They Lied to Us When I was growing up, all the adults around me seemed to offer the same life advice, “Work hard, go to a good college, graduate with a ‘useful’ degree, and it will all work out.” Mixed in there was also some messaging, as subtle as it was, about finding “the one,” … Continue reading Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation

‘Tis A Gift to Be Simple Hymn number 116 in Singing the Living Tradition is the Shaker melody ‘Tis A Gift to Be Simple. Growing up UU, I don’t recall singing this song all that often, but its message must have certainly permeated my religious education because I just could not connect with Mark Manson’s … Continue reading The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck

Let’s Make Stone Soup As a pluralistic religion, Unitarian Universalism is made of many stories, but there is one story that seems to have more staying power than others. It’s a story I heard when as a child at Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church, and one which I repeat regularly in my role as Director of … Continue reading Mutual Aid

This is Me As I mentioned in last year’s ‘Coming Out Day’ post, I’ve been questioning my gender for several year, ever since our minster at the time, Rev. Connie Simon, asked the congregation to wear pronoun stickers on their name tags. I encountered some ‘big feelings’ at her request, and at the time I … Continue reading The Body is Not an Apology

Rest I first encountered The Nap Ministry sometime around 2018. As an overtaxed mother, wife, and worker Tricia Hersey’s message of ‘Rest is Resistance’ resonated deeply with me. When Hersey’s book of the same name, Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto, was released I knew I had to read it for this sabbatical. Here are some … Continue reading Rest is Resistance

Guess What… Hi! Hello! How have you been? I know… you can’t answer that question. Comments are turned off. But, still, for your own sake, I’d like you to answer it anyway. How have you been? If you find you aren’t doing too well, then I encourage you to stop what you are doing right … Continue reading Back from Sabbatical

Not Another Announcement Post Hello Beloveds, I am sorry, but yes, this is another announcement post. And, here is the announcement – starting in January I will be on sabbatical. This means I will not be tending to my regular duties at First Unitarian Church, and so this blog will go dark for several months. … Continue reading Sabbatical News

Meet Mr. Jeff! Great News – Our new youth advisor, Mr. Jeff, will start Sunday, December 3rd! I know… I know… this post isn’t so much a “tool for the journey” as it is a simple announcement. But, I can’t keep quite! Mr. Jeff Jackson comes to First Unitarian Church from Ebenezer 2nd Baptist Church, … Continue reading New Youth Advisor