Voting Our Values

 Voting Our Values 

  This is a Sermon I gave online to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brevard on 11/1/20.
(FYI, the extra punctuation is to remind me to breathe - in general good advice).

 

Recently, I was at our church with some non UU friends, and naturally the usual questions 

come up about, What is a Unitarian Universalist.  Who are we, what do we believe, 

the usual confusion and funny looks.  The conversation started with a question about 

our chalice, hanging behind the altar.  

I explained that is our chalice, it is lit at the beginning and extinguished at the end, of 

every service, and different affirmations of our values are said as we do so.  

Now lighting a chalice is not necessarily unique to Unitarian Universalism.  

Many faiths light candles, and say prayers during services, but I went on to explain 

to them the origins of our chalice, and what makes us unique. It is that greater meaning, 

that I feel best defines what Unitarian Universalism is. 

I would imagine that many who light the chalice every week don’t think about its origins.  

With many religions, their rituals are ancient and steadfast, lasting across cultures, 

throughout the centuries.  But for UU’s, while we find our roots in history, many of our 

traditions are relatively young.  

The Flaming Chalice is an example of this.  According to our traditions, 

Refugee Hans Deutsch created the symbol, after fleeing Paris, from Nazi occupation 

during World War II.  Once he escaped he met with Reverend Charles Joy, 

of the Unitarian Service Committee, who asked him to create a symbol 

for their secret network. 

The chalice, was used as a secret underground symbol, for agents moving refugees, 

away from Nazi persecution, to freedom.  The USC was formed in 1940, 

and continues today working for social justice, around the world.  

So proudly, I told my friends, our chalice, is a symbol of hope, of fleeing persecution, 

of aiding refugees and those in need, and it is a symbol of our common faith and character.  

So I think the chalice is a perfect example, of what a Unitarian Universalist is.  

I feel what defines Unitarian Universalists, is not a faith of doctrine, 

although reading and study are important.  But what defines us, is our actions, 

our willingness to live our values.  You see UU’s in their deeds, in their good works.  

We are the people that “show up” for injustice, for compassion, for the common good.  

Our service through our principles, is an expression of our faith. 

A common practice among UU congregations, is the creation of an “Elevator Speech”.  

That theory is - If you are in an elevator with someone, and you only have from when you enter, 

until when they get to their floor, to explain “What is Unitarian Universalism”, 

what do you say? I have heard many good ones, and they are as varied and individual, 

as our membership.  

As I am a child of the 90’s, I like to call my elevator speech, the “Nirvana” speech.  

Mine starts with -  Unitarian Universalism is a “come as you are”, be who you are, 

and be accepted, for who you are spirituality.  We draw from several religions, philosophies 

and practices, both religious and non, and encourage everyone to explore their own faith.  

We do not have any specific dogma, but we have seven principles, that boil down to 

be a good person, be kind to other people and living beings.  Stand up for injustice, 

and follow the golden rule. Basically, be decent, be kind.

Our seven principles paint a good picture, of who we are, and what binds us 

together in community.  But it’s not just what we have in common that strengthens us, 

it is what makes us different.  Diversity helps us to better live our principles, 

to better understand the world around us, and how to stand up to injustices.  

The UUA launched UU the Vote in, January of 2020, which was designed to be the 

5th principle in action, “The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process, 

within our congregations and in society at large”.  We knew that this election year 

would be divisive, but no one could have predicted the unique challenges, 

that 2020 would bring us.  

At first, I wasn’t sure how to take the idea of UU the vote, as a political action within our faith.  

I have always had some difficulty, with the concept of mixing religion, with politics, 

but over this tumultuous year, I have seen the importance of voting for UU values, 

beyond any party or candidate.  

We have a variety of political ideologies in our faith, but we share many common values 

and principles.  These commonalities, are where organizations like UU the vote, 

can help guide us to policies, of compassion and justice.  The pandemic changed many things, 

but more than that, it showed us what needed to change in our society.  

The deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, set off a cry of injustice, 

and a new wave of political action.  But George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor, 

were not the first to die unjustly, and they will not be the last.  The pandemic showed us 

that as a country, as a political system, we are NOT living our values.  

That we are not valuing all lives the same.  That we are allowing people to lose their homes 

and livelihood, without assistance due to covid.  That we are not lifting up and supporting, 

the 140 million poor and low-income people in this country.  That we are not supporting, 

the 10 million people without housing or on the brink of homelessness.  

That we are not adequately supporting, and caring for those in need.  

We are not legislating, and voting with our UU values, and living the spirit 

of our second principle - Justice, equity and compassion.  

In the words of Rev. William J Barber II, from “The Poor People’s Campaign, 

A National Call for Moral Revival”

“When we went to share with others the vision we’d received from the Spirit, 

we found that the Spirit was often already moving them. The church didn’t have a monopoly 

on God’s dream. No, the Spirit was stirring all over the community.”

― William J. Barber II

So yes, like Rev Barber's revival of Dr Martin Luther King Jr’s, Poor People’s campaign, 

the spirit of our UU Faith does belong in politics, it belongs, with the people in the community.  

It belongs, In the moral politics of our conscience, and in the morality of our actions. 

Our words, have the power to unify and move us to action, and the action of our vote, 

has the collective power, to enact change.  And that collective spirit, has the power to 

move us all towards justice.  

While politicians have the power, we the people have collective power, and together, 

that power moves legislatures, to act in our interests.  But what are, our collective interests?  

Whose interests am I voting for?  Our political ideas will be diverse, but our collective spirit, 

based in UU principles, are our starting point, our light, in political turmoil.

 The fifth principle, speaks of the The right of conscience.  This can be defined as the right 

to protect people's ability, to do what they believe is morally best, and protect them from 

mandatory participation, if the activity threatens, their fundamental values.

Now moral consciousness gets more difficult, when you have to look beyond what you believe, 

and understand how your beliefs impact others.  What I see as inherent to my beliefs, 

may be against, another's fundamental beliefs. 

You can object if your values don’t include war, don’t include abortion, or gay marriage, 

or vaccines for deadly deseases.  But do you have the right, to conscientiously object, 

if it could harm others?  Is your decision morally OK, if your inaction or action 

harms someone else?  These are the types of questions, we as UU’s must wrestle with, 

when engaging in voting and political action.  We must look at our values as individuals, 

but we must also see the larger world, and how those values affect other people, 

other creatures, and the planet.

So as UU voters, the fundamental questions we should be asking when we vote, 

when we speak out, is what are our UU values?  Who best represents those values, 

and what issues do we need to fight for, to create a world guided by our principles?  

Basically, how can we do the most good for our communities, with our political voice?  

So while we are fatigued, and tired, from all the political rhetoric, while it may seem 

everyone is corrupt, and our vision of a better world is hopeless, I remind myself of that chalice, 

in world war II.  That symbol, to those fleeing persecution, that there was hope, 

that there are those who value, the rights, of others and take action to bring hope, 

to a hopeless world.  

So I ask each of you, to think of those refugees, lost and afraid, looking for hope.  

And I ask you, to be that hope, to light with me, your own personal chalice 

within your heart and soul, and carry it with you as you walk this tumultuous world.  

And to look for others who carry that chalice, who offer you their own hope.  

And remember, we all walk with that light of the chalice, in our hearts.  

Look for it, in the places it burns brightest, and let it guide you in this world, towards hope.  

For each of us, together, can light the world in hope, and create a vision of a future, 

collectively guided, by our principles.  Do not despair, there is always, hope. 

 

Time for what matters

  This is a Sermon I gave online to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brevard on 9/20/20.
(FYI, the extra punctuation and spacing is to remind me to breathe - in general good advice).

Time for what matters

I’ve been thinking quite a bit about how I use my time lately, and I confess,

I tend to be one of those people who tries to do everything.  I have been 

known to ignore the adage, “there are only so many hours in a day” and 

try to squeeze as many things that “need to be done” in a day as possible.  

And most of these things I “need” to do, are my own fault.  

I’m a “joiner”, I’m a frequent volunteer and I find myself adding new tasks 

to my growing list.  I almost always take on leadership roles, simply 

because I think it needs to be done.  I offer my time to family and friends 

when help is needed.  And because of this, I find myself at times overwhelmed, 

wondering how I got here. Now don’t get me wrong, I love down time.  

I crave those days when I can just chill and watch Netflix.  But even on 

those days, I always seem to find myself more work. 

When the pandemic started, I found myself relieved for a break, 

but soon in this “new normal” of Covid life, I found myself “virtually” 

overwhelmed.  In life, I am a joiner, and in cyber-life, suddenly the 

whole world was at my fingertips.  I found myself signing up for 

every zoom, every facebook live, every action and petition.  

Trying to get involved with every cause and take advantage of 

every new opportunity.  Trying to be everything, to everyone.     

And it wasn’t just after Covid that I have had this problem.  

I confess it is a lifelong affliction.  At a young age I wanted to be 

in every school club, try out for every play, be involved with every 

music group.  I found myself juggling between overlapping schedules, 

and rushing from event to event, to try to do it all.  I have a serious 

case of FOMO (for those who don’t know, that is the Fear of Missing Out)

My “FOMO” addiction didn’t change into adulthood.  I frequently found 

myself volunteering to help, and soon after, helping to lead.  

It’s no one’s fault but my own that I take these things on, but of course 

like anyone, I would eventually crash, exhausted, I'm only human.  

I suppose this is my vice, my desire to connect to the world, to create 

my legacy and make an impact, to give and to learn.  It was exhilarating , 

but it was also exhausting.  

I am a lover of learning, of new things and new experiences, and 

here-in lies my issue.  I want to do “all the things”.  And It’s not just a 

love of learning, it’s a feeling of connectedness.  That group experience 

that we all look for.  We all crave that magical sense of community, that 

feeling we get when we find our “tribe”, our people.

To quote Beyonce, we want to be “part of something way bigger”.  

The first verse in her song “Bigger” says it best.

If you feel insignificant, you better think again

Better wake up because 

you're part of something way bigger

You're part of something way bigger

Not just a speck in the universe

Not just some words in a bible verse

You are the living word

That “living word” that feeling of significance, of being a part of a wider world, 

is our taste of immortality.  And all the things I do, all the ways I try to 

leave my stamp on the world, all the ways I try to understand how 

I can contribute to that wider world, that is our connection to the universe.

But the question I need to ask is, what Actually matters?, what brings me 

that connection to the world, and to others?, and what is just noise, and filler?.  

I get the feeling that much of it, is just noise, and filler.  I find it fortuitous, 

that I started this reflection around Rosh Hashanah, which is the Jewish 

New year, a time of self-examination and repentance. A time to reflect on 

where we have fallen short, and how to improve ourselves in the new year.

So here is my confession, my self-examination.  I am not Super Woman.  

I have had 40 years on this Earth, and the biggest lesson I still need to 

learn, is that I should not try to do everything.   What I should be doing, 

is finding the time for What Matters.  What I should understand, is that 

those deeper connections, those feelings of being with our “tribe” , 

our “people”, are what should matter.  Those moments, those 

memories, we share with our community are what should matter.   

So I have given myself a new assignment, and that is to redefine 

in my life, What Matters.   

What matters, first and foremost, are the people in my life.  

My family, my friends, the people who enrich my life, and fill that 

longing in my soul for connection.  The ones who are with me, 

for a season, those who come in my life for a reason, and those 

who are with me for a lifetime.  

These people should always be my compass, and I admit, 

I find myself adrift at times.  In my desire to experience the world, 

I neglect the universe in front of me.  My people, my tribe, my friends 

and my family, those are the ones who matter, and they should 

be my Universe.    

Now that doesn’t mean that the rest of the world, doesn’t matter.  

Of course it does, and of course, we need to stay connected to 

our wider community.  But with everything, it needs to be in balance.  

I can not watch, consume, and participate in everything there is to do.  

I can not right all the wrongs of the world myself, nor should I try.  

But I also can not give myself completely to those in my life.  

I want to spend time with my family and friends, but I also have to 

take some time for myself.  Self care, and your connection with 

yourself, is just as important as your connection, to the people in 

your life. Our commitments to our Friends, our Family and our 

Community are important, but what also matters, is understanding, 

when it’s time to rest, and recharge.

There are of course always those things that need to be done, 

but it’s about asking, what is my priority, at this moment.  

What “needs” to be done now, and what “can” be done later.  

Can I take 5 minutes, and just, be, present?  What is “important” 

at this moment, and what should be my priority? 

Some days we feel super productive, and others, we just feel 

like chilling out, and both are ok.  Balance is the key for all things, 

understanding what is important, when it’s important, 

and realigning my time to what matters.   

When doing my assignment, I found I needed to realign the way 

I look at my time, and how it is spent.  I started to notice that 

I was annoyed, when my family or friends would “interrupt” 

anything I was doing.  My priorities were misaligned, and 

that wasn’t fair to either of us.  

I prioritized that video, that email, that live stream, all that 

noise over the people around me.  I have to ask, is that video, 

that email, that live stream, more important than those I care about?  

The answer, is of course no, but the action I did, was yes.  

That’s what needed to change.  The lesson I have to learn is, 

I have time.  I have time for what matters, because I make time, 

for what matters.  

So as I sit here, trying to squeeze time in my day, my first assignment 

is, to really look, at all the things I am doing.  We don’t have time to 

do everything we want, or “need” to do.  What we can do, what I can do, 

is to redefine my priorities.  

To pick up that phone when my mom calls, instead of waiting until 

after I finish a show.  To stop what I am doing, and listen to my kid 

tell a story.  To sit with my husband, when he asks for my time, 

instead of thinking of all the things I “should” be doing.  

Time with my people, IS what I should be doing.  

The rest is just noise, just filler, and no matter how important 

all the other things around me seem to be, in the end they are 

all just filler.  Does it need to get done?, Maybe?  Does it need 

to be done at this moment?, probably not.  And that is the 

realignment I “need”, I “need” to live, in the present moment.

Do I always make the right choices?, no.  Do I always get my 

priorities right?, of course not.  I am human, and as a human 

I am eternally, a work in progress.  But I am inviting myself to 

go on this journey, to seek to realign my priorities, and seek 

balance for my life and my time.  

So I invite you along on this journey with me. I invite you to ask yourself, 

what are the connections that matter? What connects you 

to the world, to your tribe, to something bigger?  Ask yourself, 

should I spend this moment enriching my mind, or should I spend 

this moment with those I care about, enriching my soul.  

Your legacy, your immortality is not decided by you.  

It is your connections to your tribe, your people, the impact 

that you leave with others that decides how you live on.  

To quote “A Small Fiction” by James Mark Miller:

"Do you have a magic spell to return someone to life?" (the girl) asked. 

"No," the witch said, "I'm sorry." 

"Oh." (said the girl sadly) 

"Why don't you tell me about them?" (the witch said) 

"Will that bring them back?" (asked the girl) 

"For us. For a little while. (said the witch) 

Stories, are a different kind of magic."

My friends, A rebalance is in order, and in that rebalance, you matter, 

I matter, we matter, our connections to each other, matter.  

And while I might try to do everything, filling my life with noise 

and filler, it’s at the expense of what really matters in this life.  

The people who touch your life, and connect you to your 

greater self, they are what matter.  Your memories, your stories, 

your time with the people in your life, and their memories 

of you that they carry on, are what matter.  They are your legacy, 

your universal memory, your immortality, your magical connection 

to the universe.  It's time my friends, for a realignment.  It’s time, 

to make time, for what, and who, matters.  

Thank you.