Zen teacher John Tarrant said the most basic form of love is attention. This is not just a matter of empathy or mindfulness. It’s about helping another person feel accepted and loved. Rev. John Monroe will explore how we can practice attention with a spirit of adventure and generosity.
Summary:
In this reflective sermon, the speaker explores the concept of generosity by defining it as the gift of undivided attention. Through personal anecdotes about his past shortcomings as a hospital chaplain, he illustrates how being task-oriented can inadvertently lead to social disconnection and the neglect of those around us. He argues that truly witnessing others is a fundamental human need and a moral obligation that aligns with the core values of Unitarian Universalism. By referencing various authors, he emphasizes that simple gestures, such as making eye contact or offering a smile, can affirm a person’s inherent worth. Ultimately, the sermon serves as a call to action to replace “autopilot” social interactions with a conscious commitment to beholding one another. This practice of deep engagement is presented as a transformative way to foster love and recognition in a lonely world.