The 5th principle of Unitarian Universalism states that we believe in the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. To me this says that we follow our conscience and work to the best of our ability within the laws of our society and community to make sure that the right things happen to everyone.
And when the laws are wrong, we use that same democratic process to make them right. It is hard work. The victory might not come right away; sometimes the battle is long and arduous and it might feel like we are always on the losing side of the game. But then,
“When slow steady effort is rewarded with justice… it arrives like a thunderbolt.”
– President Barack Obama
On Friday morning of last week the Supreme Court handed down a 5 -4 decision declaring that same sex couples have the right to marry in all 50 states. In the opinion, Justice Anthony Kennedy stated that the Constitution grants them equal dignity in the eyes of the law. Winning!
Sometimes winning is a matter of sheer luck, but most of the time it is a result of hard work and lots of effort. Think about a time when you won something that was really important to you. When you accomplished something you set out to accomplish. When you took a risk and it paid off…. Like you playing your hand in the game of life.
How hard was it to get there? How much work and effort did you put into the backstory so that the ending was what you wanted and needed it to be?
Real winners are not determined by scoreboards. The victory might not look like what you imagined it would at the beginning, but when you don’t give up you cannot fail.
We are going to finish this together.
Lydia Patrick
