Among the seven Principles that covenant Unitarian Universalist congregations, the seventh holds a unique and expansive place: "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part." This statement is both a spiritual affirmation and a profound ecological and philosophical truth claim, serving as a foundational ethic for modern religious naturalism. To understand its depth is to explore its scientific underpinnings, its theological implications, and its urgent call to ethical living. At its core, this principle moves beyond a mere acknowledgment of nature's beauty to assert a fundamental ontology of relationship. It posits that existence is not a collection of discrete, independent objects, but a dynamic, interconnected process. Is this true that all existence is interdependent? From a scientific perspective, evidence abounds. In ecology, the concept of the food web illustrates how energy and matter flow through systems, where the loss of a single s...
Spring will be here before long— My favorite season. The warmth is welcomed… After the biting cold of winter. Time to plant a garden. Time to photograph the new wildflowers. Time to start mowing again. Some time to relax on the front porch. Enjoy spring before hot summer hell, Before the grass is scorched, Before the lake dries up, Until dry and windy conditions… Meet a spark and alight… An uncontrollable wildfire, Burning so hot it melts the road— Nothing left but what we have on us. Enjoy spring and sing a song. Spring butterflies are beautiful to watch. Life reemerging from the frozen, Hard earth—New birth and cries. Spring is full of promise! There are a million fun things… Waiting for us to do them… And conduce happiness. The bitter, cold winter is behind us. Enjoy the spring while it’s here, Because it will be gone before long… Not to worry, though, it’ll return. ...