Web of Life

First Unitarian Universalist Church
Web of Life
Rev. Sandra Fees
April 1, 2007
Page 1 of 4
© 2007, Rev. Sandra Fees
Excerpts may be quoted with attribution.
I like to watch the birds from my office window at home. Mostly there
are sparrows and finches at the feeder. The feeder is designed for the
smaller birds and squirrel-proofed. This doesn’t mean the squirrels
don’t still try pretty hard. I find I am as fascinated by the gathering
beneath the feeder as I am by what is happening above.
On the ground, the mourning doves calmly enjoy what falls their way. Squirrels and rabbits often
gather too and forage the area. And on an occasion or two a groundhog has shown up. They all seem
to have an understanding, a pecking order if you’ll forgive the pun. So there isn’t any fighting – none
at least that I’ve witnessed.
Watching them I remember my small part in their world. Filling the feeder and birdbath is a daily
ritual. I feel grateful and humbled. My heart opens. I feel more alive and more joyful as I watch
them. I discover I am smiling. I have a sense of connection to the natural world.
These are sacred moments. They are the sacred moments of my everyday life. These are times
when I experience the divine presence. What I mean by that is that for me nature is one
revelation of the divine – of life’s awe and magnificence. It is one way I experience God.
For many of us, the earth, nature, is the first place we look for an experience of the Holy. We
follow in the footsteps of our Transcendentalist forebears in doing so. Like Ralph Waldo
Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, we look to creation for the experience of the sacred.
Our seventh Unitarian Universalist principle reflects our understanding of the power and
grandeur of creation. The seventh principle calls on us to affirm and promote respect for the
interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
This principle was adopted in 1985. It was not included in the 1961 version at the time of merger
of Unitarians and Universalists. What it provided that was not explicitly named in the other six
principles was our relationship with non-human life.
It probably won’t surprise you that a recent 2005 survey of UU theology shows this relationship
now holds a primary place in our faith. The largest piece of common ground was this statement:
“The natural world is a web of interdependent connections, of which we are inescapably a part.”
Over 90 percent of ministers and laypeople said this was highly important to their faith
(Engaging Our Theological Diversity, Commission on Appraisal).
One person in the survey expressed the web of life as: “the experience of the presence of life
within me, within the present moment, within all people and creatures, and intuition that we all
share this life and are intimately interconnected in a fragile and durable network of love.”
Another person said it this way: “When we have a felt connection to the interdependent web of
existence, we trigger a natural inclination to become our best selves. I call the fact of
Unraveling the Gender Knot (cont’d.)
Rev. Sandra Fees
Page 2 of 4
© 2007, Rev. Sandra Fees
Excerpts may be quoted with attribution.
interconnectedness and our inclination to be our best selves God” (in Engaging Our Theological
Diversity).
Part of an awakened human consciousness, it seems to me, is to understand the interrelatedness
of life. Part of an awakened human consciousness is to understand our place in the web. We are
one part of creation, not its centerpiece.
This is a radical departure from traditional Christian and Jewish theologies that position
humanity as the crown of creation. In those traditional views, the rest of creation exists for
humanity. Even broader interpretations within those traditions tend to hold that we humans are
stewards of creation, but still responsible and, more importantly, central to life.
The Enlightenment and scientific revolution brought these beliefs into question. Darwin’s The
Origin of Species challenged a human-centered understanding of the physical world.
Taking it one step further, it is extraordinarily humbling to remember what renowned biologist
E.O. Wilson said. He observed, “If all humanity disappeared, the rest of life (except for pets and
houseplants) would benefit enormously.” If we were to disappear, forests would restore
themselves. Endangered species would make a comeback.
Contrast that to what would happen if the ant suddenly went extinct. According to Wilson, the
extinction of ants would spell “major extinctions of other species and probably partial collapse of
some ecosystems” (Turning to One Another, Margaret J. Wheatley). It is a humbling perspective
indeed.
Our liberal tradition has taken evolutionary theory seriously and incorporated it into our religious
life. Many of us respond to the idea of interdependence with gratitude and a sense of celebration.
We enjoy the beauty of the earth and its creatures.
We love to be outdoors hiking or riding our bikes, spending time in our gardens, or sailing or
kayaking. I know someone here is going kayaking because they bid successfully on a beautiful
kayak in our recent auction.
To be truly moved by the beauty of the natural world, to truly recognize and respect our
interrelatedness with all life, however, is not a trivial matter. At the deepest level, this principle
asks us to conduct our lives in a way that acknowledges our impact on the world. This principle
fuels our social justice efforts. It is a catalyst for our commitment to the earth, to animal rights,
and to economic justice.
It means we need to treat all creatures with kindness. We can work to protect endangered species
and endangered cultures. When violence erupts in families and communities, this principle
challenges us to recognize that it is happening to all of us. What happens to children who are
abused, hungry, and unloved happens to all of us. Our lives are linked.
Unraveling the Gender Knot (cont’d.)
Rev. Sandra Fees
Page 3 of 4
© 2007, Rev. Sandra Fees
Excerpts may be quoted with attribution.
In the living of our lives, we are challenged by this principle to tread lightly on the earth, leaving
the smallest footprint we can. Our interdependence is a reminder to us to be cautious and
intentional about our use of natural resources.
This morning the Pre-kindergarten class is exploring the theme “My World Has Water.” They
are learning that the water we drink and wash in is the same water that falls as rain. It is the same
water we find in our lakes and streams.
Through their exploration, they will become more aware of our interconnectedness with nature.
They are undoubtedly also getting a bit wet.
Water is a great example of our interdependence. All living beings require water to survive.
Beyond survival, water is a source of play. It also holds tremendous spiritual significance for
cultures throughout the world.
How we use water has a tremendous impact on human health and well-being and on whole
ecosystems. Humans need water to drink, but also for a whole range of other fundamental uses.
We use water for cooking and sanitation as well as irrigation, industry and development.
Human demand on water supplies resulting from things like population growth, consumption,
development of highways and dams, deforestation, and agricultural chemicals has the potential to
alter the integrity of freshwater ecosystems irreversibly.
The availability of clean water is fast becoming one of our most significant human rights issues.
The United Nations warns that “fierce competition for fresh water may well become a source of
conflict and wars in the future.” Competition for water as a resource is expected to intensify within
countries in the next 15 years with the rural poor being the biggest losers. This is especially true in
areas like Asia where the balance between population and available water supplies is most
disparate.
The potential for tension over water between countries is also growing. However, there are large
potentials for gains if countries choose to cooperate rather than compete (2006 Human
Development Report from the UN).
As with the gentle creatures at my feeder, cooperation rather than competition means that
everyone is nourished. When competition ensues, when larger birds show up to dominate the
feeder, all the others suffer. When the squirrels have free range of the feeder, they devour all the
seed within hours.
The seventh principle calls on us to strive to be in right relationship with all life. It means
allowing our hearts to be opened to the web of life, to live cooperatively.
Our seventh principle reminds us we are part of the natural world not separate from it or superior
to it. Our interdependence is the condition of our being. We do not live in isolation from each
other or from the natural world.
Unraveling the Gender Knot (cont’d.)
Rev. Sandra Fees
Page 4 of 4
© 2007, Rev. Sandra Fees
Excerpts may be quoted with attribution.
Sometimes we may act as though we are separate, an island unto ourselves. But we can’t escape
the reality that our lives are interwoven. Even a small action can have large consequences.
When we embrace our interrelatedness with all living beings, we can experience a deeper, more
intimate, connection to the earth community. We can reach out to each other and have more
meaningful relationships.
We can be reminded once again that we are not alone.
Amen.