“Wild Waters” by Chad A. Snyder
These waters, they never stay calm
Not for long
Because they are teaming with the stuff of life
The energy of our being washes over and around us
Let us brace each other when we need to stand against those currents
And let us hold hands when what we need
Is to relax into the waves, riding them together
This month our spiritual theme is “Trust,” a rich topic to explore in these challenging times. Yet perhaps it is challenging times that help us to clarify what and whom we trust.
On Sunday, March 2, I spoke about trust and how we can choose trust even in hard times. You can access the recording and the text here.
In the sermon, I referenced the work of Brené Brown, who identified seven behaviors that build trust. The bottom line is that we can choose to trust, and we can choose to act in ways that build trust in ourselves and in each other.
Seven Elements/Behaviors of Trust:
- Boundaries
- Reliability
- Accountability
- Vault (keeping confidences)
- Integrity
- Nonjudgment
- Generosity (in interpretation)
= BRAVING
from Brené Brown in Atlas of the Heart
The most consistent and enduring reason that people give for connecting to OUUC is community, and we are welcoming many visitors and newcomers who are seeking a community they can trust in a time of so much distrust. Trusting community means trusting that we will be welcomed as we are, included in ways that are meaningful, and invited into belonging. Trusting community also means being able to trust that the community will be there when we need it, now and in the future.
This is a time of much distrust, which is being intentionally generated by some. Along with distrust comes loneliness and isolation. In 2023, US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, wrote about the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, in which he called forth the healing effects of social connection and community. Loneliness and isolation are felt by people of all ages, and everyone can experience the healing effects of connection.
The report says that one pillar to advance social connection is to “Cultivate a Culture of Connection” by practicing the values of kindness, respect, service, and commitment to one another. He advises faith-based and other community organizations to:
Create opportunities and spaces for inclusive social connection
and establish programs that foster positive and safe relationships,
including among individuals of different ages, backgrounds,
viewpoints, and life experiences.
To me, this sounds like a congregation building a community of trust.
The OUUC Pastoral Care Team and I have been talking about the epidemic of loneliness among people of all ages, and we’d like to see what we can do to help create more connection at OUUC. In the coming weeks, the PCT will be asking people who are experiencing loneliness and isolation to let us know so we can get a sense of what the scope is in the OUUC community and how we can help create more community, and more trust. Please do let us know how you are and what you need in these times.
The strong currents of life and these times will keep coming, so let’s hold hands and relax into the waves, riding them....together.
Blessings on your week.
Rev. Mary
!["A [congregation] is not a group of people that [worship and] work together. A [congregation] is a group of people that trust each other." ~ Simon Sinek (adapted). Our spiritual practice for March is Trust. Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation.](https://cdn.smore.com/u/thumbs/b095/thumb-ba709ba36aca59b793beaa06193db5ba.png "\"A [congregation] is not a group of people that [worship and] work together. A [congregation] is a group of people that trust each other.\" ~ Simon Sinek (adapted). Our spiritual practice for March is Trust. Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation.")
