This I Believe

My name is Wendy Fletcher. I am 30 years old. I’ve been a member of this church for 7 years. I grew up in South Carolina with no church affiliation or religious education. So these are some of my own beliefs.

First of all, I believe it is not necessary for other people to believe what I do.

I believe the best things in life are not things.

I believe a vegetarian diet is the best option for personal health and for a more sustainable environment.

I believe you should always read the book before you see the movie. I believe in supporting the arts and public radio.

I believe the best way to physical, mental and spiritual health is through exercise. I believe in endorphins.

I believe dogs are a necessary part of a family. Their unconditional love, loyalty, and honest expression of feelings remind us of who we should be.

I believe in public education. Like Christa McAuliff said, I touch the future because I teach, high school. I believe teenagers make you old and keep you young at the same time. I believe most teachers do heroic feats everyday. I believe it is deplorable that this country grants the profession neither the respect nor the salary it deserves.

I believe it is good for your soul, no matter how old you are, to sing along loudly with the music you loved when you were 13 years old. For me, that’s early Madonna!

I believe in doing your best at everything you do. That does not mean you will be the best. I believe in the Japanese concept of kai zen, or continuous improvement. We should always be growing personally and professionally. I believe in this song from the Man of La Mancha, “To dream the impossible dream, to fight the unbeatable foe, to try when your arms are too weary, to go where the brave dare not go, this is my quest, to follow that star, no matter how hopeless, no matter how far . . .and the world will be better for this.”

I believe in God as a Force within everything and all of us. I believe the universe emerged out of the creative power of this Great Force. I believe in a circle of life. When people die, their bodies become part of the earth and their souls join a unity of all souls within the Great Spirit, from which new life is then created. I believe in Black Elk’s words: “The power of the world works in circles. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The Wind in its great power whirls. The seasons form a circle in their changing. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours.”

This belief comforts me when dealing with the death of a loved one. Though they can’t be with me physically, I still feel a spiritual connection to them. Last weekend I went to a memorial service for both my grandparents. The sunset silhouetted the trees and a big harvest the moon reflected across the lake. I believe my grandparents were truly with me then, as part of the sublime view and the serenity I felt.

I also believe in spiritual connections with living people. I believe my husband, John Williams, is my soul mate, and our marriage is the greatest thing I’ve ever been part of.

I believe there is a dark side to this Universal Life Force. “Anger, fear and aggression lead to the dark side,” George Lucas wrote in Star Wars. I believe that acknowledging the darkness within the universe and ourselves helps us direct our energy toward the light. “In the pursuit of peace and justice, the Force will be with you always.”

For me, the Force is strongest in Nature. I am reassured of my place in the universe when I hear the ocean, feel a cool breeze, smell the autumn leaves, or see a mountain skyline. I believe, as the Bible says, that “I lift mine eyes unto these hills, from whence my strength comes.”

Because of this, I believe in protecting the environment. I believe it is criminal to drive a gas-guzzling SUV and to throw an aluminum can in the trash when more earth-friendly options are available.

I believe in the UU community and the power of this church. However, I believe we UUs can be overly intellectual. To attract and retain more young adults, we need to incorporate in our Sunday services more connection to our hearts, not just our heads. I believe we need more passion and fun, more nontraditional music, more movement and interaction, and more inspiring messages to carry us through our busy lives.

Finally, I believe people are inherently good. We should seek the good in every person, even that jerk that you hate at work. I believe we can lessen hatred and violence by making people feel safe and loved. Mother Teresa said, “love has to be put into action and that action is service. It is not how much we do, but how much love we put into the doing.”

This I Believe.