spider web
I noticed with interest the myriad of spider webs glistening in the morning dew as I drove to work the other morning. Fall is my favorite time of year and I love the spider webs and spiders that are abundant right now. The intricate, near invisible designs that they weave appear so delicate, yet are strong enough to resist wind and catch the various insects that provide the spider sustenance. Sometimes the web appears damaged or is missing strands, yet it stands strong to be rebuilt or repaired. What seems to threaten these beautiful webs the most is a human touch or sweep of the broom, and yet the indomitable spider reweaves, reworks and perseveres.
I thought about our seventh principle of Unitarian Universalism as I stared at that dewy web and contemplated my place in the world. What does it mean to have respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. For me it means remembering that what I do vibrates along an invisible thread that connects me to everything. If I throw myself into the world, my actions make an impact, for good or bad. Somewhere within the web of all existence I have the power to help heal the world or to inflict further damage.
Our church community is a place where healthy, strong connections are encouraged and nourished – not only with each other, but with the wider world. The good that we do together amplifies each of our individual vibrations along the web of existence. As UU’s we strive to live in a way that honors our independence and our interdependence . While it may be easy to see ourselves as a part of the web and even sometimes the fly that gets caught, I believe it is our responsibility as Unitarian Universalists to collectively be the spider, helping to weave the beautiful web that vibrates and glistens in the sun, a web that moves with the wind but doesn’t break, a web with the potential to provide sustenance for a world that is longing for hope and justice .