Sunday, I was brave. I was vulnerable. I spoke from my heart about matters of importance to me. I knew that what I shared might be met with resistance or disagreement. I was, as my dad would have said, “stirring the pot.” This was discouraged in my upbringing. I was taught to tow the line and stay on the narrow path, and not to ruffle feathers or draw attention to myself with my words or actions; especially if I was sharing an opinion that might not be a popular one.
Perhaps you were raised in a similar way. For many of us, our religious beliefs were handed to us and we were not to question them. Also, at home and in school, the rules were the rules and you’d better follow them. Then, being brave and speaking out would have gotten us into trouble. But, we’re not children anymore, and keeping our deep feelings and questions to ourselves is no longer required. We are called to stand up, speak up, and be brave; even, or especially when what we are sharing from our inner wisdom, our heart, may not be popular.
On Sunday, I shared this quote from Martin Luther King Jr., “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” The quote is included in the book “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” by Emmanuel Acho. Beginning next week, I will be joining other ministers in a train-the-trainer book study and it is my intention to bring this book study to Unity of Livonia in the spring. Because, as I shared Sunday, when we know better, we must do better.
It is time for us to move outside of the walls of this building and make our presence known in the community. It is time, as our vision states, for us to be “Spirit in Action.” We know that our thoughts have creative power. It’s time for us to think about how we can co-creatively make our world a better place. It’s time for us to be brave, to be vulnerable, to be open, to demonstrate the Practical Christianity that Unity was built on. Are you with me?
I’d love to hear your ideas. Send me an email at UnityofLivoniaRevCindy@gmail.com to share how you’d like to grow and be of service in our community. Together we will grow and create heaven on Earth.
In Peace, Joy, and Love,
Rev. Cindy Yamamoto