In The Great Work of Your Life, Stephen Cope talks about “Indra’s net.” It’s a web that connects us all, and we each have our part. We don’t have to carry the weight of the world alone. We do what we can, where we are, in the ways that make sense to us. The world is big, but every action ripples out.
Yesterday, walking into The Marsh to teach my yoga class, I saw a sign that filled me with joy. It was a rainbow sign that said, “All are welcome here.” I had asked for it a few weeks ago. It was a simple sign, but it meant a lot. Because it wasn’t just a sign. It was an act of inclusion. A gesture that might make someone feel welcome — someone like one of my kids, someone from the LGBTQ+ community. This sign was one way to let people know they are welcome without having to ask. In a world where some people have been using the LGBTQ+ community like a punching bag, we can create peace through acts of kindness.
It’s a small thing, yes. But it’s part of something bigger. These small acts connect. I’ve been doing other things too. I’m helping my Unitarian Universalist fellowship renew its “welcoming” status. We’re going to look at lots of things, such as our bylaws, marketing materials, website, and newsletters. We can make sure we are using language that follows the “inclusive language guidance.” Small things, but they add up. We’re making sure people feel seen and heard.
I also bring this to the work I do in the Drupal community, where I serve on the Community Working Group. It’s the same message wherever I do this work, whether it’s with a for-profit company, a free software community, or a religious community where many people express their faith through social justice work. But the core is the same. Be welcoming. Be kind. Act.
At The Marsh, that sign is one small piece of the puzzle. But it’s a start. I’ve heard from many of you after class, telling me how my words have inspired you to act. You’re raising rainbow flags, joining groups like Indivisible, and making change in your own ways. Your stories keep me going. You motivate me to keep doing this work, in my own way, with the resources I have.
I’m inspired by Cope’s idea of Indra’s web. I’m also inspired by the values we share in Unitarian Universalism, such as justice, interdependence, and equity. And by others who remind us that even small actions matter. Mother Teresa said it well:
“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”
It doesn’t matter where your inspiration comes from. What matters is that you contribute, in the way that feels right to you.
Thank you for being part of this. If you have a story to share, I’d love to hear it.
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