Consider what is held in common rather than what divides us.

Being the part of your mind that does not believe it is responsible for itself, and being without allegiance to God, the ego is incapable of trust. Projecting its insane belief that you have been treacherous to your Creator, it believes that your brothers, who are as incapable of this as you are, are out to take God from you. Whenever a brother attacks another, that is what he believes. Projection always sees your wishes in others. If you choose to separate yourself from God, that is what you will think others are doing to you. T-7.VII.9: 1-5

A Course in Miracles (p. 266). Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

People live lives of quiet desperation often believing they are competing with others for scarce resources rather than joining with them for mutual benefit. People see in others competitive intentions to take what is theirs and therefore they see most people as a threat of some sort. When people see other people as threats they have forgotten their Transcendent Source from which all life has come and the idea that we all are in this thing called “life” together.

In Unitarian Universalism we join together to affirm and promote the awareness of the interdependent web of all existence.

Today it is suggested that time be taken to see what is held in common rather than what separates and divides us.

When it’s all said and done, what really matters?

Attack could never promote attack unless you perceived it as a means of depriving you of something you want. Yet you cannot lose anything unless you do not value it, and therefore do not want it. This makes you feel deprived of it, and by projecting your own rejection you then believe that others are taking it from you. You must be fearful if you believe that your brother is attacking you to tear the Kingdom of Heaven from you. This is the ultimate basis for all the ego’s projection. T-7.VII.8: 1-5

A Course in Miracles (p. 266). Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

The above passage about attack depriving us of something we value is the idea of the Buddha who taught that suffering is due to attachment. When we are attached and we perceive a threat to that to which we are attached, we become fearful and defensive and/or attack back. Supposing we were attached to the things that are being threatened? We wouldn’t care one way or the other if we lost them. In such a state of mind we would be at peace.

In Unitarian Universalism we join together to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person which can never be threatened because of its inherency.

Today it is suggested that we reflect on what we are attached to and what’s really important to us when it's all said and done.

Nice or kind?

 

There is a difference between being nice and kind.

Every attack is a call for His patience, since His patience can translate attack into blessing. Those who attack do not know they are blessed. They attack because they believe they are deprived. Give, therefore, of your abundance, and teach your brothers theirs. Do not share their illusions of scarcity, or you will perceive yourself as lacking.T-7.VII.7: 4-8

A Course in Miracles (p. 265). Foundation for Inner Peace. Kindle Edition. 

A Course In Miracles teaches that an attack is a cry for help. The appropriate response to those who need help is a blessing albeit with setting appropriate limits and attempting to prevent further harm.

In Unitarian Universalism some of us join together to affirm and promote justice, equity, and compassion in our human relations. Tough love along with kindness is sometimes appropriate. There is a difference between being “nice” and being “kind.” Sometimes it is not kind to be nice especially when limits and structure are necessary to contain harmful behavior.

Today it is suggested that we consider the difference between being nice and kind. It is always appropriate to be kind but sometimes not appropriate to be nice. It takes self awareness and self mastery to be the bigger person.

UU A Way Of Life is happy to announce the birth of the Seven Principles Society (SPS) on 12/26/22.

 

Imagine there were no identity characteristics

Just who do you think you are?!