Dear ones,

Breathing in… I know I am breathing in….Breathing out…I know I am breathing out… Buddhist monk Thích Nhất Hạnh faced deeply troubling times during the Vietnam war. We can learn from his wisdom even as he is now with the ancestors. Breathe in this present moment.

Once we are even a tiny bit more centered, we can act and reflect more effectively.

Here are some things you can do:

Check out the UUA Resilience Hub.

See the 30 Days of Love resources listed below.

Read/listen to Heather Cox Richardson, Rebecca Solnit, Robert Reich, adrienne maree brown, and others who are giving you truth, strength, and direction.

Consider connecting to Progressive Schenectady, the local Indivisible Chapter, and learn what they are doing during this horrific time.

Call and write to Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Sen. Chuck Schumer, and Rep. Paul Tonko. Thank them for what good they are doing and ask them to get much more vocal and much more resistant to all the evil that is happening. The Constitutional Crisis is a coup attempt. It must be stopped. Musk is engaging in illegal activity and must be stopped. Most of the appointees are incompetent and should not be approved. They must use all their power to stall and slow the process down and confirm as few as possible, articulating clearly and often to the American people that these people are unfit for office or unfit for the position. Tell them you are a person of faith and that you value integrity, justice, equity, and so forth…

Consider calling Congressional leaders in other places too if you have the time. If you don’t get through or can’t leave a message, call after hours, too.

Engage in your spiritual practice(s) with intention, attention, and repetition. Need some ideas? Ask!

And come to worship. Bring your friends. We need one another and we need to embolden our networks, focus our efforts, and strengthen our resolve.

With care,

Rev. Wendy and Rev. Lynn