I want to thank the many members of the congregation who wrote to me after last Sunday’s service. You wrote of being inspired and of needing the message that an epidemic of love could be both powerful and possible. You shared stories of how the service seemed to open a long-closed door in your spirits, allowing you to reclaim a remembered hope. Running through most of the messages was your knowing that we all need that rebirth of hope.
I preached of leaning into love, allowing love to lean back. And I asked, as a final question, “What have we got to lose?” There is much specific repair that calls out to be done, but the repair most needed is to our spirits which have carried anxiety and fear for far too long. We need to reclaim a Revolutionary Love.
In your messages, you asked: “What can we do?”
Let me tell you one thing that I am doing.
On January 21, 2021 I will join my voice with other First Unitarian congregants, our local interfaith community and millions of Americans in a “People’s Inauguration,” a recommitment to the project of building a nation with liberty and justice for all. “Sound government is necessary but it is not sufficient to heal and transform America into a society where we are all safe and free.”
The People’s Inauguration will be an event with many parts, including a pledge we will be asked to take, modeled on the pledge our new President and Vice-President will recite the day before:
“I do solemnly vow that I will faithfully execute my role in healing and transitioning America, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend truth, dignity, justice, and joy for myself and for those around me, and that I will do so with love.”
The goal is to create a tipping point when real change expands by geometric progression, led by love, toward liberation. The goal is for over 10 million Americans to take the vow and make revolutionary love real.
The goal of the Inauguration is a revolution led from the heart: “When 3.5% of a population engages in nonviolent action to create change, they transform society as a whole. If we mobilize 10.5 million Americans to participate in the People’s Inauguration, we could create a seismic cultural shift that returns us to our core values – and catalyzes a critical mass of people to show up with love in the lives and labors. Sound government leadership is essential, but it is not sufficient for the deep and lasting transformation we need.”
You can learn more about the People’s Inauguration here.
Sikh activist Valarie Kaur is leading this effort. Valerie is the founder of the Revolutionary Love initiative. If you are not familiar with her work, I encourage you to visit that site. I particularly recommend viewing her 6-minute speech/sermon at the Watch Night gathering of a year ago.
I had the privilege of speaking with Valarie at an IMirJ Sacred Circle last week. She embodies the leaning into love that I tried to describe in my sermon.
A group of First Unitarian congregants, organized as “Hold the Line” will help usher congregational engagement with the People’s Inauguration. Look for announcements in our weekly e-News.
In addition, First Unitarian offers a host of other ways to embody Revolutionary Love. Keep your eyes on the weekly Speaking of Justice update in the weekly e-News for other ways you can participate in our justice mission for Revolutionary Love. This revolution, if it is ever to be successful will not be directed from anyone at the top. It will grow from the transformation and commitment of millions following the call of love as we hear it in our lives.
We need more than a collection of corrections. We need a rebirth and a recommitment to hope and to love. I plan to be placing my hand on my heart and saying yes on January 21. Our faith calls us to be on the side of love. What have we got to lose?
Blessings,
Bill