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Keep walking, though there’s no place to get to.

Don’t try to see through the distances.

That’s not for human beings. Move within,

but don’t move the way fear makes you move. 

Rumi

 

Friends,

We were made for times like these. Ours is a faith that puts Love firmly at the center. It is from Love that all of our principles and values flow. For the past year and a half, we have been learning about and exploring the new statement of Unitarian Universalist values adopted this past June. The values are Justice, Equity, Transformation, Pluralism, Interdependence, and Generosity. The 8 principles we have cherished for many years are embedded within the values. 

Now, more than ever, we are being called to put our principles and values into active practice. I have come to appreciate how interconnected they, how they all lead back to Love. 

It has been said that fear is the opposite of love. I don’t know if this is true or not. I do know that fear shuts down the capacity for love. Rumi puts it so well; ‘Don’t move the way fear makes you move.” 

One thing all of us can do right now is to make the decision to move from a place of love, not a place of fear. The challenge is to keep our hearts open. The heart is a source of wisdom that we cannot afford to be cut off from right now. 

Here’s a simple practice to keep your heart space open.

  1. Notice your breath. Don’t try to change it. Simply notice.
  2. Breathing gently, notice how your breath moves from your diaphragm all the way up into the space around your heart. 
  3. Keeping your breath gentle and relaxed, focus your attention on your heart space.
  4. Call to mind someone or something that you love.

You can do this practice anywhere or anytime. Your practice can be brief – a minute or two – or longer.

These are uncertain times. Rumi’s advice is good advice. Keep moving. Keep breathing. Remember that we are stronger together.

Yours in shared ministry,

Rev. Diane 

Midweek Message
Midweek Message