Have a magnanimous day

The UU Way Of Life is a life of magnanimity. Aware of the abundance of the Spirit of Life's love for us, the most natural thing is the desire to extend it by sharing. Notice the generosity of UUs for a dose of inspiration and well being.


 

Two worlds: Choose

We live in two worlds: the world of reality and the world of the ego. Not everyone realizes that there is a world of reality beyond the one we think is real on the ego plane, but God's love is always there for us which we are told in A Course In Miracles is our natural inheritance. Our challenge is to remove the obstacles and blocks to our awareness of God's presence. Our UU faith involves a strategy to help us remove those blocks when we implement the seven principles.

The free and responsible search for truth and meaning will ultimately bring us to the reality of Love's presence in the world which, at times, is very difficult to see and experience.

Our UU faith bolsters us in the storms of life

Gerald, you told me about your wife's behavior and verbal constructions which seem to you delusional and abusive. Her statements are full of recrimination and false blame which used to be very distressful to you until you considered the dysfunctional and erroneous thought system she has conjured up to justify her view of the world and especially of you, and you have learned to rise above it and forgive her.

It is written in A Course in Miracles, "The insane protect their thought systems, but they do so insanely. And all their defenses are as insane as what they are supposed to protect." T-IV.5:4-5 This observation is accurate at the individual level as well as at the national governmental level as we witness the functioning of President Trump and the congress. These insane thought systems appear to change reality because that is their purpose, but at a higher level, we sense that these thought systems not being true, they do not change the reality of the Love of God which we UUs have chosen to join with.

Our UU faith in Love and the seven principles bolsters us in the storms of life which lately meteorologically and metaphorically are at hurricane intensities. We realize that at the spiritual level, "it's all good" while on the ego plane it is what some people refer to as a "clusterfuck."

To some it seems absurd that we elected to represent us, people whose thought systems are so disturbed, and we marry and get involved in special relationships with people who are as crazy or even crazier than we are. Peace occurs when we realize that the answer is to forgive ourselves and others for our insane belief that special relationships can save us from ourselves. The President and the congress can't save us nor can your wife, Gerald. In the end, hope is found in the epiphany that no one outside ourselves can save us, we each have to take responsibility for turning our will over to the Oneness of life or the independent web, as we UUs like to call it, of which we are just a part.

Part of our Universalist faith is the idea that God loves us all unconditionally. I know that is hard to believe sometimes but deep down we know it is true. At some point humanity will realize this, and accept and join the Atonement which will be achieved when everybody loves everybody all the time. We are making progress as a species and we have a long way to go.

May you be aware of the force that is with you,

David

 

Are white people worthy of redemption?

From Krista Tippet's interview with Ruby Sales on On Being on 08/27/17

Where Does It Hurt?

The civil rights icon Ruby Sales names “a spiritual crisis of white America”
as a calling of this time. During the days of the movement,
she learned to ask the question, “Where does it hurt?” It’s a question we scarcely
know how to ask in public life now, but it gets at human dynamics that we are
living and reckoning with. A probing conversation at a convening of 20
theologians seeking to reimagine the public good of theology for this century.

For more click here.

Living the UU way of life took UUs and UU leaders to Charlottesville

LaShawn Warren in his article, "Race and the credibility of the church" asks where the church leaders are in the face of President Trump's racist remarks after Charlottesville? There was more of a reaction from the business community than from the religious community.

"In that light, perhaps more disturbing than the president’s racially insensitive remarks has been the response from key leaders within the faith community. In a complete rejection of Christian teachings, several members of the president’s evangelical advisory board—comprised of faith leaders charged with providing a moral and spiritual compass for the world—rushed to the president’s defense, an act tantamount to theological negligence. A few condemned the rally, but many faith leaders remained silent and simply watched from the sidelines as the national tragedy unfolded. None of the board members criticized Trump for his divisive comments, and all but one chose to remain on the board. This stands in sharp contrast to the White House business council members who, in a strong rebuke of the president’s response to Charlottesville, resigned in rapid succession."

It is inspiring to read that UUs are in the forefront of protesting Trump's support for White Nationalism and racist bigotry.

UU: Sunday morning fellowship or a way of life?

Bill you asked how UU A Way Of Life got its name. It comes from several sources all of which contributed to the idea that Unitairan Universalism is not a "movement" as some people call it, but a religious path which, if it is to be beneficial, must be lived.

Unitarian Universalism asks us to covenant together to affirm and promote seven principles which, it is believed in faith, will lead us to a happier life. Unitarian Universalism provides us with a sense of purpose in joining together with not only other like minded people but with the whole world.

It seems that there is a curiosity behind your question, Bill, that is wondering about a choice that a person has to make between a life without the UU principles and covenant, and one with them. That choice is one, at least for me, of a life without meaning, purpose, hope and joy, and one with those things which Unitarian Universalism can provide.

There are other paths to happiness for sure, and Unitarian Universalism is only one of many. The institutional UU church denomination which is the physical manifestation of the covenant is very small compared to other religious ways of life and yet its smallness does not detract from its ability to radiate a light of truth to the world which far exceeds its diminutive size. There is no order of importance and significance when it comes to truth and Unitarian Universalism may excel in quality although not yet in quantity.

Part of the faith of UU is that its covenant will spread eventually as the truth of its principles become apparent to others and they choose, too, to follow the principles to work together, in fellowship, to achieve a happier world.

The basis of the UU faith which comes from our Universalist tradition is love. Love is the basis of our faith. One of the UU affirmations written by Lucas Hergert sums up the meaning of Unitarian Universalism succinctly when we say together in unison:

Love is the doctrine of this church
Our faith in each other is its sacrament
Working for justice and living with compassion is its prayer.
Reverently we covenant together
to stand on the side of love, to heal and not to harm,
and to share hope with each other and with the world.

These words, Bill, could just be empty words, but if said with sincerity and intention it is not just a Sunday morning liturgical ornament of worship but rather a  commitment to a way of life which is precious.

I appreciate your question, Bill, and I am interested in your further thoughts.

Sincerely,

David

Ask yourself, "What is the purpose of this relationship?" UUs third principle

Dear Lucy:

Since our discussion about Unitarian Universalism and sex you have asked some good questions about what A Course In Miracles calls "special relationships." At 26 these are very important questions for you to be asking because our society loves to pair people off and there is pressure from family, friends and society at large to find that special someone with whom to settle down and perhaps have children with and make a family. As a species this is evolutionarily desirable because it assures the continuation of our species, homo sapiens. The problems arise when the ego wants to play games and usurp the place of God, the Spirit of Life in our lives. The ego teaches the idea of romantic love and that there is a special someone, a soul mate, who will understand you completely and be there for you always so you will never be misunderstood or lonely again. You are wise enough to understand that this is utter nonsense and impossible and some with a theological perspective might even call it idolatry because it puts love in special relationships in front of  the love of God. The faith in special relationships, as you sense, is, the path to hell on earth.

For most people special relationships are imprisoning and require the individual to give up his/her freedom.  In the twentieth century this was jokingly referred to as the "ole ball and chain" meaning that getting married was a life of possessiveness, restriction, and servile compliance with the desires of another. Rather than being liberating, marriage, committed relationships, were seen as enslavement.

As you seem to sense, true love is freedom and by placing yourself in bondage you separate yourself from freedom and embark on a path of misery and claustrophobia.  The trick of the ego is to tell us that we have to give something to get something and the price of marital bliss is sacrifice. Sacrifice though will never make you happy but leads down a path to resentment, fear, and suffering,

The biggest lie ever told is that sex is the ultimate proof of love. The ego wants us to believe this, but all we have to do is watch pornography and we can tell this is not true. A body sexually aroused is just that and often nothing more. When we realize this, we feel betrayed and disillusioned, and depressed and sometimes suicidal because we are greatly confused about the meaning of life.

To get ourselves better oriented we should look for the divine spark in people and focus on that. Joining in mutual purpose with other human beings is great joy. When we experience this lift in our awareness and consciousness, we feel a grace and a blessing which is very liberating and brings an enhancement of hope, faith, and confidence in the goodness of Life. A good relationship is one that is turned over to the Holy Spirit for use as a schoolroom for salvation and reunion with awareness of being a part of the Godhead. Does this relationship help us become a better person and relate to the world in more beneficial and loving ways? The true test of loving relationships is peace.

Unitarian Universalism teaches all this in a deep reading of its seven principles with the first probably being the most important: the inherent worth and dignity of every person. This principle is not referring to bodies but to spirits, to souls. The best question you can ask yourself as you try to sort out your thoughts and desires about relationships is: "What is the purpose of this relationship?" Unitarian Univeralism says in its third principle that we should be focused on the encouragement of spiritual growth. The more difficult question to answer is "How do we do that?" Many ways, Lucy. Use your talents and abilities in ways you find satisfying and fulfilling and you will grow and the people you are in relationship with will benefit as well.

Love,

Uncle David