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UID:284@uusaratoga.org
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250108T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250108T193000
DTSTAMP:20250103T225949Z
URL:https://uusaratoga.org/events/leaning-into-meaning-gathering/
SUMMARY:Leaning Into Meaning
DESCRIPTION:Leaning into Meaning: Where Do We Go from Here?\nCome join in a
  reading and discussion of a speech by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King\, Jr.\,
  that has come to be known by the title “Where Do We Go from Here?”\nT
 he speech was delivered in 1967 and formed the backbone of Dr. King’s la
 st book.  In it\, Dr. King explores love and power\, Black power and prid
 e\, and faith. He critiques both communism and capitalism and recommits to
  nonviolence\, saying “I have decided to stick to love…”.\n\nYou can
  find the full text of the speech here. Dr. King begins with a description
  of the work that the Southern Christian Leadership Conference has done. W
 e will focus on the latter part of the speech with the paragraph that begi
 ns: “Now\, in order to answer the question…” We will read through th
 is part of the speech together\, pausing now and then for moments of silen
 ce\, reflection\, and perhaps even debate.\nJoin in at 5:30\, Wednesday\, 
 January 8\, in person in the King Room or online via zoom here.\nSome quot
 es from the speech:\n\n 	This is where we are. Where do we go from here? F
 irst\, we must massively assert our dignity and worth. We must stand up am
 idst a system that still oppresses us and develop an unassailable and maje
 stic sense of values. We must no longer be ashamed of being black.\n 	Ther
 e is nothing wrong with power if power is used correctly. You see\, what h
 appened is that some of our philosophers got off base. And one of the grea
 t problems of history is that the concepts of love and power have usually 
 been contrasted as opposites---polar opposites---so that love is identifie
 d with a resignation of power\, and power with a denial of love.\n 	What i
 s needed is a realization that power without love is reckless and abusive\
 , and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is l
 ove implementing the demands of justice\, and justice at its best is power
  correcting everything that stands against love.\n 	We must develop a prog
 ram that will drive the nation to a guaranteed annual income.\n 	Darkness 
 cannot put out darkness. Only light can do that.\n 	What I am saying today
  is that we must go [out] and say\, "America\, you must be born again!"\n 
 	I must confess\, my friends\, the road ahead will not always be smooth. T
 here will be still rocky places of frustration and meandering points of be
 wilderment. There will be inevitable setbacks here and there. There will b
 e those moments when the buoyancy of hope will be transformed into the fat
 igue of despair. Our dreams will sometimes be shattered and our ethereal h
 opes blasted. [...] Difficult and painful as it is\, we must walk on in th
 e days ahead with an audacious faith in the future.\n\nAbout Leaning Into 
 Meaning\nLeaning Into Meaning is a monthly religious exploration opportuni
 ty to dig into how we make sense of life and living.  It’s an opportuni
 ty to grow our skills for engaging with fundamental questions and growing 
 our horizons.  Each month we will lean into a topic\, issue\, or event\, 
 focusing on growing our experience and understanding of that topic theolog
 ically and spiritually. The group is facilitated by our Minister\, Rev. Jo
 e\, and meets on the first Wednesday of the month.\n\nIn this group\, we h
 ave the opportunity to learn about UU theology and history\, an opportunit
 y to explore our monthly themes in more depth and variety\, and more. Part
 icipating affords an opportunity to reflect\, to share\, and to learn toge
 ther.  Unitarian Universalism has real gifts to offer\, and this group is
  an opportunity to better understand what those gifts can be and how they 
 might support living lives of whole-heartedness.
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CATEGORIES:Adult Religious Exploration
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