Toolbox of Faith Taking It Home Oct 21

The bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you refuse to take the turn. — Anonymous

IN SUNDAY’S SESSION . . .

Duct tape was explored as a symbol for flexibility, a tool we find in our Unitarian Universalist faith. The children manipulated duct tape to discover how its flexibility makes it a useful tool. The group explored the Unitarian Universalist expectation of change and flexibility in one’s understanding and beliefs. We reflected on the value of developing an open mind, a flexible faith, and an ability to live with changeable answers. We emphasized the importance of being informed and flexible decision-makers.

We learn about flexibility to illustrate that:

• Unitarian Universalism is a faith that will grow and adapt with you as your life changes
• Unitarian Universalism values acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations (third Principle)
• Unitarian Universalism comes from a flexible, living tradition that includes direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life (first Source)

EXPLORE THE TOPIC TOGETHER. Talk about . . .

As a family, share examples of times when flexibility has appeared or has been needed in each of your lives. Talk about how flexibility can be a tool of one’s faith. You may like to use these questions:

• How have you changed this year?
• Describe a time when you felt you changed the most?
• When was a time when it might have been helpful to be flexible, but you were not able to be? Why were you not able to be flexible?

Ask everyone to think of ways in which your family is flexible. For example:

• Do different people take on different roles and responsibilities at different times of day, on different days, or during different months of the year?
• How do shifting needs and priorities determine how you allocate family resources (such as a car, a computer, or a parent’s attention)?
• When does flexibility come into play in family decision-making? What happens when all family members are affected by a choice, such as what to do in free time or what to eat at a shared meal (as in the story, “Answer Mountain,” which children heard in this session)?
• How may the balance of freedoms and responsibilities shift among individuals, or for each individual, as children in the family mature?