How lucky are we ?

Post by Ash
We frequently forget just how lucky we are. It`s an enduring as opposed to endearing human trait. The appalling natural and human catastrophe in Japan, and and also earlier in the year in Christchurch, New Zealand, bring home all too clearly the thin line-between joy and sadness, certainty and despair. We have all, I`m sure, been moved not only by the suffering but also by the sheer heroism of so many, in the face of such terrible adversity. They put most of our own daily travails to shame.

Closer to base we can perhaps sometimes be guilty of a similar loss of perspective about our lot, when faced, for example, with the dilemma of the homeless. Try as we might, maybe , just maybe, we sometimes catgorize this group as being 'their own worst enemy'; drink, drugs, temperament, laziness-surely they`re the reasons behind the predicament in which they find themselves ?

The bottom-line of course is that this group are really not that different to ourselves. Each individual has particular reasons for his or her misfortune, and it`s not hard to imagine that had such issues been presented to us we too may have struggled; lucky for us therefore that we`ve our coping mechanisms and good people around us to help.

The thin Unitarian line

Blog by Pete

The question, `who or what is a Unitarian?` is one that can never satifactorily be answered.For every Unitarian there is a different view. The aims,the vision, the drive of every

congregation differs, not only from each other but as time changes.Unitarianism is far from static. It is undoubtedly one of the most open-minded and tolerant of all faiths.

However, sooner or later situations arise where even liberal Unitarians perceive a need to draw lines. This may happen between congregations, for example over the need for a communion or maybe the incorporation of modern pagan philosophy. It may also happen within congregations regarding direction, character, and their relationship with others in the community. Inevitably some individual Unitarians will find themselves on the wrong side of a line drawn with good conscience by the majority. As much as we might try to please everyone the very nature of a broad church negates this.