“we each decide our own purpose in being here. . .”
For summer services last year, the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City, Iowa invited lay members to reflect on their beliefs as Unitarian Universalists. This is excerpt by Karen Fox, delivered on July 22, 2007, shows the natural progression of personal beliefs to the saving message of our movement. Many of the talks presented in the series are also available on the UUSIC website.
from This I Believe, what inspires me
by Karen Fox
Through reading, asking, listening and observing I have forged my own belief system that honors the vastness and wonder of nature and the Universe. I believe in that which is greater than all and yet a part of each; but that, for me is not an external god. I believe that if there is a God it is the energy of life and all of creation. I believe that that energy is what I am –what each of us is, so we are all a part of that God. I believe that we each decide our own purpose in being here, in being alive. There is no god in the sky deciding what we should be doing with our lives. Our purpose is what we each decide it is within our own being and understanding. I also believe that we are all one — part of that independent web of existence, part of that all encompassing energy, and that what we do, say and think has an impact on all other begins. Therefore compassion, striving to understand, and kindness are essential to healing humanity.
As a UU, I believe that we can offer a wonderful gift to the world. If we can learn to talk with each other in a sense of safety and openness, with the understanding that we are not trying to change each others’ beliefs, but to deepen our journey, we can begin the process of erasing artificial boundaries that humanity has established. Because we as humans have the propensity to believe that our way is the only right way we have erected all kinds of artificial boundaries. We hold deep beliefs that if we are from different countries, have different shades of skin, a different sexuality, a different gender, a different religion, even a different desire for material goods; we are separate from each other. In some sense this makes us feel safe. I believe that it is time to erase this sense of difference. It is the very basis of Unitarian Universalism. If we can first learn, and then, by example, teach others, to listen, upholding the inherent worth and dignity of every person, with compassion, a desire to understand, and kindness, we can help to eradicate conflict.Conflict is the result of this sense of difference. If we as UUs begin to erase our own artificial boundaries and really listen to each other in an attitude of seeking to understand and not judge, we can begin to eradicate the sense of separateness that causes conflict. Only if we as a human race recognize the inherent worth and dignity of every person on the planet and begin to try to understand the beliefs of others without being threatened by them, can war and poverty be addressed. Only when we recognize as the Dalai Lama says, that we all want the same thing, we want to be happy, can we begin to look past the differences and understand the oneness of humanity. We are all humans, sharing one planet, with the same needs and a desire to be able to express our lives in the ways that are most meaningful to us.
Source: Excerpted from a reflection by Karen Fox, part of the “This I Believe as a Unitarian Universalist” series at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa city, Iowa, delivered July 22, 2007.
Tags: belief, deepening, lay voices, listening, meaning, religion, sharing
