A letter from UUA President William G. Sinkford

From: William G. Sinkford
To: California Unitarian Universalists

October 30, 2003

Dear Friends:

Unitarian Universalists across the country are following the news of the California wildfires with heartfelt anxiety, and with a special concern for our UU brothers and sisters in the path of destruction. Please know that our hopes and prayers are with you during this time of overwhelming uncertainty, and that we share your sense of shock and dismay.

The UUA’s Pacific Southwest District has created a fire relief fund to assist those affected by this tragedy, and we are sharing information about the fund via electronic communication. Please know that all of us on the staff in Boston are committed to keeping UUs across the country informed about the situation, and letting them know how they can help.

A crisis such as this one is a terrible reminder of the fragility of our human endeavors when confronted by the full force of nature’s raw power. You are bearing witness to the awe-inspiring reality that we are intimately connected to our environment, and that ultimately we have little control over its might. But while a disaster on this scale makes us feel small and vulnerable, only a crisis such as this can reveal the largeness of the human spirit.

For while we are small, we are not helpless. Although we cannot control the forces of fire and wind, nor prevent the suffering left in their wake, we can control our response to that suffering. And you have responded to the critical needs in your congregations in ways that are truly inspirational. I want to commend you for your strength and for the generosity you have shown to one another. I want to honor your commitment to reach out beyond the walls of your churches and grasp the hands of neighbors in your wider communities. And I want to share your example with all of our sister and brother Unitarian Universalists. It is an example that reflects the best of our aspirations and that embodies our belief in the deep interconnectedness that creates and sustains us. Thank you for being a light that shines so brightly in this time of darkness.

In Faith,

Rev. William Sinkford
President
Unitarian Universalist Association

Related story:
PSW District Fund Seeks Contributions to Deliver Aid to UUs and Communities Impacted by California Fires

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