What I know now, that I did not know several years ago, is that renewal starts from a quiet space. Silence can be a hard commodity to find in our busy lives: either real silence, where you don’t hear anything but the rushing wind, or virtual silence, in which you quiet the noise within. ”Read

In all honesty, I spent the vast majority of time during those ten-day retreats becoming aware of how rarely I am completely present to myself. It was not one blissful moment after another. ”Read

The other day my internet went out. Eventually a guy from the cable company came out and determined that our cable had worn through from rubbing against a tree, and that really all of the cable from the main line to the modem needed to be replaced. ”Read

I have a friend who is a sailor. Sometimes he takes companions with him, but frequently he sails alone. ”Read

Your relinquishment has been my biggest blessing. Your very life has made my own shimmer with joy, laughter, the words “my child…” ”Read

“To find yourself, think for yourself.” —Socrates

Your relinquishment has been my biggest blessing. Your very life has made my own shimmer with joy, laughter, the words “my child…” Read more »

You know who you are. You put your own life on hold, you the caregivers … Read more »

Some of us have been able to escape the bonds of belief systems that condemn us through religious hate-speak. As an “escapee,” I offer you words of comfort: You are not an abomination. You are not flawed. You are good and worthy, and you deserve to live life in an unfragmented fashion…as well as confident that you deserve to ...Read more »

Illness, including mental illness, is nothing for which an individual should be blamed or shamed. But doesn’t our UU theology hold a fuller revelation? Read more »

Just as much as marriage, divorce or separation can be a holy choice. When divorce is grounded in deep reflection and care, it can be an expression of love and commitment to life. Read more »

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. (Rom 12:9-10) Read more »

The ideal of diversity meets the messiness of putting multi-racial living into practice in both our family and our spiritual homes. Read more »

“Do you know who I am?” I asked my soul mate of almost 23 years. She looked at me attentively, which was something, but said no words. “I’m Patti,” I said, “your wife. We’ve been together for 23 years.” Read more »

If we look beneath memory loss and the inability to reason, we may be surprised to discover what persons with Alzheimer’s reveal to us … Read more »

Caregivers often must put the rest of their lives on hold to attend to the sick child. But those of us in that role must also take care of ourselves so that we are strengthened to give that care. Read more »

What do we want for our children? Love and happiness, perhaps, are a good place to start. Read more »

Over the years, we learned that gender too was one of the seeds that would only emerge in time. How beautiful it has been to watch as our beloved child has bloomed, in gender and identity and expression. Read more »

Prayers for people who love soldiers—those soldiers in harm’s way, those who have returned, and those who have died. Read more »

Rather than seeing new babies as tainted by original sin, we see them as whole and beautiful, just as they are. Read more »