There is a small stand of trees – mostly pines – to one side of our house. Nestled higgledy-piggledy amidst the pines are three small fir trees about so high.

I want to begin by asking you to imagine you are planning a dinner party for the most special people in your life.

Each August my family vacations for two weeks in a cabin on Mount Desert Island….
We explore the back roads on bikes, and one early morning I set out on my own.

I grew up in the middle class. Despite a few economic downturns here and there, I have pretty much stayed there my entire life.

This is my third sermon in a four-part series about compassion. Today I want to think about a great example of making a different choice. Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma, Alabama. What role did compassion play in the events of that day?

I have inherited a number of quilts, some of them from my grandmother, who pieced worn out pajamas, dresses, and shirts into designs to warm her family.

I guess that prayer was answered.
Prayer was central to Dr. King’s ministry, his justice work, his life.

Today’s sermon stands alone, but it is also the second part of a two-sermon series on the work of Joanna Macy.

Today, as we take up the topic of escalating inequality,
we can look to my own lived experience to see how workers’ compensation has eroded and financial struggles have escalated over the decades. A funny thing happened on the way to economic recovery and the prosperity our nation theoretically enjoys: Workers, for the most part, have been left out of it.

This is the first of four sermons exploring compassion. The others will be scattered throughout the year. To set the stage for future exploration, and to guide our contemplation today, let us consider the fact that all major religions state, in their particular ways, what has come to be known as the Golden Rule.