This I Believe...
A collection of views from UU church members
A collection of views from UU church members
This I Believe...
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Judi B. - October 2009
This I Believe...
By Judi B.
October 2009
This is what I believe today. I am fairly certain it will change and that’s ok in our church
because we are expected to grow and that involves change. Today I am agnostic. I do not
presume to think I can either prove or disprove the existence of a deity. I am apophatic,
that is, if there is a deity I think we can neither completely comprehend nor describe it. I
am eclectic. I see the spiritual practices of the various religions as a kind of buffet and if
something works for me I use it and if not I leave it with no guilt. If I believed, I think I
would be closest to a panentheist since I believe that any divinity which may exist is not a
being out there but rather is something within everything. I believe the divine would be a
verb something like the universal energy which vibrates in everything.
So what would this verb be like? I believe the divine is love. I know love is real although I
cannot prove it. I don’t mean warm fuzzy sentimental feelings we may have but rather the
tough compassion that motivates us to help and not harm. I know love can help heal both
mentally and physically. It helps celebrate. It vibrates in me and resonates in you and vice
versa. I have more love than I can possibly express and far too few to give it to. I suspect
this is true of everyone to a greater or lesser degree. I believe it is the glue that holds this
church together and keeps us moving forward. It keeps us caring for each other, our
community and the world. It is why we do not have to ask for whom the bell tolls. It is at
the heart of our outrage with injustice. I believe the opposite of injustice is not justice but
compassionate love.
To misquote there abideth these things faith, reason, hope and love and the greatest of
these is love. Love is always patient and kind, it is never jealous, arrogant nor conceited, it
is not rude or selfish, it does not offend and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other
people’s weakness but delights in the truth; it is ready to excuse, and does not change.
I believe in the one and only commandment that “thou shall not other.” When we love we
do not think in terms of “them” as opposed to “us”. We think in terms of we and what is
best with no sense of better than or power over. I believe in the inherent worth and dignity
of every person. Most people do the best that they can. No one sets out to fail. People are
not disposable and no one should be solely defined by their worst mistakes. There may be
consequences to mistakes but we all deserve another chance to succeed. Love can help
accomplish this.
Love is even in our concern for the environment and our entire interconnected web of
existence. I believe it is the thing that connects us. Our church family expresses love in
unique and remarkable ways. We support each other in our spiritual journeys and when we
are grappling with life’s challenges and tragedies. We help each other in happy times and
difficult times. You are all filled with love and very, very special to me. You make a
significant impact on our community and our world. So I also believe in our church and
congregation.
By Judi B.
October 2009
This is what I believe today. I am fairly certain it will change and that’s ok in our church
because we are expected to grow and that involves change. Today I am agnostic. I do not
presume to think I can either prove or disprove the existence of a deity. I am apophatic,
that is, if there is a deity I think we can neither completely comprehend nor describe it. I
am eclectic. I see the spiritual practices of the various religions as a kind of buffet and if
something works for me I use it and if not I leave it with no guilt. If I believed, I think I
would be closest to a panentheist since I believe that any divinity which may exist is not a
being out there but rather is something within everything. I believe the divine would be a
verb something like the universal energy which vibrates in everything.
So what would this verb be like? I believe the divine is love. I know love is real although I
cannot prove it. I don’t mean warm fuzzy sentimental feelings we may have but rather the
tough compassion that motivates us to help and not harm. I know love can help heal both
mentally and physically. It helps celebrate. It vibrates in me and resonates in you and vice
versa. I have more love than I can possibly express and far too few to give it to. I suspect
this is true of everyone to a greater or lesser degree. I believe it is the glue that holds this
church together and keeps us moving forward. It keeps us caring for each other, our
community and the world. It is why we do not have to ask for whom the bell tolls. It is at
the heart of our outrage with injustice. I believe the opposite of injustice is not justice but
compassionate love.
To misquote there abideth these things faith, reason, hope and love and the greatest of
these is love. Love is always patient and kind, it is never jealous, arrogant nor conceited, it
is not rude or selfish, it does not offend and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other
people’s weakness but delights in the truth; it is ready to excuse, and does not change.
I believe in the one and only commandment that “thou shall not other.” When we love we
do not think in terms of “them” as opposed to “us”. We think in terms of we and what is
best with no sense of better than or power over. I believe in the inherent worth and dignity
of every person. Most people do the best that they can. No one sets out to fail. People are
not disposable and no one should be solely defined by their worst mistakes. There may be
consequences to mistakes but we all deserve another chance to succeed. Love can help
accomplish this.
Love is even in our concern for the environment and our entire interconnected web of
existence. I believe it is the thing that connects us. Our church family expresses love in
unique and remarkable ways. We support each other in our spiritual journeys and when we
are grappling with life’s challenges and tragedies. We help each other in happy times and
difficult times. You are all filled with love and very, very special to me. You make a
significant impact on our community and our world. So I also believe in our church and
congregation.
