The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another.
-Thomas Merton
If I had to pick a favorite principle, it would probably be the seventh, the interdependent web of life. Everything we do comes down to realizing that we, people, animals and nature, are connected to each other in such a way that whatever we do will affect something or someone else.
The same can be said for congregational life. Even if you are not a parent, how much you contribute to the congregation financially and through volunteering will effect how much can be invested in the religious education program. If you are a parent, how much you invest both financially and through volunteering will affect how much the congregation can support its ministry as a whole.
It is important to think about the congregation as a whole when making decisions about contributing your time and money. You may not think you want to spend your time teaching when you could be getting your spiritual nourishment from listening to the sermon. I would ask that you consider that you would also be getting spiritual learning and nourishment of a different kind. By being on the journey with our children and youth, you will see the world through their eyes. My favorite part of working with children and youth is that they have not yet been tainted with the cynicism of adulthood. They are free to think and believe what they want. When my daughter was about five years old she asked me how the world started. I spent a couple of minutes thinking about my response. I was torn between giving her the full big bang theory to simply and more easily saying that I am actually not sure but scientists and the very fundamentalists religious people disagree. While I was debating in my head, she answered herself saying, “I know Mommy, first there was a seed and that seed grew and grew until there were trees, and animals and the sun and sky and humans.” I looked at her and said, “That’s right honey, that is exactly how it happened.” At five years old, it seemed plausible to her and it so closely resembled the big bang theory in my mind that I saw no reason to complicate her understanding.
When I was teaching a Sunday school class a couple of years ago, I had an eight year old ask me, “If God is supposed to be all love and kindness, why is the bible full of violence and gore?” From out of the mouths of babes…
I encourage those of you who have never taught Sunday school to consider joining a teaching team.The RE committee will be recruiting people throughout the spring to commit to teaching next fall. You will work with a group of three or four other people and your schedule would be worked out among the group.
Think about how much you can learn, grow and laugh, by going on this search for truth and meaning with the members of our congregation who are our most precious asset, our children and youth.
If you are interested in teaching, please contact me at Aisha@4thu.org.
In Faith and Peace,
Aisha Hauser, DRE
