Rain does not fall on one roof alone. — Cameroonian proverb

This session introduces the notion that our interconnectedness with one another and the Earth forms the basis for understanding justice and goodness. Our well being is linked to the well being of those around us. Not just the well being of humans, but also the well being of the animals and plants that share this planet with us; not just our friends and neighbors, but also people who live on the opposite side of the world. When we understand the full implications of our interdependence, justice and goodness are natural and necessary responses.

Before this session, plan the Opening and the Closing you will use throughout the Moral Tales program. When you open and close each session the same way, you help participants conceptually connect all the sessions together and give them an experience as practicing Unitarian Universalists. In addition to reviewing the opening and closing words suggested in the Opening and Closing, you may also like to read Leader Resource 1, Alternate Openings, and Leader Resource 3, Alternate Closings. You might also check in with your director of religious education and Moral Tales co-leaders before choosing Opening and Closing words.

Goals

This session will:

• Help participants develop empathy for other living beings, extending care even to the least among us
• Give participants opportunities to experience themselves as part of a larger whole, connected to all that exists
• Encourage participants to begin to form community with their peers and leaders in Moral Tales
• Guide participants to understand the importance of and acknowledge their own responsibility for establishing safety and trust in the group.

Learning Objectives

Participants will:

• Deepen their understanding of the seventh Unitarian Universalist Principle, respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part
• Learn that help can come from unexpected places
• Begin to understand concepts of power and vulnerability and the links that connect those with power to those who are vulnerable
• Practice empathy for others
• Develop their awareness of differing perspectives.
• Begin to establish a Moral Values session routine and become familiar with the expectations associated with this program
• Consider aspects of and recognize their responsibility to help maintain a positive learning environment, as they form a covenant of behavior.