What if...

short thoughts

Short post today, as sleep has eluded me and the to-do-list beckons.

I wonder…

…what if we understood that we are not as unique as we think we are?

…what if we didn't pounce on visitors to get them involved but let them find what they need from us first?

…what if we understood our congregations as counter-cultural to the Madison Avenue/Wall Street ideas of what success looks like?

…what if we understood that there is not a limit on how much justice can exist in the world?

…what if we understood that there is not a limit on how much love can exist in the world?

…what if we saw our congregations as places that can save and change lives for the better rather than social clubs?

…what if congregations did not put all of their worship, programs, and meetings, on Sunday morning, a time when many young adults can't attend because they are working and many children can't come because they are otherwise scheduled by sports and other school events?

…what if we were collectively less afraid of conflict, less afraid to confront bad behavior, less afraid of being truthful with those in the congregation we consider our friends?

…what if we let go of the ways we learned how to share information in middle school, and actually talk to one another directly and transparently?

…what if we actually sought different solutions to the new problems we face, rather than insisting that's the answer we found last time will work this time?

…what if we understood that the problems we have in our congregation might be a problem others have too, and that they may have advice to share?

…what if we let go of the stories that keep us angry/upset/sad/ineffective/making the same mistakes over and over, and started telling a different story of who we are?

…what if we understood that Unitarian Universalism is a simple faith but not an easy faith?

…what if we just stopped for a moment and started doing things more generatively?

…what if we slowed down?

…what if we stopped trying to push the river?

…what if we were present to what is true, and helpful, and important, and needed, and kind?

Who would we be then?