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R.E.flections by a chaliceD.R.E.amer
     Wed 23 Sep 2009 11:50am

I often hear that a significant reward for being a part of our Unitarian Universalist communities is that we are challenged to be our best possible selves. We can be our best selves when we grant ourselves and others the freedom to travel on our unique spiritual paths. We can also be our best selves when we engage in meaningful social justice and community service work.

We can also grow to be our best selves simply by the way we treat one another. How we behave in the regular competitive world might be different than how we behave at First Parish as our best selves? I will never forget when I first began working as a DRE.  I was trying to impress a RE committee member and she kept telling me how to improve what I was trying to do. After weeks of this, I broke down in tears. I asked if I’d ever be able to please her, to which she replied, “There is no praise in the real world.” I challenged, “Why does it have to be that way?” That interaction transformed us both.

Many years later, that woman had become one of the most positive RE committee members, often complimenting others for their contributions. The RE committee became a source for growth for all of us, an escape from the competitive world where we could explore our too often ignored emotional and spiritual sides. We could get out of our heads and let our hearts come alive, guiding us in our interactions.

I came to Sudbury and met many people who also feel the constant pressures of our competitive society. Being our best selves in our interactions is not often valued in general society, and yet most people know that it is this emotional and spiritual side of life that is most important. As our loved ones age and pass away, we become acutely aware of this. Our possessions are less significant than leaving our loving spirit in the hearts of all that we have touched. That’s why our society needs more communities like First Parish. A safe space to escape societal messages and explore the emotional and spiritual sides of ourselves. A place where everyone is trying to be their best self and respecting each other as they would appreciate being respected. A place where we consider how our every word and action affects those around us and strive to make sure that we are putting forth our best words and actions. A place where we feel so inspired by being a part of a healthy and affirming community that we take our best selves out into the real world, spreading love and respect one interaction at a time.

Loving blessings, Roberta ♥

 

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