Have you found what you are looking for?

 Have you found what you are looking for or are you still searching?

In Unitarian Universalism some people covenant together to affirm and promote the free and responsible search for truth and meaning. What is it that they are looking for? They might not put the goal in quite these words, but they are trying to find their way back to God. They want to heal the separation so they can reunite with their Transcendent Source. This is the ultimate form of belonging.

U2 sing about this in their song "I still haven't found what I am looking for."

This is our kind of church music at UU A Way Of Life.

To whom do I belong? Where do I belong?

During September, 2022, the theme of the month is belonging. There will be several posts for the rest of the month on this theme. A new post will occur almost every day. Comments are welcome.

Belonging is the third need on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs after food and water at level one, and safety and protection from harm at level two. At the third level a human being needs belonging and love.

The basic questions addressing belonging are “To whom do I belong?” and “And where do I belong?” 

These questions are answered in different ways at different stages of development. These stages have been described in many ways. 

One of the simplest models of worldviews are egocentric, ethnocentric, worldcentric, cosmocentric. 

Individuals, groups and societies develop through these stages of world view. Unitarian Universalism, unlike other religions, is stuck at world centric although adherents to Unitarian Universalism can be at any stage of development. Likewise UU congregations can experience their center of gravity on one of these stages. The level of conscious development is heavily dependent on its ministerial leadership along with the board of directors who work with the minister.

The questions for discussion might be: “At what stage of development of worldview is your congregation and at what stage are you? Do you belong in your congregation? Is there alignment or misalignment?

What is it that we fear in others?

Yet projection will always hurt you. It reinforces your belief in your own split mind, and its only purpose is to keep the separation going. It is solely a device of the ego to make you feel different from your brothers and separated from them. The ego justifies this on the grounds that it makes you seem “better” than they are, thus obscuring your equality with them still further. 

T-6.II.3:1-4

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

We see things in others that are problematic for ourselves. Jesus said “Why do you see a speck in your brother’s eye when there is a log in your own?” The ego wants us to feel superior to others to enhance and maintain its own status. We are different from them. We think to ourselves, “I might be bad but I am not as bad as they are.” When we are accused our first defense we used as children is “What about them?”

In Unitarian Universalism some of us covenant together to affirm and promote the acceptance of each other and the encouragement to spiritual growth. UUs make a big deal, usually, of everybody being welcome. Francis David said, “We need not think alike to love alike.”

Today it is suggested that we think about the people we dislike and ask ourselves why? What are the factors that engender disgust, annoyance, hatred? What is it that we are afraid of?

Is it fair?

What you project you disown, and therefore do not believe is yours. You are excluding yourself by the very judgment that you are different from the one on whom you project. Since you have also judged against what you project, you continue to attack it because you continue to keep it separated. By doing this unconsciously, you try to keep the fact that you attacked yourself out of awareness, and thus imagine that you have made yourself safe. T-6.II.2:1-4

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

Human beings can be so stupid. Stupidity is fueled by lack of awareness. Sometimes it is comical. People project whatever they are experiencing shame about onto other people. “The pot calling the kettle black.” “People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” “Don’t be taking other people’s inventories, take your own.”

In Unitarian Universalism some of us join together to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. This principle is one of the most difficult to practice. The principle is exemplified when a 3 year old complains that “it’s not fair.”

Today it is suggested that we take several moments to ask ourselves in dealing with ourselves and others, “Is it fair?”

We are one with everything.

Any split in mind must involve a rejection of part of it, and this is the belief in separation. The Wholeness of God, which is His peace, cannot be appreciated except by a whole mind that recognizes the Wholeness of God’s creation. By this recognition it knows its Creator. T-6.II.1:1-3

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

God is the non dual Oneness. We are the drops and God is the ocean from which we have separated ourselves. The separation splits our mind and we think that being a drop is real and we question the reality of the ocean from which we have dissociated ourselves.

In Unitarian Universalism some of us join together to affirm and promote the love for the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part. We apprehend that we are part of something much bigger than our separate ego which has a life of its own which far transcends anything we can conceive of.

Today it is suggested that several times throughout the day we ask the Holy Spirit to help us realize that rather than being separate we are part of everything.

Quiz question of the day - What is the purpose of human life?

 Why is the purpose of human life?

1. Happiness

2. Make money

3. Exalt our ego

4. Teach that the separation from God is meaningless

The correct answer is D. Teach that the separation from God is meaningless.

Ask the Holy Spirit to remind us who we really are.

Remember that the Holy Spirit is the Communication Link between God the Father and His separated Sons. If you will listen to His Voice you will know that you cannot either hurt or be hurt, and that many need your blessing to help them hear this for themselves. When you perceive only this need in them, and do not respond to any other, you will have learned of me and will be as eager to share your learning as I am. T-6.I.19:1-3

A Course in Miracles . Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

The lyrics of the great song by Edwin Hawkins, Oh Happy Day, are “Oh happy day, oh happy day,  when Jesus washed my sins away.” Jesus washed our sins away when he taught us that we cannot either hurt or be hurt.

In Unitarian Universalism some of us join together to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in our human relations asking the Holy Spirit to remind us that Love is all there is.

Today it is suggested that we take a few minutes to remember, recognize, and acknowledge who, deep down, we really are and who our brothers and sisters are. We are creatures with inherent worth and dignity.