Can we keep our balance in a turbulent world?

When life gives you white water, get a surf board.

Turbulent times are best navigated with balance.

Exert too much or too little and you lose your balance.

Rome wasn't built in a day. There are a lot of ways to skin a cat.

In spite of what you have been taught, Life is not mechanical, it is organic.

Retreat from the extremes and find the center. It is in the center that balance is found.

If you would find peace, harmony, bliss, it will be in the Ground of Being not in the ten thousand things.

Unitarian Universalists know about the center because they covenant together to affirm and promote the interdependent web of all existence of which they just a tiny part.

Unitarian Univeralists covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of all persons, and in this awareness they find refuge.

Unitarian Univeralists covenant together to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion and with this principle they evolve to the heavens where Oneness abides beyond the ten thousand things.

How is it that Unitarian Univeralists are a people of deep faith?

The wise person understands the Unitarian Univeralist covenant and practices it diligently.
The average person likes the fellowship of UU and attends now and again.
The foolish person has learned about the Unitarian Univeralist covenant and laughs.

Without laughter, the UU covenant would not be what it is.
More than anything, Unitarian Univeralists do not take themselves seriously but instead respect and encourage the free and responsible search for Truth and meaning.

Having encouraged the search, UUs don't know where they are headed.
Having encouraged the search, UUs often times feel lost.
Having encouraged the search, UUs never celebrate the arrival.
Having encouraged the search, UUs never expect to achieve.
Having encouraged the search, UUs teach the importance of the journey and are skeptical about the destination.
Having encouraged the search, UUs are people of deep and abiding faith but have no answers.
Having encourged the search, UUs rest in their respect for the interdependent web of all existence which is beyond understanding.

Shall this too pass?

The ten thousand things emerge from the Tao and return to the Tao.
It seems, with distance, all like a dream.

The interdependent web waxes and wanes; like the tide of the ocean, it comes in and goes out.

We are here and then we are not.
Other people are here and then they are not.
The old in and out, the coming and going, the up and the down are all part of the same thing.

Unitarian Universalists affrim and promote the responsible search for truth and meaning.
With this search to find that Truth, we find it is not in the manifestation of the ten thouusand things.
Truth is to be found in the Ground Of Our Being, in the Energy which fuels the ten thousand things.

Wisdom is achieved in knowing, not the ten thousand things, but in the Tao which manifests them.
Unitarian Univeralists call this Tao "the interdependent web of all existence" which abides eternally.

Unitarain Univeralists find calm in knowing that with whatever is going on, whatever is happening, this too shall pass.

How is it that the last shall be first, and the first shall be last?

While Jesus tells us that in the Kingdom, the first shall be last and the last shall be first, here on the path of the ego we don't believe it or act on it.

It is written in the Tao Te Ching that the humble is the root of the noble, the low is the foundation of the high.

The Tao Te Ching points out that too much success is not necessarily an advantage.

We Unitarian Universalists don't have to worry about too much success because we are a very small denomination. We are the yeast in the dough considered to be of little notice but we help the whole society, the whole world, rise.

Our Unitarian Univeralist covenant, based on our seven principles, and our six sources, while of little notice and small in number, is the lamp that sheds a beacon of light into our dark and weary world.

What is the interdependent web of all existence?

Have you notice that those who preach morality are often the most immoral?

Have you noticed that those who insist on the rule of law know all the loop holes?

Have you noticed that those who insist on justice engage in systemic injustice beneath their awareness.

Hyprocrisy is the burden of those who preach to others the good.

It is written in the Tao Te Ching that:
When Tao is lost, people want to be good.
When goodness is lost, they insist on kindness.
When kiindness is lost, they create ritual.
When ritual is lost, they rely on faith and loyalty.
When faith and loyalty are questioned, there arises confusion.
When confusion abounds, people try to predict the future.
Predicting the future descends into folly.

Folly begets crisis and trauma that may lead to a dawning.
With the dawning arises an idea that there must be a better way.
The Way is found on a search for Truth and Meaning which is beyond description.
The wise have found their way back to Tao.

Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote seven things, the fourth of which is the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. This truth and meaning is to be found not in goodness, kindness, ritual, faith, loyalty, confusion, folly, crisis and trauma, but back at the Center, the Ground of Our Being, the Indescribible Basis of the ten thousand things which is beyond comprehension, and in which we trust, which UUs have named the "interdependent web of all existence."

What good is silence?

In Industrial Psychology they call it "sink time."
Sink time is time to sit in silence, to let the data settle, to let the smoke clear off.

How do we digest all that we have taken in when we scurry from one thing to another?

We need time to reflect, to digest, to just relax.

Unitarian Univeralists tend to be busy people.
UUs think a lot and want to fix things.
UUs are searching and trying to rectify injustice and make the world a better place.

Are UUs nothing but Social Workers and Activists?
UUs value their covenant which affirms and promotes seven principles.
Affirmation and promotion takes perspective and deliberate and purposeful action.
To be purposeful and deliberate, one must be thoughtful.
To be thoughtful, one must be quiet.

How is bliss made possible?

Before things come down they must go up.
Before things fail there must have been success.
Before people become weak they have been strong.
Before things are received they must have been given.

We stand back, gain perspective, and see the complementarity of reality on the ego plane.

Why get upset because things will come full circle often after great suffering and anguish.
And then there will be joy and celebration for a while until the cylce continues on its way.

Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning and this search often takes them up and down, over and back, to good times and bad, and with frustration and despair, and relaxation and hope.

Beyond the search for truth and meaning Unitarian Univeralists are aware of and affirm and promote a respect and a love for the interdependent web of existence of which they, and all things, are a part. It is in the awareness of the interdependent web of all existence that bliss is made possible.

When is enough enough?

It is easy to get burned out.
Do this, do that. It must be done.
We're counting on you. Don't let us down.
Without you we would fail and the failure will be all your fault.

Promises have been made but don't seem to actually been kept.
We wind up with little but fatigue while they enjoy the ride.

We would back down, turn away, give up our efforts but we feel guilt and ashamed.
This is not the results of our covenant we signed up for.
This is not how things should be.

Things are out of balance and seem skewed.
We have to say "No."
We come to realize that when enough is enough, that's enough!

And so we retreat to the comfort of the Tao and let the chips fall where they may.
The cries of disparagement go over our heads
For while the system is distressed and needs recalibration
We are finally liberated and free.

Unitarian Univeralists intend to rectify the injustice in the world.
UUs affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations
But just as often injustice, inequity, and attack occur.
UUs take comfort in their covenant which affirms and promotes a respect for the interdependent web.

In what do Unitarian Univeralists find Truth, Goodness, and Beauty?

No one person owns the Truth.
The Truth is always present supporting Goodness.

Goodness appears in unexpected ways at unexpected times in unexpected places. Goodness also does not appear often where one would expect it and require it.

Truth and Goodness have a life of their own apart from the ego.
The ego projects and Truth and Goodness extend.

Truth and Goodness reside on the path of the spirit and are not to be found on the path of the ego.

Truth and Goodness are not haughty, not proud, do not need applause to be what they are.

Many do not see Truth and Goodness when it is right before their eyes. Truth and Goodness are more a matter of the heart than the head. When the heart is closed by fear Truth and Goodness are difficult to experience. When the heart is open Truth and Goodness fill up as much space as is provided.

Unitarian Univeralists embrace a faith that is huge, all encompassing, waits to be recognized.

UUs covenant to affirm and promote seven basic principles which encourage the experience of Truth and Goodness in all of their days and for all time. In this practice, UUs find precious beauty.

What is the purpose of our lives?

Schooling focuses on learning about the world.
Education focuses on learning about oneself.

Self knowledge is what makes a person wise. It is this wisdom which is eternal and does not die,

Mastering others is a fool's quest that does damage and inflicts harm.
In AA the slogan is "Take your own inventory not everyone else's."

In Unitarian Univeralism we covenant together to affirm and promote the acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth. This is the purpose of our lives and the mission of our faith.

Do you have a respect and love for the interdependent web of existence?

Unitarian Univeralists covenant together to affirm and promote seven principles and the most important principle of all, under which the other six fall, is the respect for the interdependent web of all existence.

Here at UU A Way of Life ministries we go beyond "the respect" for the interdependent web of all existence to the Love of the interdependent web of all existence.

It is from the interdependent web that all other things are separated and named. In the Tao Te Ching it describes for us the "ten thousand things" which are separate manifestations of the Tao but not themselves the Tao because the Tao is beyond description.

A favorite bar card reads, "If you think you know what you are talking about, you are full of shit." Blunt, to the point, meant to make one laugh at our arrogance and lack of humility.

The seventh principle fills us with humility and also, gratitude. We come to appreciate the whole. The system has a balance, an equilibrium of its own, which we can and should respect if we can rise above being enamored with the separate parts.

As the Buddhist monk said to the hot dog vendor "Make me one with everything."

How does fear get managed?

At a threat and even in a desire to dominate we, humans, attack.

Fear is the name of the game. It drives human souls to cruel and destructive things.

Behind anger is always fear even for something as small as the loss of face, a slight to one's ego.

Guns make it easier to kill. The days of a punch in the nose are over. Instead of a bleeding nose, it is a stoped heart that occurs.

On the path of the spirit, there is no desire to dominate and the response to threat is a desire to understand so that methods of management can be devised for the safety and well being of all.

Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. UUs are also very aware of the interdependent web of all existence.

How do UUs influence change?

Only the stupid and desperate try to change things by force from the top down.

The wise and patient change things subtly, gently from the bottom up.

Force leads to resistance.

Gentleness leads to flexibility.

Those with an ego who change things by force boast.

Those on the path of the spirit change things gently and praise God.

Unitarian Universalists covenant together to affirm and promote the acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in their congregations and throughout their communities. Acceptance implies inclusion, even of diversity, and rather than a melting pot, UUs make a beautiful mosaic of a tossed salad.

For what should we be grateful?

One of the helpful tools of science is deconstruction. We break things into their component parts. Having observed and anlyzed the phenomena, we play with it, manipulate it, figure out what else to make of it, and how to use it.

Linear and reductionistic approaches to understanding things on the path of the ego has given human beings great power, even the power to destroy themselves.

The spiritual impulse is to put things back together, to appreciate the systemic whole. This appreciation leads to a marveling at the balance, the equiblibrium, and the mystery that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

In Unitarian Universalism, in our covenant to affirm and promote seven principles, we make note of, acknowledge, respect, and come to love the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part. We come to realize our utter dependence  and with this realization a tremendous humility and gratitude arises.

Do you listen to your intuitive sense?

The saying is "The path to hell is paved with good intentions."

Those who are a lot of talk seldom do.

Those who do, seldom talk.

If we think we know what we are doing, we are probably fooling ourselves.

Where is the trust in the intuitive sense of God's will, the Tao?

Relax and listen.

In the quiet, remember from whence you have come and to which you are headed in return.

In Unitarian Univeralism, we covenant together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Knowing about this inherent worth and dignity, we no longer need to judge, to change, to fix. We can accept with gratitude, empathy, and compassion the divine spark in all the beings around us and to whom we relate and with whom we interact. We are very aware of, and affirm and promote, the interdenpendent web of existence which has an energy and balance beyond our fathoming.

Where do Unitarian Universalists find peace?

All we need be focused on is the next best right thing.

AA counsels us, "One day at a time." "East does it."

There are so many things to pull us off center, to get us upset, to drive us to distraction.

Prioritize and take things one at a time as they cross your path.

We'll cross that bridge when, and if, we come to it.

Enough of making a tempest out of teapot, and mountain out of a mole hill.

Catastrophizing is not good for our spiritual health.

In Unitarian Univeralism we are grounded in our covenantal relationships which aspire and intend to affirm and promote our seven principles. In is in this we stay centered, in this we stay grounded, in this we find peace.

What is the gift that Unitarian Universalists have been given?

The wonder of the universe is awesome.

The marvel is beyond words.

In Unitarian Universalist faith we call it the "interdependent web of all existence."

We are dependent on the planet Earth.

Planet Earth is dependent on the solar system.

The solar system is dependent on the Milky Way galaxy.

The Milky Way galaxy is depdendent on the cosmos.

The Cosmos is dependent on Tao.

Tao is infinite and eternal, two concepts which our minds cannot fully grasp.

Our problems, in the perspective of this immenseness, seem trivial and petty, and yet we recognize, acknowledge, and appreciate that they are part of the All.

This part in Existence which we play imbues us with a grandeur not of our own making but of which we are a part. Grandeur is not the same thing as grandiosity.

It is written in A Course In Miracles, "It is easy to distinguish grandeur from grandiosity, because love is returned and pride is not." T-9,VIII.8:1

Our Unitarian Univeralist faith calls us to covenant together to affirm and promote seven principles which uplift the awesomeness of Life. Let us recognize the gift we have been given and our parts in it.

Are you pushing the river?

Have your noticed that the harder we try the more tense we get and the more likely we will choke up?

Have you notices that we often find ourselves trying to put a round peg into a square hole?

Have you felt demoralized because you are working harder than everyone else who doesn't seem to care as much?

Have you ever thought that you were right and surrounded by idiots?

Dr. Carl Whitaker, the pioneering family therapist, told his students, "If you are going to be missionaries, you will get eaten by cannibals."

If you are trying harder, working harder, insisting more vehemently than everyone else, alarm bells are ringing that something is wrong.

You may be pushing the river. You'll get there if you relax and just go with the flow.

Unitarian Univeralists know this because they rely on their covenantal relationships based on seven principles. These principles nourish and guide their relational lives. They know that it is easy for those relationships to get skewed and out of sync if their principles are ignored or mis-applied.

In Alcoholics Anonymous they have slogans such as "Easy does it." and "Let go and let God," and "One day at a time."

In Unitarian Univeralism we convenant together to affirm and promote our first principle,  the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and our seventh principle,  a respect for the interdependent web of existence. Some UUs call us first and seventh principle people.

These principles are imbued with an awareness of the Tao which resonates with eternal beauty, goodness, truth, and balance. Relax and lfit up your awareness to the Oneness of the Divine.

Have you been lied to?

Walking the path of the ego one finds drama of all sorts: love vs. hate, birth vs.death, gain vs. loss, beauty vs. ugliness, goodness vs.evil, truth vs. deceit.

We are led to believe that we have to choose, but how can we have one without the other? Things are one half of the whole. The path of the ego is full of deceit, illusion, suffering and anguish, as well as genuineness, reality, joy and happiness.

It is all part of the interdependent web of existence which we have created in our separation from the Divine.

Spiritual traditions have taught us that we can rise above the path of the ego and become one with the Spirit, the foundation of existence. Luke Skywalker called it "The Force."

In Unitarian Univeralism we call it the "covenant." In A Course In Miracles, it is called the Atonement. Whatever we call it, what really matters, is that we know we are One.

Living on the path of the ego there is always something. If it is not one thing, it's another. It's not until our tolerance for nonsense is exhausted that we finally realize that we have been lied to by the ego and that there must be a better way.

Can you handle paradox?

Acceptance and appreciation of paradox is a sign of maturity.

F. Scott Fitzgerald said that the test of a first rate intelligence is the ability to hold two contradictory ideas in the mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.

Unitarian Universalists in covenanting together to affirm and promote the respect for the interdependent web manifest this kind of first rate intelligence.

UUs understand that to yield and be the bigger person is tranformational.

UUs undertand that to bend and keep one's balance allows one to be upright.

UUs understand that to re-cycle the old is to create something anew.

UUs understand that to simplify one gains the whole world of well being.

UUs understand that the more one knows the more one understands how little one really knows.

UUs understand that the last shall be first and the first shall be last.

UUs understand that no matter how low one goes, one still possesses inherent worth and dignity and is part of the Divine.