Tough Love

Rev. Gretchen invites us to reckon with truth and contradictions in stories. She examines where our profound human need to seek patterns - even where none exist - can become dangerous and explores the importance of intentionally moving from our individual stories into the collective story in a way that embraces diverse experiences.

Rev. Gretchen draws on the story of Easter and the history of the 1918 pandemic to illustrate the importance of telling our stories even when our impulse is to try to forget and just move on.

Rev. Elaine honors the start of Passover and draws on the story of the ancient Israelites' escape from enslavement to explore how imagining what may seem impossible can lead to real liberation. She shares how this moment - as we begin emerging from the pandemic - is the time to imagine a new beginning in which we can move toward collective liberation and planetary healing.

Rev. Elaine explores how imagination asks us to loosen our grip on the illusion of control, step into the unknown and, how, in turn, imagination lays the ground for transformation and liberation because it helps us be co-creators of our future.

The ancient Persian story of the Simburgh, a benevolent, mythical flying creature. Adapted and narrated by Rev. Elaine Aron-Tenbrink. Originally told in the 12th century by Farid Ud-Din Attar and retold by Jorge Luis Borges (BORE-hayse) in “The Book of Imaginary Things.” Music: "Flight of a Young Bird" by Jared C. Balogh As distributed on the Free Music Archive  Creative Commons License for non-commercial use  Full License available here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/legalcode

Rev. Sean explores repairing relationships in the context of healing, accountability, shame, and transformative justice. We've all messed up and harmed someone, so what do we do after? What do repair, reconciliation, and accountability look like in the aftermath of a mistake? How do we move through shame toward accountability and healing? And what does it mean when the 'we' that has messed up is a society?

Rev. Sean reflects on receiving the vaccine and explores acknowledging ambiguity and celebrating along the way.

Rev. Gretchen offers a meditation and poses reflection questions for the anniversary of the pandemic.