We move from our March theme of suffering to April's theme of compassion. This is a natural progression, as

compassion is our best response to suffering. This is true whether we witness it in others or experience it ourselves. Compassion, itself is an emotion expressed through feelings of sympathy, concern, empathy and love. It becomes something more, however, when we put it into action. Compassion then becomes care, kindness, mercy, and even justice. Compassionate acts can be big or small, but they always have an effect. I have a simple story to share which illustrates how even seemingly small acts of compassion can be profound in their effectiveness.

A companion and I were heading to hike along the North Shore of Lake Superior. We pulled into the parking lot of Tettegouche State Park and grabbed the provisions we needed. Ball caps on and day packs loaded, we walked toward the trail head. Suddenly my companion stopped.

"Do you hear that?" she asked.

I shrugged, not sure of what I should be hearing.

"Over here," she motioned.

She stood by a big red Dodge truck, peering into its front grill. I moved closer and heard the noise. It was a buzzing and a ticking, but not like the buzzing and the ticking an engine makes; this was coming from something else. My companion was wide-eyed, her mouth was half open in a way that expressed concern and surprise all at the same time.

"There’s a dragonfly stuck in there," she reported, "I'm gonna try to get him out."

The truck’s grill was honeycomb shaped and apparently the dragonfly had gotten stuck behind it. He was using all of his energy to try and get out, but his open wings kept preventing him from getting through the narrow rows of hexagons. My companion found a small stick and put it through to him, thinking he would be able to walk through on it. It didn’t work. For twenty minutes she worked with this struggling and trapped dragonfly trying to free him. Finally she said she was going to get him to step on the stick and then squeeze her fingers into through the opening to hold him with his wings in and pull him out.

I have to be honest. At this point I am thinking to myself, ‘who does this?’ What kind of person stops to rescue a dragonfly out of a truck grill, when our own car is full of bug splat from the same roads? I watched her with curiosity.

Then it happened. She somehow got her fingers around that bug's thorax and pulled him out. Her furrowed and concentrated brow gave way and she smiled broadly with delight and wonder as the dragonfly flew away. I had never seen anything quite like that. She could have been indifferent, given that she knew there were plenty of dead bugs all over our windshield. But, she instead chose to act on her compassion for another living creature who was struggling. It meant so little and yet it meant everything. The dragonfly lived and on that sunny day on the North Shore I stood witness of how compassionate and loving we are capable of being.

As for my companion, I married her. And it is still her little acts of compassion every day that inspire me to love and care for the world with a deep sense of knowing that it all matters. – Laura Thompson, Intern & Campus Minister

________________________________________________________________________________________ Reflect The Committee on Ministry (Lucas Frerichs, Stefan Harvey, Hiram Jackson, Lisa Oakes, Susan Steinbach, Karen Urbano) invites you to make the theme part of your spiritual practice:

"Our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future." – Nelson Mandela

How has compassion helped you turn suffering into hope?

� www.uudavis.org � Events/Publications � 2015-16, April, Compassion �

Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis (UUCD) Theme Journal – April, Compassion

One of my friends used to make up wild stories with her children whenever they encountered someone who

was rude or dismissive––someone who cut them off in traffic, a politician on TV, or an unhelpful waitress. These stories would go on until, even though we knew it was fantastical, some feeling of Compassion for their suffering would start welling up unbidden. I was rather taken with these exercises as a way to habituate Compassion toward others. Compassion is an active wish for someone to be free from suffering. Although we can cultivate compassionate feelings, this attitude is best expressed in action because, at its heart, it is a connective, relational feeling.

It is important to watch out for feelings that masquerade as Compassion, but set us on an unhelpful path. In the Buddhist tradition, teachers talk about these near enemies. I learned these four from Dale Asrael, a senior Mediation Instructor and Acharya in the Shambhala lineage.

The first near enemy of Compassion is pity. Pity assumes that we are up here looking down at someone else's suffering. It creates us/them separation and even disdain. We avoid pity when we value others as much as we value ourselves.

Despair, which becomes compassion fatigue, leaves us angry or numb. When we allow suffering to become our emotional and spiritual reality, we despair. We need to actively remember that suffering is not the only or most important feature of our lives.

Martyrdom happens when we become self-focused. We take on the suffering of others until we hurt more than they do. In this state we become unhelpful, and the people suffering may feel like they have to take care of us instead! Honor the struggles of others.

The last near enemy is fool's compassion: feeding cycles of suffering without addressing the cause. In an extreme example, buying an alcoholic liquor may quench his/her thirst in the moment, but it only deepens that habit. Sometimes it is hard to tell how we can really be helpful! The least we can do is try not to do harm.

Even though we might stray down one path or another in our quest to become more Compassionate people, the good news is that we will know we are doing well when we are not feeling angry, overwhelmed, or distrustful. When we get sure footing, we will feel more open, generous, and loving. And who doesn't want to feel like that?

– Adrean Dill, M.Div, Interim Director of Lifespan Learning ________________________________________________________________________________________ Read Interfaith Meatless Monday: The Plant-Based Journey, author talk by Lani Muelrath. April 10, 3pm, Davis Community Church. Muelrath offers six steps to transition to a diet of vegetables, fruits, seeds, and grains. She starts with personal reflection: What captures your imagination and heart? Are you motivated to live in a more compassionate way? Would you alter your eating habits to show compassion for animals, the planet, and those who are hungry? Sample recipes! Suggested donation $5-10. Sign up www.cooldavis.org/news Co-sponsor, UU Green Sanctuary.

Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty In The United States, by Sister Helen Prejean

The Hundred Dresses, by Eleanor Estes, Newberry Winner, picture book. Public Domain Image: https://pixabay.com/en/bug-close-up-dragonfly-fly-fragile-72056/

Sunday Worship Hymn of the Month, "For the Beauty of the Earth" by Lia Davis celebrates this glorious Spring. For the beauty of the earth, for the splendor of the skies, for the love which from our birth, over and around us lies. Grateful, grateful. Lia Davis is a co-leader of the music program at First Unitarian Society in Denver.

April 3, 9:30 & 11:15am, Listening As Spiritual Practice, Rev. Beth Banks; Karen Klussendorf, Worship Associate; Reflection: Jill Pickett. First Sunday (children & youth participate) & New Member Ceremony 11:15am. It’s no mistake that the April’s all-church theme, compassion follows the March theme, suffering. This service focuses on "listening to the still small voice within" and being present for the messages that are around us everywhere. One of the most important spiritual practices in my life happens when I prepare closing prayers for Celebration of Life services, and recognize members of the Board at their monthly meetings. It's a simple and complex process, but it comes down to listening.

________________________________________________________________________________________ April 10, 9:30 & 11:15am, Radical Hope; Rev. Fred Small, Musician & UU Preacher; Rev. Beth Banks, Worship Leader. How we can nourish hope and help build a just and sustainable society in the face of the climate crisis? Rev. Fred Small was hailed by 350.org founder, Bill McKibbon as one of the one of the true stalwarts in the fight against climate change.

Rev. Fred Small offers a full weekend of music and climate justice! See page 4.

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April 17, 9:30 & 11:15am, Earth Day Celebrated, Rev. Beth Banks; Donna Sachs, Worship Associate.

Our worship service will focus around one piece of music (lyrics by Laura Sandage, based on Psalm 42) that we’ve waited to perform for almost two years. Juuliebells and Sparks Choir perform together.

As the deer longs for cool water, so my soul thirsts for thee./ Day and night I crave the cool water of thy company. My heart cries in thirst for thee. O Holiest of Holies./ Leave me not in sorrow, lead me in thy presence tenderly.

My heart breaks in search of thee, O Holiest of Holies,/ Breaking open I find the Holy in a place inside of me As the deer drinks of cool water, so my soul is filled./ Day and night I taste the cool water, thy glory spilled. My heart with praise for thee, O Holiest of Holies.

Special Collection – UU Ministry for the Earth. Make checks out to UUCD, memo Earth. Connecting and inspiring an active community of UUs for environmental justice, spiritual renewal, and shared reverence for our Earth home. www.uuministryforearth.org Donate anytime: http://tinyurl.com/DonateUUCD

SUUper Sunday: Join us after worship for soup and programming for all ages. $3-5 suggested donation. Recipe by Chef Laura Thompson. Committee on Ministry will cook the soup! Sign your family, friends, group or committee up to cook next time! re@uudavis.org

________________________________________________________________________________________ April 24, 9:30 & 11:15am, In Her Shoes, Laura Thompson & UU Campus Ministry. Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something and has lost something. –H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Join the UU Campus Ministry students and minister as they explore what it means to live out our lives with empathy.

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Listen Download or stream edited Sunday services at www.uudavispodcast.org

Public Domain Image: https://pixabay.com/en/dragonfly-blue-insect-close-545738/

Fred Small Climate Justice

Concert & Workshop

April 9 & 10 Facing the climate crisis will demand the

best of us, calling us to courage, creativity, kindness, & love.

"Fred Small is one of America's best songwriters."

– Pete Seeger

� Fred Small's Final Concert Saturday, April 9, 7pm Join Fred Small for an evening of songs of conscience in the tradition of Tom Paxton and Holly Near.

This is the final concert of his career, and an evening of powerful and inviting songs addressing climate justice and other critical issues of the day.

Tickets: $12 online and $15 at the door. http://revsmallradicalhope.bpt.me/

� Music & Message: Radical Hope Sunday, April 10, 9:30 & 11:15am How we can nourish hope and help build a just and sustainable society in the face of the climate crisis? Free.

� Workshop: Give Light, Spiritual Nurture for Climate Activism, Sunday, April 10, 1-3:30pm As we come to understand the gravity of climate disruption, it's easy to become disheartened. In this

interactive workshop, Fred Small will invite us into meditation, reflection, prayer and song, strengthening our spirits for the struggle for climate justice. Details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1709550395959363

Tickets $22 online and $25 at the door; work scholarships available. Space is limited! http://revsmallgivelight.brownpapertickets.com/

All events at: Unitarian Universalist Church of Davis, Main Building 27074 Patwin Road Davis, CA 95616 (off Russell Blvd in West Davis)

office@uudavis.org � (530) 753-2581 x203

___________________________________________________________________ Fred Small, UU minister, songleader, and former environmental lawyer, now works for Climate Justice at Arlington Street Church, Boston, and for Climate XChange, which advocates for carbon-pricing legislation in Massachusetts.

http://www.uua.org/directory/people/fred-small Twitter: @revfredsmall