Friend,

November 2020

Message from Rev. Richard ‘Bud’ Murphy, UUJF President

Just Saying 10/2020

Sometimes we may find ourselves questioning the validity of what others think, feel and do.  We ask, “How can they think that way?  Why do they promote beliefs that seem to defy common sense, let alone the established principles of science?”
  
In thoughtful moments, we may question who we are, and why we have inclinations to certain thoughts, feelings and actions. While most behavioral experts consider self-knowledge, a part of wisdom they also admit it is not easy to achieve. Like the nature of human consciousness, the nature of self is a challenge to understand.  The Eastern philosophers invite us to be the observer as we move through life.  They encourage us to examine what we consider to be true, while at the same time to recognize that once we designate something as true we are inclined to cling to that conclusion and filter our future observations to reinforce the validity of our truth.

Our truth with its resistance to change includes our truth about our own lovableness and the lovableness of others. For most, these truths are established early in our lives and rarely questioned. In fact, we humans have developed ways of being in relationship that reinforce those early conclusions.  Our lives follow a script that we adopted in our childhood. Reviewing the script gives us the opportunity of change for the better.

As our country undergoes the forces of political, economic and ecological struggle we each feel the stress of uncertainty which tends to make us resistance to change just at the point when it would be useful for us to increase our ability to look at the world from a variety of perspectives and to acknowledge the experience of others even when they seem out of touch with our reality.

Many studies report that mindfulness practices, activities that encourage calm restore our resilience and increase our plasticity, our ability to adapt to change. I’m taking breaks from the 24-7 news. I’m focusing on breathing and the validity of just being for a few moments.  Join me. I’ll see you on the other side ready to nurture the Earth, our only home.

Bud Murphy, President of UU Justice Florida

——————————————————————————————————
Legislative Advocacy 2021

Once the November general election is in the history books, it will be time to turn our attention the the 2021 session of the Florida Legislator beginning early next March.

Here is a brief outline for a suggested strategy and timetable to maximize our impact. The current pandemic will necessitate a few changes from how we have approached this effort in the past but, with your input and participation, we will establish relationships with members of the newly elected Legislature and make our voices heard.

• Form small teams of advocates for progressive legislation with members of your congregation
• Network with others from likeminded organizations such as a local Indivisible group, FL-iCAN, Sierra Club, ACLU, Equality Florida, LWV, NOW, Moms Demand Action and immigration reform groups to name just a few
• Review the 2020 Legislative Advocacy Agenda for 2020 on the UUJF Website
• Suggest additions or changes to the Legislative Advocacy Agenda from you as an individual or in consultation with members of your team and send them to info@uujusticefl.org
• Plan to participate in a December virtual training session (date and time to be determined) to review a revised Legislative Advocacy Agenda and suggestions for holding virtual meetings with your Legislators
• After the new Legislators are sworn in on November 17 and an updated Legislative Advocacy Agenda is circulated and posted on the UUJF Website, make an appointment for your group for a virtual meeting with your House and Senate Legislators sometime in January or early February.
• Report reactions from your Legislators or staff to info@uujusticefl.org
• Encourage members of your congregation who are not receiving UUJF newsletters to sign up so they will receive targeted Action Alerts as bills are introduced and referred to committees for hearings.

Regrettably, the pandemic and sheltering in place will not permit us to hold our annual Legislative Day event in Tallahassee in 2021.  However, we feel that strong UUJF member support and participation in the above will more than compensate for not being able to meet in person next year.

Of course, if you are satisfied with the status of education for our children, availability of and affordability of health care, public safety and human rights in Florida then feel free to ignore the above.

In order to receive targeted Action Alerts, your current address must be in the UUJF mailing list data base.  If —— is not your correct 9-digit Zip+4 address code please update your current street address on the UUJF website Take Action page.

——————————————————————————————————

Please submit news and upcoming events in your congregation for the December newsletter to info@uujusticefl.org by November 20.

Was this Newsletter forwarded to you? Join our mailing list! Sign up here.

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser