing a victory that could
not be taken away from us. That is, we were by now a transcendent, connected
community. We were learning that relationships always trump agendas, and that a
good process is sustaining, regardless of outcome. I cannot emphasize how
important relationships were to us at this point.
In fact, what I came to realize from my work with
the coalition is that in individuals, families, communities, cultures, and even
on earth itself, nothing good and beautiful lasts unless it is grounded in
loving, interconnected relationships.” P.175-176
In reading this passage I am reminded of several of
the Unitarian Universalist principles like number 7, “respect for the
interdependent web of existence of which we are a part,” and number one, “the
inherent worth and dignity of every person,” and number 5, “the right of
conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and
in society and large,” and number three, “the acceptance of one another and the
encouragement to spiritual growth,” and number two, “justice, equity, and
compassion in human relations.”
Piper’s story in The Green Boat is a story about
bringing UU principles into application and the frustration, discouragement,
and difficulties this entails as well as the satisfaction, fulfillment, and
transcendent quality of working with others towards a positive social goal
beyond our individual selves but which benefits all living things and the
planet. Pipher describes herself, like many of us, depressed, despondent, even
despairing before this coalition building effort but as they say “misery likes
company” and joining with others they have transcended their own individual
darkness. Jesus says that where two or more are gathered in my name there I
will be. I don’t think that you necessarily need to believe that Jesus is God to
observe this phenomenon. It can be seen in any city and some small towns in
America and around the world where there are 12 step meetings held like
Alcoholics Anonymous. It appears very counter-intuitive to put a couple of
drunks in a room together and they help each other become sober. What happened
to the cynical statement about “the blind leading the blind?” It happens that
when the blind lead the blind they sometimes develop the ability to see.
This counter-intuitive, nonsensical faith in the transcendent
power of recognition and acknowledgement and support for our interdependence
leads to miraculous awareness of what A Course In Miracles calls the
At-one-ment, the Atonement which is the end point of human evolution when human
beings become one with everything or as I define it, when everybody loves
everybody all the time.
The coalition which Pipher describes in Nebraska in
2010-2011 has this quality of a step towards the Atonement. This is a religious
experience, a spiritual experience, which Unitarian Universalism recognizes,
acknowledges, and actively promotes. While Pipher describes herself as the
world’s worst Buddhist, the UUA might consider asking her if she would like to
accept an honorary designation as a Unitarian Universalist luminary since she
and her coalition light the way which the rest of us might do well to emulate.
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