To live content with small means, to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion, to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich ... in a word to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common, this is to be my symphony. — William Henry Channing

If you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way. — Buddha

This session explores the second Unitarian Universalist Principle, justice, equity, and compassion in human relationships. Participants discover how, by finding balance in their own lives, they can promote equity across the interdependent web of life. They experience sharing resources and finding enjoyment with scant material possessions. We will add the signpost, "Find Balance," to our Faithful Journeys Path.

Goals

This session will:

• Demonstrate our power to make personal choices about sharing resources that can affirm second Principle values of justice, equity, and compassion
• Encourage participants to take pleasure and pride in sharing
• Introduce concepts of "balance" and "finding one's center" as spiritual practices as well as fun games
• Explore the question of what is "enough" and how one can find balance in life
• Build community through games, rituals, and reinforcement of the group behavior covenant.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

• Develop an understanding of equity; learn that there is such a thing as having more than you need and such a thing as not having enough
• Learn how contemporary Unitarian Universalists, including children, have chosen to share resources to help others who have less
• Become empowered as agents of change who can identify practices of material excess and explore choices of voluntary simplicity
• Experience balance and centeredness as physical qualities and learn about them as qualities of lifestyle
• Generate and follow up on ideas to reduce, reuse, and recycle
• Optional: Become agents for justice, equity, and compassion by raising money for a good cause.