Oct. 14, 2026

What goes too long unchanged destroys itself. 
The forest is forever because it dies and so lives. 
~Ursula K. LeGuin

Dear Ones,

We live in a time of great change: climate change (how can it possibly be this hot in mid-October?), political change (hoped-for and not-wanted, both), cultural change, ecosystem change, geopolitical change, personal change (almost always!) and so much more on both small and large scales. 

Change can be hard for our somewhat limited brains to process. It helps me to remember that change is always part of life and that life requires constant change. (I survive physically by digesting my food, after all!) 

When we are fearful because we can’t see what’s coming and when violent, unwanted change threatens our beloveds and our sense of security and justice, I think it’s time to get curious about change–to watch for it, to consider engaging it intentionally, and to be curious about how life at so many different levels continues, responds, and reshapes itself in response to change. 

Together, how do we support ourselves and each other in meeting change with creativity and new life? What does it look like for a faith community to “keep the faith,” to hold its values steadily as the world and the powers that be tilt toward the threat of destruction? Maybe we can learn to be more like a forest.

Yours in hope and love,
Rev. Denise
RevDenise@gnuuc.org

P.S. Early voting in TN started this morning! Please make a plan to vote in this important election, and look around to see if others need encouragement or assistance to participate in the work of democracy. (Note about being a pro-democracy faith community: I will never tell you how to vote, but I will remind you, frequently, that the exercise of democracy aligns with our core values!)