Respect for the Interdependent Web: A Unitarian Universalism Journal

By C. Mahoney

This journal will help you put into practice the Seventh Principle of Unitarian Universalism: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which you are a part. "Respect" is more than going on hikes and staying on trail and not tossing trash into the bushes while you exercise. Respect is about the actions you take (consciously or unconsciously) every second of your life. The first is being AWARE of your connection to everything and everyone, both now and across time in both directions. The second is LIVING in such a way that you do the least harm and the greatest good for everything that is not you. Are you ready to start? I hope so. You are connected to everything and everything is connected to you. This is that "web" that is spoken about, like an orb weaver's web that reaches upward and downward and outward, connected to a tree on one side, a bush on another, and the ground down below. If a bug lands in that web, everything connected to that web feels its tingle and wiggling and movement. This analogy applies to your life. What you do matters, what you say matters, and what you think matters. Everything that happens within your mind or around your body has an impact on your grandma across the country, a stranger on a distant continent, and children growing up on this planet or another in a thousand or million years. That air conditioner you run all day, and the phone you keep charging, and the food you buy at that fast food restaurant will affect the polar bears up north and the penguins down south and the elephants on the other side of the globe and the bees that pollinate the flowers in your front yard. Angry words you say to your co-worker will affect his emotions, and those emotions will be taken home and shared with his own family, a wife or husband, and a child. And that child will carry that feeling with them to school the next day and act out in frustration or need. Kids you don't know will react, and the cycle will continue. Your words matter. You are a part of everything, and when you blow up in anger or push away in annoyance, that physical or emotional movement touches others and they feel your pushing and blowing. Each day, analyze what you THINK and SAY and DO and how it affects everyone and everything around you. At night, look back on the day's interactions, the fun times and tough times, the obvious times and those you almost forgot. Be critical. Look deeply. When did you apply the Seventh Principle, and when did you forget to? As each day passes and these pages begin to be filled, you will discover yourself thinking more about your impact on others during the day. You will find that reflecting at night and writing down your thoughts in this journal will drastically alter how you actually live your life. And that is a good thing. So, turn the page and begin your new journal.If you would like to see other Unitarian Universalist journals, then take a look at these:Respect for the Interdependent Web: A Unitarian Universalism Journal (151 pages)The Seven Principles of Unitarian Univeralism: A Journal for Growth (125 pages)The Seven Principles of Unitarian Univeralism: A Journal for New Members (150 pages)Unitarian Univeralism Journal (132 pages)A Journal of Unitarian Univeralism Wisdom (127 pages)A Journal for Teens: Exploring Unitarian Universalism Wisdom (133 pages)

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1541231767
• ISBN13: 9781541231764
• Release Date: December 2016
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 152 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.3" x 8.5"