March 2024

Dear Beloveds,

A whiff of a whiff of spring is present in the air.  In prior years, I would take pictures of snow drops and crocuses.  This month, I am thinking about the processes of transformation, and how we fuel our own creativity and courage.

An interesting article this past week in The New York Times by Dr. Tali Sharot and Mr. Cass R. Sunstein, “Why People Fail to Notice Horrors Around Them,” points out that for many who lived through Germany’s transformation into a fascist state controlled by the Nazi party, the process was a gradual one – “Each act, each occasion, is worse than the last, but only a little worse.” (The New York Times)

The most courageous activists and change agents in culture then become what Martin Luther King called “creatively maladjusted” – people who stand against the tide. They become agents of transformation because their courage and hope inspire others.

I have spoken about this idea of “creative maladjustment” before.  It does not mean that we have to have all the answers, the energy, or even the calling for being on the front lines of social justice work – but it does mean that we have to have a measure of curiosity about what we are holding on to a little too tightly.  Transformation can occur at any speed – the best, most courageous thing we can do is to maintain a degree of compassionate awareness and readiness to act.

In addition to the leap-year Spaghetti Dinner and Game Night; the fellowship lunch and the vote you are conducting about whether to rename the congregation; and your latest Soulful Sundown, there are opportunities to connect with other Unitarian Universalists about the upcoming Article 2 changes, another community coffee hour, and an evening Zoom spiritual gathering.

This month, we will honor the national day of Trans and Non-Binary Visibility on March 17th (the actual day is March 31st).  We will also celebrate the story of Easter on March 31st.

If you have any questions or wish to make an appointment to connect with me, please do not hesitate to contact the office or email me at [email protected]

Regards,

Rev. Valerie Freseman

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.