We are participants in a universe that has been unfolding for 13.7 billion years. Science reveals a single, interconnected energy event that began as a speck and became galaxies, stars, and life on Earth. The great discovery of contemporary science is that the universe is not simply a place, but a story—a story in which we are immersed, to which we belong, and out of which we arose. This story is not separate from us; it defines us. We are the universe expressing itself as human beings, capable of thought, creativity, and love. Our task is to live wisely, drawing on the Spirit within to honor the interconnectedness of all life. The universe has navigated immense challenges, and there is reason to believe it supports our thriving. It is time to embrace our role as stewards of Earth and one another, awakening to the sacred energy flowing through all.
May we live as faithful participants
in the unfolding story of the universe,
honoring its wisdom and sacred interconnectedness
in all we do.
(inspired by Brian Thomas Swimme and Mary Evelyn Tucker, Journey of the Universe; John Philip Newell, The Great Search; Thomas Berry, The Great Work)