In writing about her mother’s death, Meghan O’Rourke suggests, “A mother is a story with no beginning.”

Each person on this earth has experienced loss. We may think when grief comes over us that we are alone in our mourning, that the smiling chatty folks around us don’t know…but of course they do. Being alive in this mortal world means knowing loss.

Poem by Hafiz (c.1325 - c.1389)

As someone who grew up Unitarian Universalist, I have to admit that there are some disadvantages to being a UU kid. It’s hard enough just getting people through the ten syllables of Unitarian Universalist. But if you manage that task then the inevitable follow-up question is: “What do you believe?”

Covenants are intentional. / Covenants are audacious. / Covenants are a promise / that can change our lives / together in this faith.

One of the ways that we create spiritual or theological common ground is so simple it’s almost embarrassing: We agree to do so. We make a commitment to each other to create a space that is held in common. In religious language, these commitments are called covenants. In the Bible, covenants are between people and God.

Unitarian Universalists are people of words. But words mean different things to different people.

Some among us are asking, "Is there a center to Unitarian Universalism?" Do we have a theological center? And why are we asking about this? When did pluralism become a problem?

The sun shines not on us but in us. The rivers flow not past, but through us. Thrilling, tingling, vibrating every fiber and cell of the substance of our bodies, making them glide and sing.

One of the most exciting things about growing up is that you can do more and more things by yourself.