In a time where humanity still so frequently engages in Us Vs. Them ideology, to be inclusive is
to be defiant. Recognizing that the “other” is worthy of love and care is not a new concept, but it continues to be radical. Whether the “Them” is new or rehashed, exclusion sows division, not
harmony.
Unitarian Universalism, like many faith traditions, values compassion for outsiders.
Compassion for outsiders is not named explicitly in our Shared Values, but it is implicit
throughout. I believe living out our values is the core of Unitarian Universalism. Cultivation
implies preparation or practice, it means DOING something.
We can prepare by looking inward, examining our biases and motivations. As a currently
able-bodied, cisgender, heterosexual, white man with social and economic resources, I am the
type of person who has, historically, done quite a lot of “othering.” Like many, I began doing the inner work as a young adult in college. I took a few classes on “Women’s and Gender Studies,” participated in student-led groups like the Gay-Straight Alliance. I learned a lot about privilege. Conversations with friends and participating in events like Take Back the Night rallies made me realize how radically different women’s lives are from mine, how there are daily fears that never even entered my mind. I learned, often from friends with different lived experience, about Queer Culture, Black Culture, the immigrant experience and more. My point is not to tout my own enlightenment, but to share that self-reflection and listening to others who are different from me was most of my journey.
To put this work into practice in the wider community often requires getting outside one’s comfort zone. Groups exist that are doing work and serving all manner of populations. Seek them out, listen to them, and learn what they want from you. Prison Ministry, mainly letter-writing as a pen pal, is my work of choice today. By communicating directly with incarcerated individuals, I have learned that a human connection and just being heard are so desperately needed. The parts are simple, but the connection can be challenging when trying to recognize the humanity of someone who did something inhumane. Recognizing their humanity, truly, is at the center of compassion for the outsider. It is both the journey and the destination.
~Ian Van Sice
