Perseverance Wrap-Up

Ponderings of the Spiritual Life Director

Almost 40 years later, and Yoda’s words still remain a popular motivator in American Culture. “Do or do not. There is no try.” Of course, we can recognize that even in our doing we are also just trying to reach a goal and sometimes the results are out of our control. But what this quote really says is to rise above our excuses by taking action. We’re all familiar with the patterns of behavior that keep us from exercising or eating healthy. But what about the excuses that keep us from being the change-makers that this world so desperately needs? What excuses do you make that keeps you from helping others? Volunteering in the community? Doing social justice work?

I make excuses. I’m still trying to figure out how to be more impactful in what I do. I often find myself saying “I just don’t have the time.” Of course, I have as much time as anyone else. So, just as I pay attention to the amount of single use plastic I put in my shopping cart, I have to pay attention to the impact of the actions I put in my day-planner. Can I find a good balance between self-care, family time, caring for the church community, and impactful justice work? Can I pay more attention to how the quantity and quality of time spent on one aspect of my life affects the quantity and quality of the other aspects? If I take the time to do this, then perhaps I can find the excuses and remove them. I can then fill my time with more impactful action.

What are your excuses? Can you start paying attention? Are you giving your excuses too much power? Can you remove just one excuse that gets in your way of taking action to make the world a better place? If we all do this, we’ll have more time to work together towards fulfilling our vision. We know that change takes all of us acting together- that’s a hugely important underlying philosophy of Humanism. Unitarian Universalists, informed by Humanism as one of our sources of wisdom, have faith in the human potential to take action and change the world. Is there an excuse getting in the way of your potential to persevere in your faith?

The first Sunday of May, when we began our exploration of perseverance, we sang together Hymn #1015 “I Know I Can”. This hymn speaks to rising above our excuses and realizing that together, we have power. “Though troubles wait at every turn”, we know we can go on. We won’t let troubles, sorrows, storms, darkness, or despair give us an excuse not to persevere. And when we join hands, we will find the hope that awaits at every turn and persevere in our mission to change the world together.