What makes us human? How do we hold this Ethical faith in the human — in human goodness — when we see so much discouraging human behavior in our world? THAT’S FAITH!
What are the seeds of humanity? What do we all have in common?
And how can humans become humane?
As we enter Mindful May, and get ready to celebrate the
B-earthday of Ethical Culture itself, (technically May 15, 1876) these foundational questions of humanism are compelling to contemplate.
Our FIRST SUNDAYS SERIES of May invited THE HUMAN FAMILY to wonder together in an event, titled “NURTURING HUMANITY” on Sunday, May 2nd. Participants made virtual backgrounds show their baby pictures, as seedlings of humanity. “What brings joy? What brings sorrow?” Participants prepared by writings and drawings to share with the community — to “nurture humanity!”
This event revealed the deep beauty of humanity, through Young Ethical Explorers themselves. It highlighted how the seedlings of humanity grow into the blossoms of expression and thoughtfulness — how humans become HUMANE!
Special thanks goes to the nurturers of our Young Ethical Explorers — their families and their teachers.
SEE THE GALLERY HERE!
Why share baby pictures for our event’s goal of nurturing humanity?
We can cross the intergenerational divides by sharing baby pics…. They can offer a unity beyond our imaginations for people to see the strong seed of each grown up, of each elder. Many people are hard on themselves and one another in terms of age.
When we regard ourselves within the same framework as someone at a very different life stage then our own, we let go of “other-ing.” We embrace that instant ethical growth spurt of awareness. Awareness of life’s big picture. Awareness of a living wholeness. As we embrace our own wholeness, we have begun to embrace others’.
When finding compassion for someone is a struggle, it is sometimes incredible to see the precious baby deep within that person – to know you would intend to hold that baby tenderly if it was before you. As Maya Angelou says in her poem Human Family, “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.”
Another wonderful May celebration happens to be WORLD LAUGHTER DAY, and so as a laughter gift, enjoy this dear Laughter Guru: A guide to awakening with laughter.
