From UUC's Acting for Racial Justice Team

Advent can be defined as: “The coming or arrival of something or someone that is important or worthy of note.” For Christians, Advent is a time of waiting to celebrate the birth of Jesus, their light of the world.

Here at University Unitarian Church we, too, celebrate Advent, lighting candles to illuminate the virtues of hope peace, joy, and love and sharing our perspectives on them. These virtues are reminiscent of those that Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. held up in his understanding and undertaking of the Beloved Community.

“For Dr. King the Beloved Community was not a lofty, utopian goal” but “a realistic, achievable goal that could be attained by a critical mass of people committed to and trained in the philosophy and methods of nonviolence.” ... “Nonviolence is a love-centered way of thinking, speaking, acting, and engaging that leads to personal, cultural and societal transformation.”

King’s Beloved Community was also a global vision where poverty, hunger and homelessness are not tolerated; where racism and other forms of discrimination are replaced with understanding and compassion; where love and trust prevail over fear and hate; where conflict is resolved peaceably.

Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as the body. We can begin the journey to building the Beloved Community by doing our own courageous inner work. The practice of breathing, noticing, and wondering can help us let go of suppressed negative feelings and thoughts. Taking care of our inner world with inner healing and letting go of that negativity increases our ability to love, forgive, and offer compassion and kindness to ourselves. Applying patience and love toward yourself strengthens you and builds your capacity to share that love outwards in the ways you think, speak, and relate to others.

This work is neither easy nor devoid of conflict. We are humans after all and come from diverse cultures and upbringings. As Dr. King recognized, conflict is an inevitable part of human experience. He also recognized that we are capable of choosing to resolve our conflicts peacefully and uphold friendship and goodwill.

With the arrival of winter’s shorter days and colder temperatures, let’s look to the miracle of light as a sign of renewal and a source of hope. Let’s take time to build loving habits and continue to usher in the advent of the Beloved Community that Martin Luther King Jr. wanted for the world.