May 27, 2026

Find the thing that stirs your heart and make room for it. 
Life is about the development of self to the point of unbridled joy.
~Joan Chittister

Friends,

Joan Chittister is a Catholic theologian who has spent her life (now entering a tenth decade!) as a Benedictine nun and abbess. I tell you this because I am quite certain that her idea of self-development toward joy does not emerge from a commitment to individuality, but is deeply rooted in a communal understanding of human personhood and growth and commitment to mutual service and flourishing. 

Chittister’s words move me to curiosity in several directions: 

-What makes my/your/our heart/s stir and reach for joy?
-How do we make room in our lives for what moves us? Is this a strenuous project, or more of an opening & allowing shift in attitude?
-Do we pay enough attention to our hearts? Enough of the right kind of attention? Can curiosity help?
-What would it look like to prioritize “unbridled joy” as the pinnacle of human development? (Oh my!)

No answers right now; just lots of questions–but they are questions that make me happy even in their framing…

Yours in curiosity and joy,
Rev. Denise
RevDenise@gnuuc.org