A Word from Rev Gordon (04/01)

Dear Beloveds,

Love as Generosity: A Call to Live Our UU Principles
Americans often take pride in our generosity. We celebrate our charitable giving, volunteerism, and national contributions to global aid. Yet, when we look closer, the reality is sobering. The United States does not rank among the most generous nations in the world, especially when measured by what we give relative to our wealth. We are currently #6 in the world, but we give less proportionately than others. Even within our own communities, in cities like our beloved Los Angeles, we see stark reminders of need—tens of thousands of people are unhoused, millions struggle with food insecurity, and access to basic necessities remains out of reach for far too many.

As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm and promote our Eight Principles, which call us to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of every person and to work toward justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. Our new focus on Centering Love challenges us to take these commitments a step further. It invites us not only to love in word and belief but also in action. What does it mean to embody love as generosity? How do we move beyond passive charity and into the radical, justice-seeking generosity that changes lives?

A Broader View of Generosity
True generosity is not merely the occasional donation or seasonal giving. It is a way of being in the world—a commitment to ensuring that everyone has enough, not just through financial contributions but through our time, energy, advocacy, and daily choices. As Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr reminded us, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?”

We are called to see generosity as justice in action. This means addressing the systemic causes of homelessness and poverty rather than simply responding to their symptoms. It means asking not just how we can give, but how we can change structures so that fewer people are in need of charity in the first place.

Beginning with Ourselves
Before we can truly give to others, we must cultivate love and generosity within ourselves. We cannot pour from an empty cup. Loving ourselves—honoring our own worth, setting boundaries, and nurturing our well-being—creates a foundation from which we can give freely without resentment or depletion. As we move from me to we, we do so from a place of wholeness, allowing our generosity to be not just an obligation but a true expression of our love and commitment to justice. When we care for ourselves, we give from abundance, not scarcity, and our generosity becomes transformative rather than transactional.

A Legacy of Generosity
I am deeply aware of the history of SepulvedaUU being a kind, generous, activist people. This is a tremendous legacy. You have continued to be generous while I have served you, and I am proud of SepulvedaUU. Let’s continue the good works. Let’s be the love, the generous people this city, this state, this nation needs us to be. Thank you!

What We Can Do as UUs
1. Advocate for Policies That Uplift – Support initiatives that provide affordable housing, fair wages, and healthcare for all. Join local advocacy efforts in Los Angeles that fight for economic and social justice.
2. Engage in Mutual Aid – Instead of only giving to large charities, consider supporting grassroots mutual aid networks where communities care for one another directly.
3. Embrace a Generosity of Spirit – Give not only money but also your time, attention, and presence. Build relationships with those in need and seek to understand their struggles and aspirations.
4. Rethink Wealth and Resources – As UU minister Rev. William Ellery Channing said, “The great end in religious instruction is not to stamp our minds upon the young, but to stir up their own.” Similarly, generosity is not about what we impose upon others but how we empower them to thrive..

A Faith That Gives Freely
Generosity is at the heart of our faith. It is a radical act of love, a recognition that we are deeply interconnected. It is not about giving what is easy or convenient, but about stretching ourselves to create a world where everyone’s needs are met. Theologian and UU minister James Luther Adams put it best: “A faith that is not the sister of justice is bound to bring us to grief.” If our love is true, it must be generous. And if our generosity is true, it must be just.

Let us be a community that does not simply talk about love but embodies it. Let us move beyond acts of kindness to acts of transformation. Love as generosity is not a seasonal gesture—it is a lifelong spiritual practice, one that calls us to be ever more aware, ever more giving, and ever more connected to the needs of those around us.

May we, as Unitarian Universalists, answer the call to live our faith with boldness, with justice, and with a love that gives abundantly.

With Love,
Rev Gordon Clay Bailey

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