I’m sure that by the time you’re reading this we’ll be long past the Thirty Days of Love that has been promoted throughout email and social media, and acted out in sanctuaries and on streets across the country. But in this moment, I am overcome with the continued message of this campaign, and how it’s been actively lived out among us in recent days. This is what has been on my mind and heart: our reciprocal visits with Congregation Shir Ami brought opportunities for deepening understanding and connection with our neighbors. It re-awakened acquaintances and made friendships more connected. It taught me more about the lived qualities of Reform Judaism, and reminded me about what is important about Unitarian Universalism. It made me feel pride that our folks came out in such great numbers on a dark and rainy Friday night, and that we welcomed our visitors on Sunday with such a lovely, visible and delicious hospitality.

During this same weekend, when we were stretching ourselves to articulate our faith and learn about our liberal religious neighbors, I was also paying attention to the Moral March on Raleigh, North Carolina, an event where thousands of citizens gathered to cry out for change. Hundreds and hundreds of Unitarian Universalists joined in with people from the United Church of Christ, and others as they took to the streets to protest the many sad pieces of legislation being passed in the conservatively held state government. Changes include cuts in Medicaid and unemployment benefits, cuts for pre-K kids, slashing taxes on the upper 5 percent, passing anti-choice laws, and voter suppression.

Rev. Peter Morales tells us, “We must, as communities dedicated to justice, peace and love, reach out to others to share the transformational stories of what our unique faiths have to offer.”

As I read the latest news from Standing on the Side of Love, the website named today’s action. It said that our work today was to learn about the social justice work of another faith, and to “journal about what about that work inspires you.” I’d like to ask you to do that work as well. When you journal about the social justice work we do here in our progressive corner of the world, maybe you might ask where can we work together to create change on the “arc of justice” and do it while building new relationships. Might we then find transformation in ourselves?

With love, Katie