One Minister's Musing - Heart Problem

Written for and given at Poor People's Campaign event in Baltimore October, 2018

I come to you as a faith leader to speak to you about our heart problem. We have a heart problem – and it’s all about a distorted moral narrative. This isn’t how our hearts are supposed to be.

We have a distorted view of morality that says that our political views are not only different but the other side is bad – that they are equated to evil. We can’t even be at the same table. We can’t be in the same room. We can’t even hear our heart beat – calling out for us to be one.

When we hear one another as enemies - then it is easier to dehumanize one another, easier to deny the voice of another; easier for us to deny their heart.

We have a heart problem – a problem that tells us that it is more important to be identified with a party than with humanity.

This heart problem encourages division that focus on dehumanizing another for political agendas

I grew up with the assertion that Americans are good people, we are generous, we seek to do what is right, we are a beacon of democracy, truth and justice are the American way.

Yet today the American Way is one of nationalism - holds up that one nation – our nation is the most-worthy to be in power and at the center of all that all other countries, all other nations, should come at best second and even our own citizens are subjugated by beliefs that America comes first - that those who benefit the most are worthy of that benefit – and the rest of us are to be divided against one another.

Our heart problem says that only those with power and money can have health care, freedom from hunger, clean water, shelter, education, freedom from violence, that all these things are not human rights - but are only for some.

This breaks down and falsifies that good news of God’s saving presence with all of us - not only some – which are considered by the powerful to be worthy.

Since when did we put God in a box, with a big sign that reads – Miracles to the Highest Bidder?

The effect of our broken heart is that we are separated by race, class, gender, lgbtq, being told only some are worthy

My universalist faith tells me that all are within loving presence - that that which is greater than we are, that which binds us and connects us in love, that which calls us into the imperative of being our best selves includes all of humanity, Hindu, Buddhist, Islam, Jewish, Christianity, every faith and all those who question.

Unitarian Faith reminds me that we can get better, that if we are in relationship with one another – we can get better individually, and as a society. My unitarian faith reminds me that religious belief is not required for us to do what is right – that it is through connection with one another that brings hope to this world.

Our broken heart is a heart filled with Apathy

Are we brave enough to overcome apathy?

What is the solution? Hope and love

Hope – finding hope in one another – dismissing the dominate narrative that if I win you lose. The life-giving moral narrative is finding the ways that we are interconnected - finding love - because you are impacted I care - empathy.

Our heart is broken when this distorted moral narrative says that we can go it alone, we take care of ourselves first, and anything left over we might give to others, so long as those others look like us and believe like us.

We have faith leaders who have come out to support this distorted moral narrative, to lift it up. As a faith leader I cringe - as a human being I am baffled with the concept of those who preach that the good news is limited to exclusive political agendas.

We need to say – with a good heart, that:

Poverty is not a moral failing

That Who you love - is not a moral failing

That standing up for the rights of others – is not a moral failing

What are moral failings?

Being silent in the face of injustice, disenfranchising voters, denying lifesaving measures to the earth, choosing guns over human life, threats of war over offers of peace, giving tax cuts to the rich and taking more from the poor.

A distorted moral narrative says that LGBTQI is to be less than, that refugees fleeing from violence should be left to their fate, that poverty is deserved, inevitable, or just a fact of life.

It is a distorted moral narrative that says that these things are right.

But we have heart. We have a heart that beats for one another, with one another. We have a heart that knows we stand against this darkness that causes fear. We have a heart that beats strong as one, stronger as many.

Let us join our hearts together, and correct this mess of a distorted moral view. We can do this – because we have a heart that beats for and with love.