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Don’t let the door hit ya
The Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein notes that some people are optimistic about 2018, while others are “wallowing in morose expectations.”
For the new year, I recommend discernment: what can I pay attention to and do that will be effective and not paralyzing? How much energy do I currently spend bemoaning the ignorance of people I’ll never meet, and can I reclaim some of that life force and apply it more effectively in some other way? How connected can I be to my local community? Where will I cultivate beauty, peace and reverence, understanding that even in the worst of times (which this most assuredly is not), I am cherishing the gift of life itself and helping others to do the same? (Facebook, January 2)
After what has been a rough year, Claire Curole says to 2017, “Don’t let the door hit ya.”
This flesh is not a happy comfortable place to be right now. It is hard to be present and open to experience in this body. And I have not had the strength of spirit or the depth of soul to care much about the vast sorrows of the world lately—something I need to regain connection with in order to feed my call.
But first, rest.
And tomorrow, a new calendar, and resolutions, and an honest effort to bring to fruition some of the many things I have started. (Sand Hill Diary, December 31)
The Rev. Dan Harper says, “As a radical feminist, I see a few things to cheer in Unitarian Universalism in 2017 — and many more things that make me feel sexism is alive and well.”
I was astonished at the rage I felt after reading that Peter Morales thought I was incapable of working for him in a high level staff position, simply because I am a religious educator, someone who does “women’s work,” in a profession where more than 90% of my colleagues are women, many of whom are poorly-paid part-time workers. . . .
Coupled with my feeling of rage was the uncomfortable realization that Unitarian Universalism is seeing a resurgence of sexism and anti-woman behavior. In other words, that rage didn’t all come from a few stupid remarks by Peter Morales. (Yet Another Unitarian Universalist, January 1)
Thomas Earthman notes that the New Year gives us a fresh, clean slate.
Today marks the start of a whole new year; one with no imperfections, mistakes, or failures in it. Today, you can choose to be your best self for the entire year, and probably succeed, at least for a little while. The thing to remember, with any resolution, is that you have to make the choice again every day, even after a slip up. (I Am UU, January 1)
What breaks us
Kim Hampton connects the recent death of Erica Garner to high rates of maternal and infant death in black families, and to the Feast of the Holy Innocents observed each year on December 28.
Racism kills. From the womb to the tomb. . . .
As we are learning, generational trauma affects all aspects of life (and DNA, as research is showing). What if we understood Erica and her baby as part of those Holy Innocents whom Herod called to be slaughtered? (East of Midnight, December 28)
Hampton also pushes back against attempts to romanticize suffering.
Remember the old cliche “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”? Research shows that this is not true, especially for Black people—and Black women in particular.
What doesn’t break us outwardly, breaks us inwardly. In short…white supremacy/racism kills. (East of Midnight, January 3)
Generations, vocations, and adventures
The Rev. Dawn Cooley reacts to Howard Dean’s suggestion that the old guard of Boomer leaders needs to step down in favor of Millennials—ignoring an entire generation.
We are Gen-X, and we are tired of being invisible and we are qualified and ready to step up. Trust me, we’ve been waiting a long time and are eager to show what we are made of.
Please don’t dismiss a whole generation that has our skills, experience and amazing leadership potential. (Facebook, January 4)
The Rev. Sarah Napoline engages in a Twitter conversation about congregations calling ministers who are not in fellowship with the UUA.
[Serving] a congregation as a “minister” without being in Fellowship means that person isn’t bound by our guidelines/covenant, & isn’t held accountable to said guidelines or to their colleagues. (Twitter, January 4)
Liz James has been on a surprise safari in Kenya—with what she judges to be inadequate protection from too-close lions.
Salaash, my friend who is Maasai, has told me many times not to worry about lions. He rolls his eyes at my irrational phobia, and always tells me that “lions only eat you if you are being stupid”. He is failing to account for the fact that being stupid is my second favourite pastime after eating. (Liz James Writes, January 4)