This week, newly elected (or re-elected) leaders are taking office, and starting to implement long-planned policies that will have countless real-world consequences for so many.
If you’re like me, the prospect of living through a 2017 all over again is daunting; I know I can’t react to every provocation like I did then. And I wouldn’t if I could, because that would just exhaust me – which is, in part, the intended effect.
But I can’t ignore real threats to human rights, dignity and well-being, either. My faith and my conscience call me to act in solidarity with those at risk. What’s a caring person to do?
Values and Roles
I find much wisdom in Deepa Iyer’s Useful Tips to Anchor Yourself for Social Change and Avoid Burnout, as shared in the UU World. The first step is to name the values that will ground you, and identify which role or roles you can effectively play.
For me, Love is the central value. The transforming power of love is what calls me into action in solidarity with those most at risk of harm. Each of the other guiding values of Unitarian Universalism speaks to me too, and informs how I will show up.
Iyer identifies ten types of roles: Caregiver, Builder, Healer, Disrupter, Storyteller, Guide, Weaver, Front-Line Responder, Experimenter, and Visionary. Most people will only play one or a few at any given point in time. What do your strengths, skills, and connections position you to do well?
Grounding in Community
A second, vital step is to plug into organized groups of people who share your values and aspirations, and who can help sustain you. UU theologian James Luther Adams called such groups voluntary associations. He recognized that they have long been the backbone of U.S. civic life.
If you heard my sermon on “Hard Hats & Open Doors” last Sunday (starting 31:25 in), you heard how important congregations, specifically, are – for building the kind of social networks that not only make people happier, but also power and sustain movements.
I invite you to be intentional about coming to church to (re)connect with your community. Come in person, if/when you can, whether it’s for worship (grounding ourselves, again and again, in our highest values), music, a class or team or social activity. If you aren’t a member of First Unitarian yet and want to learn more, you can RSVP for the Pathways class offered this Sunday after church (details and RSVP here). Being part of a community of caring people is a tonic to the alienation and division of our times.
If you want to help ensure that First Unitarian will be here for decades to come – able to welcome all comers, care for each other, and keep Siding with Love in the community – consider making a donation of any size to the 2025 Capital Campaign, going on now through Feb. 9.
Pacing and Balance
The final step Iyer lifts up is to become aware of your boundaries and barriers. There’s no one right path of activism; each of us is navigating our own unique life, with its
opportunities and limitations. When chosen with intention, your No is just as holy as your Yes.
Indeed, the cultural upheavals and roller-coaster of political change in our nation will continue for the foreseeable future. As Iyer says, “We can prepare ourselves for the ride by centering our values, clarifying our roles, acknowledging our limitations and boundaries, and connecting more deeply with our fellow riders.”
Ways to Get Involved at 1st UU
Are you considering how you might get involved for the greater good? Here are three opportunities:
1 – Participate in the spiritual work for trans safety and justice by attending a free workshop online on Feb. 22, and bringing that learning back to our community. This is with Zr. Alex Kapitan of the Transforming Hearts Collective. (You may remember Alex sharing a message with First U during pandemic Zoom church. Ze is wonderful!) Here’s the lowdown on the training:
Come expand your understanding of what it means to be trans and nonbinary, learn how to tell fact from fiction, and find out how to help create safety for trans people and their families in this moment. No matter who you are or how much or how little you know about gender diversity, this interactive and informative workshop will expand your mind, open your heart, and give all of us the tools we need to deepen our welcome and care for people of all genders in our community.
To RSVP, go here.
2 – Get involved with our Side with Love Team (a.k.a. the UU the Vote Team). The team is targeting legislative issues in the Nebraska Unicameral and at the national level. They also plan to do some training for civic engagement activities. Hearings at the Unicameral began this past week and will continue for the next few weeks. Contact Dave Richardson to get plugged into this group (drichardson821@gmail.com or phone/text 402-212-5054).
3 – Join the Green Team. It hasn’t been active for a while, but I’ll be reaching out soon to the Green Team to share an action idea for this spring – addressing spiritual care for climate distress, anxiety and grief. To be added to the Green Team email list, drop a message to admin@firstuuomaha.org.
Wondering about the congregation’s commitment to reproductive rights and justice? A big THANKS to those who donated or procured emergency contraception to distribute through the church. That project will be getting underway shortly (watch for baskets popping up in our bathrooms soon); no further donations are needed at this time.
Are you passionate about another, particular issue or project, and interested in forming a new team? You can complete a proposal form here, which goes to our Ministry Team Council.
Keep the Flame Burning Bright
It matters that each one of us is woven into caring community, all the more so when times are trying.
It matters that we make our UU values a living presence in greater Omaha – values of Love, Interdependence, Pluralism, Justice, Transformation, Generosity, and Equity.
It matters that we take time to nurture our spirits, fill our hearts with song, and have FUN with others, too!
My wish is for you to find all of this and more as part of your involvement with First Unitarian – and that together, we bring the light of Love out into greater Omaha and beyond. Are you ready to make some Good Trouble?
In community,
- Rev. Shari Woodbury
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