Beyond the Shadows: Illuminating True Interdependence

Rev. Lee Anne Wasthingon

There’s a delicate balance between individual agency and our Seventh UU Principle: the interdependent web of existence. In celebrating Summer Solstice, we step out of the shadows of two persistent errors—a toxic empathy that minimizes human capability by viewing people as perpetual victims, and a rigid self-sufficiency that refuses the support of others.

Drawing on several wisdom traditions, we will examine how the best community caretaking promotes a healthy interdependence, through personal resourcefulness, rather than permanent dependency.