Thank God I have the seeing eye, that is to say, as I lie in bed I can walk step by step on the fells and rough land seeing every stone and flower and patch of bog and cotton pass where my old legs will never take me again. — Beatrix Potter

The session introduces our seventh Unitarian Universalist Principle, respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part, through the story of British Unitarian Beatrix Potter. The creator of Peter Rabbit not only wrote and illustrated children's books featuring animal characters, but also related to nature as a dedicated amateur biologist, a professional farmer and the donor of many acres of countryside to England 's National Trust. In this session, the children identify connections that form the interdependent web of an ecosystem and explore their own relationship with the natural world. We add the signpost "Honor Life" to our Faithful Journeys Path.

Goals

This session will:

• Unfold the concept of an ecosystem as an example of the interdependent web of all existence affirmed in our seventh Unitarian Universalist Principle
• Develop children's sense of relationship with nature and help them identify and explore ways they are connected with nature
• Encourage children's stewardship of the environment as an expression of their Unitarian Universalist faith and UU identity
• Teach children how they can and do express their faith — their ideas of right and wrong, their values, and their beliefs — with real actions.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

• Learn about British Unitarian author, biologist and farmer Beatrix Potter
• Understand stewardship of the Earth as faithful action that expresses our seventh Principle
• Use meditation, imagination, games and art to conceptualize an ecosystem and experience being part of the interdependent web
• Explore ways to be in respectful relationship with the nonhuman living beings of the world
• Identify actions they might take that would reflect the signpost "Honor Life"
• Name ways they did or could translate their Unitarian Universalist faith and/or Principles into action.