The Power of Positive Actions, Words and Thoughts

If we want to be the change we seek in the world, we can move toward that way of being by changing what we think, say and do in positive ways.


At the conclusion
   of my most recent sermon here,
      October 6, I said,

"Any one of us and all of us together
    can begin to change our world
        as we begin to think, speak and act
             in harmony with compassion."

For the purposes of our time together today,
   I'm going to consider thinking speaking and acting
       in harmony with compassion
         as the epitome
            of postive thinking speaking and acting.

Being positive is not just optimism;
   it's a sense of direction.

I have long been a fan of Norman Vincent Peale
   and the power of positive thinking.

I tend to be an incurable optimist,
   but this is not what I'm talking about now.

I'm thinking and talking about
   moving forward in what we think, say and do.

Since the term, liberal,
   has been purposely misinterpreted,
      we tend to speak
         of being progressive instead,
            but the two words
                do not mean the same thing.

Liberal is often used as a political word,
   referring to a tendency toward openness,
      care of the poor,
         and human rights.

There is nothing wrong with being liberal
   or any of those things.

Being conservative refers to a tendency
   to try to keep what we have
      and to try to prevent changes
         from damaging tradition.

There is nothing wrong with being conservative
   and what it truly means.

Being progressive is different from either.

If we are progressive,
   we are looking forward,
      trying to guide changes in ways
         that will benefit ourselves and others
            in as many ways as possible.

Looking forward in this way
   requires a measure of realism
      as well as optimism.

Ghandi said,
   "Be the change you want to see in the world."

Being realistic and optimistic at the same time
   can enable us to do just that:

To be optimistic,
   we can believe that we really are able
      to make a difference in the world,
         and if we are realistic,
            we can avoid the pitfall
               of believing that we can do things
                  beyond our capabilities.

Both ways of being are important in balance,
   optimism and realism,
      as we try to follow Gandhi's excellent advice,
         to be the change we want to see in the world.

We need to believe that there are things we can do,
   and we need not to become discouraged
      when our efforts encounter obstacles.

There is always something that we can do,
   even if it is only a small thing.

No matter how effective our efforts are,
   we will always encounter obstacles,
      so persistence is vital
         to making progress.

Our persistence depends on our willingness
   to help and support each other
      as we try to do what we can
        to move our community and society forward.

Former President Jimmy Carter
   is an amazing example
      of persistence.

He fell and cut himself at home.

He had a black eye.

He was taken to the emergency room.

He was feeling much better the next day,
   and he was back at work
      helping build homes
         with Habitat for Humanity.

He once said,
"My faith demands that I do whatever I can,
   wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can
      with whatever I have to try to make a difference."

He is Baptist by faith,
   and our UU faith demands no less.

This is orthopraxy rather than orthodoxy.

It means DOING the right things
   rather than only THINKING the right things.

We as UU's are much more interested in orthopraxy,
   doing the right things,
      than orthodoxy, thinking the right things.

We express this interest in doing the right things
   by having our Seven Principles
      instead of creeds or statements of doctrine.

In this way we resemble Baptists (like Jimmy Carter)
   who proclaim that they have no creed.

For today, I'm speaking about
   thinking, saying and doing the right things.

Those three parts of human life work together
   as we try to encourage each other
      in doing all we can
         to help as many as we can
            for as long as we can.

Most of all we can help each other to do so.

I think of the song, "Home on the Range"
   and the words,
      "Where seldom is heard
            a discouraging word,
               and the skies are not cloudy all day."

Now, I hope I'm not giving anybody an earworm,
   (That's a tune that we can't get out of our heads.),
      but it's a great line from a good old song.

Giving each other ENCOURAGING words
   can go a long way toward helping each other
      move all of our lives forward
         and make our community, state and nation
            better places to live for everyone.

Small group ministries go a long way
   toward our encouraging each other 
      to work alongside people like Jimmy Carter
         who are able to a remarkable degree
            to persist in the work
              of making our world a better place
                 for all life.

One could say that our congregation IS
   a small group ministry,
      but we have many smaller, active
         small group ministries among us.

Our church board serves as a small group ministry 
   as we try to move the congregation forward
      in all the areas of its life.

Our worship committee serves
   as a small group ministry
      as we encourage each other
         to tell our own stories
            and to help lead worship services
               week by week.

There is even a small group ministry committee,
   which is open at present.

Those who help with setup and take down
   make possible our worship and sharing time
      week after week.

Everyone who brings food for us to share
   is contributing to our congregation's life
      and the work of our ministry
         many of the times that we gather.

It would not be possible to list all
   of the small group ministries
      that are so important to our congregation's life
         nor all the people
            whose thoughts, words and actions
               make possible
                   the ongoing work of progress
                      of our communities.

Yet it is vital that we express appreciation
   when we notice each other doing the things
       that keep us all moving forward,
         in a positive direction.

The power of positive thinking, speaking and acting
    is more than a matter of attitude.

It is a sense of direction.

It is not unique to us.

There are many small groups
   all over the world
      where people are encouraged to do all they can
         for each other's good.

In Latin America
   they are often called Base Communities.

Since most of the members of the small groups
   are Roman Catholic,
      their gatherings are in the form
         of the Catholic Mass.

The liturgy is led by the group as a whole,
   and even the words instituting Holy Communion
      are spoken by all together.

There are always priests present,
   so the mass has to be recognized as valid.

Some of the bishops are in favor
   of these Base Communities,
      some are not so much in favor of them.

One recently appointed bishop
   was not so much in favor
      of this form of small group ministry.

One of the leaders of the Base Communities
   in Cuernavaca, near Mexico City,
      where the bishop was installed
          was observed to smile and say,
             "We will convert him!"

Whether in the form of a congregation of UU's
     in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho,
        or a base community in Cuernavaca
            in the Mexican state of Morelos,
                our small group ministries
                    are enabling right action, orthopraxy,

          through positive actions, words and thoughts.

To reiterate
   the closing words of my sermon on October 6
       which were also the opening words
            of today's sermon,

"Any one of us and all of us together
    can begin to change our world
        as we begin to think, speak and act
             in harmony with compassion."

For all our ministries,
   all our efforts to help one another,
       our community and our world,
           the key word is compassion,
               our efforts toward love and care
                   in all our relationships.

Our church covenant,
   which we speak together
      in all our worship services,
         summarizes the compassion
            in which we seek to live.

We do not live perfectly
   according to the compassion which is our goal,
      but it is our hearfelt effort to do so
         better and better
            that continues to characterize us
               as a group engaged in ministry.

I want to close with the words of our Covenant,
   and if you want to speak them with me again,
      so much the better.

(From the front of our OOS)

"Love is the spirit of this church,
   and service its law.

This is our great covenant:
   To dwell together in peace,
      To seek truth in love,

And to help one another."

Amen
Ameen
Omeyn
So Mote it Be
Blessed Be!