When the world was new,Eagle called a meetingof all the birds. One

beautiful morning, theyassembled: Flamingo, SteppeBuzzard, Warbler, and all theothers. With hooting and singingthey greeted one another.

Eagle called for silence: “We mustchoose a leader!” There were caws andwhistles of agreement. Then Eagle said, “I look and act powerful. I am the bestchoice!”

Then, Owl spoke. “Yes, you aremajestic. But I should be the leader. I amknown for my wisdom.”

The birds began to argue back andforth. Should their leader have wisdomlike Owl or majesty like Eagle? Orperhaps strength, like Steppe Buzzard, ora stunning set of tail feathers, likePeacock? Then, a tiny voice emerged. It

was Warbler: “I think you shouldelect me leader of the birds!”

The birds began to laugh. Howdare this ridiculous little birdeven suggest such a thing! “What

have you got to offer? You are notthe wisest, nor the strongest, nor the

most majestic of the birds, or even themost popular,” said Eagle.

“Well,” said Warbler, “I can be a goodleader. I want the opportunity to try!”

“Let’s have a contest!” declared Eagle,and every bird agreed. “We’ll all fly ashigh as we can go. Whoever flies highestwill be our new leader.”

Warbler, who lacked the strength forhigh flying, made a plan. Just before thecontest, Warbler crept under Eagle’swing, pushing deep into Eagle’s feathers.Eagle, determined to win, did not feelWarbler at all.

FamiliesW E AV E A TA P E S T RY O F F A I T H

The Families pages are adapted from Tapestry of Faith lifespan faith development programs.

www.uua.org/tapestryoffaith

S TO RY F O R A L L AG E S

FALL2016

continued on page 2

A Vote:A Way

to Have a Say

Leader of the Birds

©iStockphoto.com

/beastfromeast

Eagle called for

silence: “Wemust choose

a leader!”

FA M I L I E S : W E AV E A TA P E S T RY O F FA I T H 1FA L L 2 0 1 6

E X P L O R I N G T O G E T H E R

There’s a Presidential election coming!U.S. voters will choose our next leader andelect mayors, governors, and other officials tolead our local communities and represent usin Congress. Election season is an excitingtime to participate in our democracy.

Leaders Among UsTape a sheet of paper oneveryone’s back and hand outwashable markers. Inviteeveryone to think of onepositive quality for each otherperson and write it on theirback. Now, read aloud thequalities others see in you!When others recognize thatwe are brave, or funny, orpatient, that feels good. And ithelps us understand thespecial sort of leadership webring to the group.

Your Turn to Vote

In our democracy, children get chances tovote at a young age. You have probablyvoted for your favorite snack, which

movie your family will watch, or a recessactivity at school. Have you ever voted for aleader? A class representative, or a captainfor your dance, chess, or sports team? Howdid you make your decision?

continued from page 1

The birds flew, higher andhigher. Those with small wingssoon turned back. In time, onlythree birds remained: Eagle,Owl, and Steppe Buzzard.Although exhausted, theypushed on. When Owl could nolonger continue, Owl dove backtoward earth. Up and up flewEagle and Steppe Buzzard, untilat long last Eagle saw thatSteppe Buzzard was not able tocontinue. Eagle flew just a littlehigher and proudly cried, “I’vewon! I am the new Leader of theBirds!”

“Not so fast,” chirpedWarbler, who emerged fromEagle’s feathers. “You have notwon yet!” And Warbler roseabove Eagle, who had nostrength left.

The birds did not acceptWarbler as their leader. Thetrickery angered them.Frightened, Warbler flew deepinto the forest. Today, Warblerflits from place to place, neverstaying long enough to becaught, calling “I can lead! I canlead!”

And to this day the birds arestill undecided about whoshould be their leader.

Versions of this tale appear inmany cultures’ folklore. Thisversion, adapted from one byLoreen McDonald, a teacher inSouth Africa, appears in Stories inFaith, a Tapestry ofFaith Toolkit book.

What Makes a Leader?In the story, the birds agreed that being able to fly the highest was a good test fortheir leader. What does it take to lead a family, an orchestra, or a constructioncrew? How about our nation?

Go around in a circle taking turns to name one quality a leader ought to have.The qualities from the story can get you started. But keep going. Should a leaderbe kind? Strict? Remember, great leaders sometimes play the role of gentlysupporting others.

“I believe…that thosewho are affected bypolicy—not those who bydefault often stand aboveit—should be heard in thedebate.”

Winona LaDuke, NativeAmerican activist, accepting anomination to run for VicePresident of the U.S. in1996

©iStockphoto.com

/bulentozber

wisdomstrength courageous

funnykindness

smart wisemajesty

patient

©iStockphoto.com

/Alex Belom

linsky/rafyfane

©iStockphoto.com

/IS_ImageSource

What kind of leader do you want

our country to have? Get into the conversation!

FA L L 2 0 1 62 FA M I L I E S : W E AV E A TA P E S T RY O F FA I T H

Our Choosing Day! Who’s Choosing?Walt Whitman’s poem, “Election Day,November, 1884,” portrays our national“choosing day” as a beautiful, wonderfultradition. You can look up the poem online.

But in 1884, only men were allowed to vote.African American men had gained the right tovote 14 years earlier, but, in many states, whitemen used intimidation and restrictions to keepblack voting to a minimum.

Over time, more of us became voters,because we fought for the right. Our faith

heritage includesmany fighters whobelieved indemocracy and ourright to have a say inma!ers that concern

us: Lydia Maria Child, Susan B. Anthony,James Reeb, John L. Cashin, and others.

Go online to find out who can vote forPresident this year. What about people born inanother country who do not have U.S.citizenship? What about someone who hasserved time in prison? Some people will notvote because their state’s laws make it toodifficult, for example, by demanding thateveryone bring a photo ID card to vote.

On the other hand, some cities and states areusing the Internet to make voting moreaccessible and fair. And many UnitarianUniversalists are still fighting to include all ofus in our “choosing day!”

Courtesy of the N

ational Constitution C

enter.

It’s Right to VoteYou’d think everyone with the right to vote would use theirright, right? Wrong. Fewer than 2/3 of those eligible actuallyvoted in national elections.

When asked why they don’t vote, some people say:

Your vote is your own, private, independent choice!

Many Ways to Play the Leadership GameWhat does a leader do? When should leaders share the role,or take turns? Play a “leader” game while you think about thesequestions!Amoeba Tag. To start, one person is “It.” When you get tagged,hang onto the “It” who tagged you and go on to tag more peopletogether.Frozen Tag. “It” can freeze people, while other players can un-freeze. Who would you say is the leader?Capture the Flag. Make two teams. Each team tries to protecttheir own flag while trying to get the other team’s. There’s roomfor many leaders. Can you move quickly and quietly? Share thatgift with your team.Follow the Leader. When you lead, try different styles andobserve what happens. If you move in unexpected ways, is thegame more fun? But, will everyone be able to keep up?

The 5th Unitarian Universalist PrincipleWe believe all persons should have a vote

about the things that concern them.

What do you think of these reasons? What could yousay to help someone change their mind and GO VOTE?

My vote won’t make a difference.

I amtoo

busy.

I don’t likeany of thecandidates.

Did you know…Women were notallowed to vote for

President until 1920.

©iStockphoto.com

/rafyfane©

iStockphoto.com/C

hristopher Futcher

FA M I L I E S : W E AV E A TA P E S T RY O F FA I T H 3FA L L 2 0 1 6

FIND OUT MORE■ See voter participation since 1789 (never more than 80%) on the U.S. ElectionProject website: http://www.electproject.org/national-1789-present■ A new Beacon Press book by Mary Frances Berry, Five Dollars and a Pork ChopSandwich, explores illegal voter manipulation and shares strategies forempowerment through voting. At inSpirit, the UU Book and Gift Shop. ■ Another story of birds seeking a leader is “The Journey of the Birds” in theTapestry of Faith program, Signs of Our Faith. Inspired by a Sufi Muslim poem, thistale asks, “Does a strong leader make a community strong? Or is strength found inmembers’ willingness to work together and share their gifts?” Read it together.How does its message apply to the choices our nation faces today?

P A R E N T R E F L E C T I O N

FA M I L I E S : WEAVE A TAPESTRY OF FAITHProvided by the Faith Development Office of the Unitarian UniversalistAssociation Director, Jessica YorkEditor, Susan Dana LawrenceGraphic Design, Ann Casady

On an election day, Jay Leachvotes early in the morning,taking his daughter Annie

along. Later in the afternoon, hiswife, Melissa Mummert, goes to thepolls—and Annie goes again. Annievotes “early andoften,” jokes herfather. “Our precinctworkers now knowAnnie.”

Annie has learnedby example: Adultsvote. Now that sheis ten, her parentswant her to knowwhy we vote:because it is ourright, ourresponsibility, andour privilege.Recently, Leachpointed out to hisdaughter that formany people, votingis “so boring they donot even do it. But,both of my grandmothers were borninto a world where they could notvote! One reason we vote is to helpsecure that right and privilege foreveryone.”

For Unitarian Universalists, to vote

is an act of faith. We believe that wedeserve a say in matters thatconcern us. But, democracy is messy.When we vote, we do not alwaysget our way. So, what is the point ofvoting?

“In some ways,voting is a symbol,”Leach says. “It is justone action of manywe take to participate,to demonstrate, topetition.” And so,Annie’s parents havealso given her practiceat “voting with herfeet.” She has stoodwith Moral Mondayprotestors to protectvoting rights andcarried a marriagelicense down hercongregation’s aisle aspart of a just-legalizedsame-sex wedding.

“We need to beready to have our say

in multiple ways, to continue ourengagement in the common goodafter the ballots are finally counted,”says Leach. “That’s an approach toliving our fifth Principle which wecan teach our kids.”

Democracy Is Messy. Take Your Kids to the Polls.

©iStockphoto.com

/emarto/Bas Slabbers Photography

■ Talk with your childabout who you will votefor, and why.

■ Help with voterregistration. Go to a rallywhere your child canwitness passionatecitizens. Offer people ridesto the polls.

■ Whether or not yourcandidate wins, when youpeacefully demonstrateabout issues that concernyou, you’re teaching yourchildren to have a say.

Rev. Jay Leach and his wife, Rev.Melissa Mummert, serve the UnitarianUniversalist Church of Charlotte, NCas, respectively, Senior Minister andAffiliated Community Minister.

Annie Leach and her father, Reverend JayLeach, having a say at the State House inRaleigh, NC.

FA L L 2 0 1 64 FA M I L I E S : W E AV E A TA P E S T RY O F FA I T H