Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

UU Collective

Home
New Visions
Choose Love

Choose Love

Last updated on: June 16, 2015 at 9:21 pm by Rev. Deanna Vandiver

Choose Love 2015-06-16T21:21:44-06:00 Rev. Deanna Vandiver

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

After years filled with state sanctioned violence and murder against people of color, the #BlackLivesMatter movement is calling out to each of us to resist the oppressive power of fear, hate, and greed; calling out to each of us to be persistent in our insistence on the power of love. We exist within particular (and peculiar) political, social, and economic systems. When civil rights are denied, when human rights are denied, we are called as a people of faith to say no, no more, not in our name.

No to the school to prison pipeline,
No to the killing of black and brown women and men and children,
No to the internalized superiority of white people in America that dehumanizes every breathing person in this country.

We can offer compassion for ourselves and for each other as we do the hard work of living faithful lives in a country that, truth be told, was built on stolen land with stolen bodies. Here 14th century Sufi master Hafiz offers timeless compassionate wisdom to us:

This
Sky
Where we live
Is no place to lose your wings
So love, love
Love.

The systemic nature of the oppressive events in the world today have to be lifted up from interfaith pulpits and minbars across this nation. We cannot remain silent in the face of white supremacy as a people of faith. As Unitarian Universalists, we are called to be the love people and stand with as member of the now and the not yet the beloved community to resist the dehumanization of the people of this world; to resist the interrelated desacralizing and destruction of this planet.

Friends, each day we must choose to love, love, love. May you rest well tonight, knowing that you do not love alone.

#StandingOnThe SideOfLove

Previous Post

June 12, 2015

Anne Lamott and the Pee-Pee Tweet

Next Post

June 18, 2015 News Flash: Banana Cream Pie Eats Planet

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category #9/11 Abortion Class community conflict Digital Life Diversity Divorce Environmental issues Evangelism Faith Development Foregiveness Garden glbt Gratitude Grief Healing health care Holidays Hospitality Interfaith LGBT Issues Military Service Mortality Orlando Parenting Peace Politics Power Prayer Racism Relationships Religion Scripture Senior citizens Sermons simplicity Social Justice Spirituality Sports Sustainability Uncategorized Unitarian Universalist Values Women's Issues World Community Worship

Select a Month August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Paul tell the Thessalonians to do without ceasing?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Give thanks Study the word Rejoice Pray