Time for Commitments

 

When I go for physical therapy, the exercise bike on which I am expected to "warm up" is placed facing a window that looks across the parking lot at a wonderful tree--Chinese tallow maybe--which has absorbed my attention for many "steps" on that bike.  On the wall next to the window is a framed poster:  Commitment to Commitments.  Now and then I read through these statements and compare them to our own Commitments in Ethical Culture.  The list at Texas Physical Therapy Specialists (a fine and caring group of folks) includes a commitment statement followed by a second clarifying statement followed by a paragraph of amplifying examples and scenarios.  The TPTS list goes like this (without the paragraph of amplification):

1. I commit to Rabid Responsibility.  I own my commitments.
2. I commit to Confidentiality and Alignment.  I keep confidences.
3. I commit to Empathy.  I picture myself in the other person's shoes.
4. I commit to Authenticity.  I acknowledge that I am an intrinsically valuable person.
5. I commit to Gratitude which Reinforces Humility:  What I appreciate, appreciates.  We rise when we rest on the foundation of Humility.  
6. I commit to Life-long Learning.  The learning never stops.
7. I commit to Perspective.  Playfulness and fun make people better.
8. I commit to Do What's Right.  Very, very Simple:  Would mom approve?
9. I commit to Serve with Passion.  My passion drives me to make meaningful differences in lives and business.  
10. I commit to Sisu:  I will face challenges head-on.

Our Eight Commitments are very similar.  We make doing what's right central in our lives and acknowledge that doing so begins with a choice--every day, every time.  We commit to treat each other with integrity, which includes keeping our word, keeping confidences, being authentic and honest.  We commit to treat each other as an end, not a means.  We commit to life-long learning--and democratic processes.  Overarching these commitments, we have the Supreme Ethical Rule:  Act so as to elicit the best in others and thereby in thyself--empathy, gratitude, humility, perspective, and passion.  

The one thing I can't immediately see shared in common in these lists is sisu.  I had to Google that one.  It turns out to be a concept originating in the Finnish language (and culture) that is now becoming more common in English.  It is an amalgam of the concepts embedded in courage, fortitude, stoic determination, and endurance in the face of overwhelming odds.  

At first, it is rather hard to place this within the context of Ethical Culture.  However, when I think about what I am learning about the history of Ethical Culture and Felix Adler's role in nurturing the Movement from its earliest days, I suspect that Adler had more than a little bit of sisu to carry him forward.  From the moment he delivered his first address at Temple Emanu-El, Adler faced challenges and opposition from those who disagreed with him.  As I work on the Bibliography for Ethical Culture, I find articles and commentaries that paint him (and the Ethical Culture Movement) as ignorant or blasphemous or both.  Yet Adler continued to work for the Movement until he died in 1933.  Throughout these many years, he developed and refined his concept of Ideal Ethics and the paths (manifold) we need to take to seek that Ideal, patiently explaining over and over again that our goal is to become better humans and that we do so by working to make the world a better place for other humans to do the same.  As far as I can tell, he didn't give up, nor did he back down.

As we begin a new year, we are faced with some daunting challenges.  Climate change is not a joke.  The possibility that Donald Trump might win the presidency again is a nightmare.  We keep getting closer and closer to nuclear war.  Racism, sexism, inequalities in so many realms--the list goes on and on.  It would be easier to retreat from these issues, to avoid thinking about them.  The thing is:  Ethics is central.  And we need to tell people that integrity matters and how we treat each other matters and that peace is something we make.  It could be time for sisu in Ethical Culture.  Where shall we start?