“From the light of days remembered burns a beacon bright and clear, guiding hands and hearts and spirits into faith set free from fear.” These words by Mary Katherine Morn call us to acknowledge the past that we have inherited. The beacon hasn’t always been bright and clear. There are people who have done harm to and within congregations. There are times when we needed to be brave and we were instead, afraid. It is also true that there are moments when we’ve been more compassionate, more courageous than we knew we could be. Sometimes, two things can be true at once, our religious education colleague CB Beal reminds us.

As we explore resilience and as some of us prepare for the holidays and the pressure and joy that they can bring, let us remember to tell the truth with kindness; to listen with compassion, seeking to understand more than to be right; to be open to words that may have a different meaning than the one we initially thought was the message. Remember that space between stimulus and response and our commitments for the long haul. These small acts of courage can bring us a sense of deeper connection to others, to ourselves, and/or to the holy.

May it be so.

– Rev. Wendy and Rev. Lynn