When societal norms and popular culture become harmful to us and the earth, we can resist by protesting, boycotting, and creating different ways of living. How do we resist when our spirit feels crushed or oppressed and the joy squeezed out of it? This is what 14th Century Persian poet Hafiz wrote about in his poem “We Have Not Come Here to Take Prisoners”:

We have not come here to take prisoners

But to surrender ever more deeply

To freedom and joy.

We have not come into this exquisite world

to hold ourselves hostage from love.

Run my dear, From anything

That may not strengthen

Your precious budding wings,

Run like hell, my dear,

From anyone likely to put a sharp knife

Into the sacred, tender vision

Of your beautiful heart.

We have a duty to befriend

Those aspects of obedience of our house

And shout to our reason

“Oh please, oh please

come out and play.”

For we have not come here to take prisoners,

Or to confine our wondrous spirits

But to experience ever and ever more deeply

our divine courage, freedom, and Light!

In our UUCL community, we believe in “spiritual play” as a way to discover our sacred vision. Together, we nurture a creative environment where we are all affirmed and our divine courage, freedom, and Light can unfurl. When we discover our own way to joy, we can help the world around us find it, too.