This I Believe...
A collection of views from UU church members
A collection of views from UU church members
This I Believe...
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Ed T. - October 2008
This I Believe...
By Ed T.
October 2008
Basically, I believe in everything, and everyone - and always have. I believe that everything
and everyone carries the world within it.
And, moreover, that each and every part of the created world holds a vital, indispensible
part of the truth. I believe this even when an idea or attitude raises my hackles, pushes
every button I possess, and brings me to the point of saying, "I am on my last nerve with
this person!"
Believing everything and everyone is rarely easy or comfortable, and has sometimes earned
me the label of "gullible" and I accept that. However, this belief is so central to the person I
am, that I really know no other way to be in this world.
A big part of this is the belief that everyone needs to be heard. The line from "Death of a
Salesman, " comes to mind: "attention must be paid, attention must be paid to such a man!"
It is deeply painful to look on and see "others" - many others - ignored, forgotten... not
seen.
This attitude has just been there for as long as I can remember, and, as a result, I still try to
attend to people's words whether in a long and windy lecture, or in snatches of
conversation that I pick up while walking down the aisles in Wegman's.
Rev. Terry made use of the expression, "a still, small voice" in a recent sermon. Those
words have long held considerable power for me. And, I will always try to put my ear
wherever it needs to be to hear even the smallest, softest voice.
Believing in everything and everyone eventually brings a kind of peace, and a deep sense of
well-being. I like being this way. I like trying to pay attention, even though, at times, I can
feel pretty awful to have "missed" someone in a word, a thought, or a gesture. You see, I
believe that attention must be paid, that we must try hard to "see, "and not to look away.
We must overcome those little impulses within each of us to walk on by, and to make those
we think we know, and those we don't, disappear. Everything depends on this.
By Ed T.
October 2008
Basically, I believe in everything, and everyone - and always have. I believe that everything
and everyone carries the world within it.
And, moreover, that each and every part of the created world holds a vital, indispensible
part of the truth. I believe this even when an idea or attitude raises my hackles, pushes
every button I possess, and brings me to the point of saying, "I am on my last nerve with
this person!"
Believing everything and everyone is rarely easy or comfortable, and has sometimes earned
me the label of "gullible" and I accept that. However, this belief is so central to the person I
am, that I really know no other way to be in this world.
A big part of this is the belief that everyone needs to be heard. The line from "Death of a
Salesman, " comes to mind: "attention must be paid, attention must be paid to such a man!"
It is deeply painful to look on and see "others" - many others - ignored, forgotten... not
seen.
This attitude has just been there for as long as I can remember, and, as a result, I still try to
attend to people's words whether in a long and windy lecture, or in snatches of
conversation that I pick up while walking down the aisles in Wegman's.
Rev. Terry made use of the expression, "a still, small voice" in a recent sermon. Those
words have long held considerable power for me. And, I will always try to put my ear
wherever it needs to be to hear even the smallest, softest voice.
Believing in everything and everyone eventually brings a kind of peace, and a deep sense of
well-being. I like being this way. I like trying to pay attention, even though, at times, I can
feel pretty awful to have "missed" someone in a word, a thought, or a gesture. You see, I
believe that attention must be paid, that we must try hard to "see, "and not to look away.
We must overcome those little impulses within each of us to walk on by, and to make those
we think we know, and those we don't, disappear. Everything depends on this.
