by Amy Norton, First Parish Church
Just when you thought it was time to relax after all that hectic giving of thanks and gifts J… The truth is that giving is not a season after all, it’s a way of life. There are many wise leaders who have spoken of the importance of balancing the head, the heart and the hands. This trio was used by Rudolph Steiner (founder of the Waldorf School) in speaking of how to teach the whole child, by Craig Weatherup, the retired CEO of Pepsi, in advising how to become an inspired leader, and by author Dennis Hollinger, in speaking about how to live in balanced faith. The truth is that we can all live a life in better balance if we remember that knowing what is important and having compassion are only two sides of the triangle. We must follow through with taking action.
Pretty much everybody is too busy. But how you choose to spend your time says more about what you value than any doctrine. If you choose to respond when someone you know is in need, perhaps someone you don’t know well, you are reaching outside of yourself and are strengthening your community of choice. The Caring Committee at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Milton coordinates care for congregant members in need. This can involve something as simple as sending a card or checking in with a phone call, or could involve dropping off numerous meals and providing transportation during treatment of a long-term illness. This “ministry” is reflective of a basic tenet within the church. Unitarian Universalism has no set doctrine, but instead is founded on seven principles for living. The seventh principle is “Respect for the Interdependent Web of All Existence of Which We Are a Part”. Reaching out with caregiving when another is in need strengthens the connections that are too often lost in our busy lives.
There are wonderful tools to help in coordinating care. Try the website “Take Them a Meal” (www.takethemameal.com) to provide ongoing meal delivery to a family, or if the needs are more extensive, try the website “Lotsa Helping Hands”(www.lotsahelpinghands.com) . These free sites send out emails to communicate needs, provide updates, allow volunteers to sign up to meet a need, and send reminders a week and a day before the task.
If you are curious to know more about First Parish in Milton, you are very welcome to join us for one of our services on Sunday mornings at 10:30 am at 535 Canton Avenue in Milton. You can also learn more about us on our website, www.fpmilton.org, on Facebook, or through our church office at 617-698-6329.
The reality is, we all have time for what is most important. Becoming involved in volunteerism provides connection in a world that too often keeps us separate. It brings the gift of perspective to the giver, often the greatest gift of all. Give it a try.
Submitted by Amy Norton