As Coronavirus continues to spread, a piece of good news is missing. The message of Universalism—the idea that we all share the same destiny—the idea that God doesn’t play favorites.
The truth, as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King put it, that, “In a real sense all life is inter-related. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
Small Group Ministry
Sundays | 11:30 a.m. CST (Times may vary)
To join, email smallgroups@allsoulschurch.org
Small Group Ministry is held via Zoom.
Coordinating Efforts
The headline that came the closest (about a month ago) was, “Global markets stage cautious recovery on hopes of coordinated response to coronavirus.” Though the article was focused on financial markets, it acknowledged that coordinating efforts was the most hopeful thing countries around the world could do.
Universal Salvation: Here & Now
Universal Salvation corresponds well with coordinating efforts. When we know we are not waiting for a system of rewards and punishments to take effect after we die, coordinating our efforts in the here and now is, the most hopeful thing any of us can do.
In the end, we are one.
When we want to be and when we don’t want to be—we are one. Yes, we are connected through global trade and global markets. We are connected to each other around the world through music and dance, plants and their seeds, through the oceans, rivers and rain— whether the water is clean or polluted.
We Breathe the Same Air
We are connected through breathing the same air—whether the air is clean or polluted. We are connected by the birds and insects who fly and crawl across our borders without documents. We are connected through our DNA. We are connected through living and through dying.
We must limit the contagion of fear
The coronavirus is spreading and so we must be cautious. But there does not have to be a contagious outbreak of fear, prejudice, and hatred.
Instead of blaming each other, we can use the crisis of the coronavirus to remember how much we share and how deeply we are connected. We can remember how true it is, that we are caught in an inescapable web of mutuality.
Imagine the contagious acceptance of our oneness
Because, it’s not just the coronavirus that’s contagious. What if our understanding of our interdependence could spread just as quickly as a virus.
Imagine a contagious acceptance of our oneness.
Imagine a contagious acceptance of our need to be concerned for each other.
Imagine a contagious commitment to coordinate our efforts in service of each other and a greater good.
When the coronavirus comes up this week in conversation, please consider that you may have a different perspective to share.
“Isn’t it amazing how closely connected we are all?
How our destinies are shared? How important it is, for us to learn to understand each other. To learn to cooperate with each other. WOW! We really are all in this together.”
What affects you, affects me &
I need you, just as you need me.
We share the same destiny—with loved ones and strangers, with neighbors, and foreigners. Each Sunday, we are hosting a small group ministry. I’d love for you to join me, online, to practice our oneness together.
Small Group Ministry
Sundays | 11:30 a.m. CST (Times may vary)
To join, email smallgroups@allsoulschurch.org
Small Group Ministry is held via Zoom.
Rev. Barbara Prose is the Executive Director of Ministry at All Souls in Tulsa. Read more from Rev. Barbara Prose on BeyondBelief.online. Watch Rev. Barbara Prose sermon, The Art of Intimacy on our Youtube Channel!
