If We Mean What We
Say ~
(An excerpt from a
sermon series exploring the 7 principles of Unitarian Universalism http://www.uua.org/beliefs/principles/. Image by fabulous UU Tim Atkins!)
“Inherent
worth and dignity of every person.” We tend to always read this
principle as being about how we view and treat other people. We use it to fuel
our efforts to impact change for ‘other’ communities. It is the subtext of all
of our justice work. Using that principle as an anchor we have made
great strides in making more of our spaces accessible. We have journeyed
further in understanding how racism is embedded in our system, benefitting some
and harming others. We have learned to value multi-generational community, and
in particular, our youth. This principle is at the heart of our efforts around
securing equal rights for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
queer & questioning. All of these are good, honorable. Important.
But there is a more
powerful way we are called to let this principle change us and through us, our world. It
requires enormous intentionality. It requires that we first apply the principle
to ourselves. That we embody the respect in a manner that alters
us. That we look in the mirror and say “There I am. Flawed.
Beautiful. Worthy.”
“
There I am. Flawed. Beautiful. Worthy. There I am. Flawed.
Beautiful. Worthy. I will make mistakes today. I will blunder. I will take
responsibility for my mistakes. There I am, flawed, beautiful, worthy. I will
do good deeds today. I will show up. I will try to add goodness and beauty to
our world. There I am. Flawed. Beautiful. Worthy. I will
say the right thing today. I will say the wrong thing today. Either way, I will
speak up. There I am. Flawed. Beautiful. Worthy. This day is a gift
and out into the world I go. Flawed. Beautiful. Worthy.”
And if we can do
that…. Here’s step 2. Before you leave that mirror say “I will
encounter others. They are flawed. They are beautiful, they are worthy. They
will make mistakes today. They will blunder. They may or may not take responsibility
for their mistakes. There they are. Flawed. Beautiful.
Worthy. Some will do good deeds today. They will show up. Some
will try to add goodness and beauty to our world. There
they are. Flawed. Beautiful. Worthy. Some will say the right thing today. Some
will say the wrong thing today. There they are. Flawed. Beautiful. Worthy. Mine.
This
day is a gift to all of us and out into the world we go. Flawed. Beautiful.
Worthy. All.
And then ….. at THAT
moment, you know THAT moment, when someone has just said the absolute WRONG
thing and you knew it was coming, because you know them so well OR someone has
disappointed you in a large way OR someone just slammed into your car in the
parking lot ------ instead of reaching for time-worn habits that involve harsh
words or gestures, reach instead for three words: Flawed. Beautiful. Worthy. And
if you can, stretch for the fourth ~ Mine.
If…..if we mean what we say, we need look no further than the mirror
each day.
No comments:
Post a Comment