As Unitarian Universalists, we covenant, congregation-to-congregation and through our Association, to support and assist one another in our ministries. We draw from our heritages of freedom, reason, hope, and courage, building on the foundation of love.
Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. We are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of Love. (From Section C-2.2. Values and Covenant, https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/article-ii-study-commission/final-proposed-revision-article-ii)
How to explain Unitarian Universalism so that others can understand it can be somewhat of a mystery. Even someone who has been a part of this faith community for a long while may still be working on their “elevator speech” (if you were asked by someone on an elevator to explain UUism, how could you do it before the elevator stopped on the next floor?). Articulation of our faith has been difficult, especially since it is a living tradition and it changes over the years. But I think the work of the UUA’s Article II committee is supporting our understanding and our articulation of our faith. We are a non-creedal faith community. Centered in love, it is our shared values that bind us together. The spiritual disciplines we participate in are acts of Love.
At last week’s Interfaith Winter Holiday Panel, it was my job to explain how Unitarian Universalists celebrate the winter holidays. Of course, there is not one answer to this. There is no central UU winter holiday. My answer didn’t look and sound like the others– Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Pagan. I worried about making any sense at all. (I’m thankful for the 13 or so UUs that showed up and said I encompassed the essence of UUism in the short time I had to do so!) My explanation went something like this:
Historically speaking, Unitarianism and Universalism come from the Christian tradition, and over the years, Unitarians especially have contributed to the traditions of Christmas. German minister Charles Follen brought the Christmas tree to America. Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol. Three popular Christmas songs were written by Unitarians: I Saw Three Ships, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Do You Hear What I Hear?
What I find most interesting about these songs is that they were all written as a response to the war and conflict of their times as a call for peace. This led me to explain that no matter our beliefs as individual UUs– whether we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the lights of Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, the Buddha’s enlightenment, or none of the above– it is deeply meaningful and spiritually significant to celebrate our values, or as one may term them, the “fruits of the spirit,” as what remains with us from our Christian roots are those characteristics of Jesus that we wish to embrace– love, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
If you were to walk into our sanctuary today, you would see a decorated tree (and you can call it Christmas or Solstice) and a Chanukiah because those are the symbols and practices that are important to people in this congregation. Every UU congregation looks different, of course, depending on the spiritual paths of their members. We share these things with one another, honoring the heritages of others and the paths they still seek upon. We learn from one another how each of our experiences has informed our lives and how it all continues to help us nurture our shared values.
We have a unique faith. It is one to which I am so grateful to belong, even if other people have a hard time comprehending it because it doesn’t look like “the norm.” But what if, through interfaith dialogue, we could bring about a greater understanding of the beauty of our faith? I have hope that we can get there!
Stay well and take care of one another this winter holiday season.