Sitting around the table at a recent CUUPS meeting I could
not but help to start thinking about interfaith issues due to my impending trip
to the Parliament f the Worlds Religions.
On grand display were the very values that are held dear by the
international interfaith community.
Seated around our sacred table were believers in many different paths,
no unity of religious belief existed, yet incredibly meaningful and insightful
conversation ensued.
This is the essence of the success of CUUPS and the wider
UUA community. Interfaith for us is an approach we excel at. Within our local
groups discussion of differences is brief, each of us called to a deeper
purpose: manifesting a divinely inspired world of compassion, justice and
peace. To do this, we collectively recognize the self worth, dignity and value
of every person and belief system present.
CUUPS members are involved in many compassion-centered
causes across our country. I am
often humbled to witness the work our community engages in.
The opportunity
to engage in the Parliament Of the Worlds Religions offers a unique opportunity
for our UUA community; too directly
engage in seeking a better world on a planetary scale. Religious leaders
from around the globe will be in attendance. Decisions and relationships will develop that have the
potential to have international impact.
This is the chance to live our sixth
principal “The goal of world
community with peace, liberty, and justice for all”.
It is my intent to hold this ambitious principle up during
the Parliament, too call our wider UUA community to demonstrate the ethics and
skills that are so evident in our local communities. I can not think of any
community more well prepared to engage in respectful interfaith dialogue that
is focused on manifesting divine love, peace and justice upon the face of our
planet.
Having been given the opportunity of a lifetime to attend
and speak at this event, I will, in humility, hold tight to the UUA principals
we all hold so dear. May all our UUA and CUUPS members attending also do what they
do best; live our values in their words, their footsteps and their communications
with religious leaders from around the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please use your name in posting comments. Postings by "Anonymous" will be deleted.