Our spiritual theme of “humility” is already prompting important reflection, at least based on questions I am receiving and conversations I’m having. Humility, if taken to extreme, can seem to … Continue reading Balance

In a meeting with a group of congregants last week, I decided to share a poem about America for our centering. The past week I had blogged about the separation … Continue reading O, Beautiful

Meet Delia, My Great Grandmother In this photo, taken about 1885, my great-grandmother, Delia Penland sits surrounded by her family. Her husband sits to her right, her eldest daughter, my … Continue reading Meet Delia, My Great Grandmother

Unitarian Universalism knows the importance of the separation of church and state. Thomas Jefferson, who declared himself a Unitarian, articulated the original language of separation that we still draw on. … Continue reading Church and State and Outrage

Many of you spoke or wrote to me about the prayer I offered in worship last Sunday, just days before the turning of the year. As it spoke to those … Continue reading Prayer for Us All in the New Year

Cornbread was on the menu last night at my evening meeting. The host had made the cornbread the “right way,” the cast iron skillet heated in the oven first so … Continue reading Cornbread and Gratitude

Many of you know that I have been thinking about my retirement for some time. When the congregation called me in 2010, there was honest conversation about how long my … Continue reading A Personal Message

This Thanksgiving I find myself reflecting on the absence of perfection. You have heard me preach about the problems of perfection as a standard, the way it encourages all of … Continue reading Thanks for the Imperfect

In his concluding statement during the Democratic Candidates Debate last night, Senator Corey Booker pointed out Rep. John Lewis sitting in the audience and began with the famous words of … Continue reading Wells We Did Not Dig