Dear UUSJ members,
This past Tuesday, our nation and our local community were struck a
devastating blow. Many of us are personally connected with people who
died or were injured and all of us are thrown off balance by the horrors
we have witnessed. I was one of many clergy people who gathered with
my religious community Tuesday night to mourn and rage and pray. I hope
you were able to find comfort in your family, friends and community
during this difficult time.
Around the region and beyond, people are stunned and struggling to
come to terms with what this might mean for our future as a nation.
As Unitarian Universalists, we are called to do many things in the face
of this terror. First, we are called to keep our hearts open. Grief
is the natural response to such acts. Let us not hide our grief but
allow ourselves to feel it. Grief left unspoken can be a canker on the
spirit.
Second, we are called to keep our minds open. We are challenged to
hear and understand what happened, and to seek a reasoned response that
does not center on revenge. We may not agree on what should happen next,
but we can agree that acting out of hatred and fear will only make things
worse.
Finally, we are called to open our hands to those in need. There are
many whose lives have been devastated by this tragedy. Whatever we can
do, let us do it in love.
UUs for Social Justice in the Baltimore/Washington region is a new
organization. Our resources are small. Nonetheless, I urge you to remember
that whatever you do, whether through your congregation, neighborhood
or workplace, you are not alone. Other UUs in our region are with you
as we struggle together to understand what this will all mean.
Our organization is going forward in our work to hire a program consultant
in education, to focus on our issue of public education, and to continue
to bring UUs together around our region to work on social justice issues.
Please keep an eye on our website, which we will work to keep updated.
Blessings and love in this difficult time.
Sincerely yours,
The Rev. Barbara Wells
Co-Chair, UUSJ
