“… when we slow down and breathe, when we turn our attention to what is real and near, we can feel the presence of something else.”
On this Wednesday night, as the headlines once again weigh heavily on the heart, it is easy to wonder how we have come to this moment in our nation’s life. How can we be at this place in history, where cruelty too often masquerades as strength, where disregard seems to outshout compassion, and where chaos has become a daily companion?
And yet, at this very same hour, a group of faithful UUCF members is preparing to gather for a meeting to do the steady work of building sustainable community. They come because they care deeply about keeping this congregation alive and vital for the generations to come. They come because love calls them here.
In times like these, it is natural to feel the ache of uncertainty, to wake in the night wondering how we will ever find our way through the noise and the division. But when we slow down and breathe, when we turn our attention to what is real and near, we can feel the presence of something else. The beauty of this place. The love that surrounds us. The simple, miraculous gifts of warmth, safety, and belonging. The reminder that, even amid turmoil, goodness is still very much alive.
There is so much to be grateful for. Yes, these are times of trial. Yes, the work ahead will take years of courage, patience, and care. But we do not travel alone. We have each other, our neighbors, our shared commitment. And we have this community, where people continue to show up, having not been paid this month in their jobs, still working in so many ways to serve the greater good.
As we gather on this chilly November night, may we remember that this, too, is sacred work. To be together. To hold one another in love. To keep faith alive in a world that needs it more than ever. For in the quiet dedication of your fellow members, we glimpse the very goodness that can heal the world.
This is what to hold on to as we travel together through this holiday season, this is the joy and meaning of this community. Many of us will likely see each other again as the season progresses, but it was on this night, in this month of Thanksgiving, it just felt like such a good time to share these thoughts of such deep gratitude for you and for UUCF.
With love,
Rev. David Miller
Senior Minister