In today’s service, “The Size of the Cloth,” Rev. Ian W. Riddell addresses these cynical times head-on by reframing compassion as a radical spiritual practice rather than passive compliance. By sharing the delightful children’s book Kind Karl—the story of a gentle crocodile who defies expectations and chooses empathy—the sermon beautifully illustrates that kindness doesn’t care what you look like or where you come from. For spiritual seekers looking for an open-minded, progressive religious community in the Coachella Valley that actively resists modern hostility, this heartwarming story reminds us that even the most unexpected among us can build a safety net of genuine community care.
True kindness requires immense inner strength, resilient personal boundaries, and a disciplined commitment to honoring the inherent worth and dignity of every individual—scales and all. As a welcoming, inclusive church sanctuary, the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Desert (UUCOD) offers a safe spiritual home for people of all backgrounds, identities, and beliefs who want to turn empathy into real-world action.