Of all the themes this year, Embracing Possibility is arguably the closest to the core of our faith. Historically, where others saw sin and depravity at the center of the human state of being, Unitarians and Universalists saw goodness, given by God and shared with one another.  As the centuries and decades went on, even though for many the faith became less or not at all based on a Christian idea of God, the claims of goodness, generosity, and possibility remained central.  

This month, we explore what it feels like to embrace possibility.  We do this at a time when we experience an unmatched yearning for stability and for knowing what will happen next, with hope for change in our families, communities, nation, and world.  Sometimes just facing the day requires demanding what is possible over what is probable and leaping into hope for the great unknown and yet-to-be imagined experiences. 

I find myself increasingly aware that life has never made promises of making sense or taking a course that I can predict.  I recently came across a question that asked, “What if we treated every day like our first day instead of our last?”  The question opened up a whole host of new possibilities with a yet unwritten day, a new beginning, and a full future ahead.   Questions begin to pop such as who do I want to gather around me in the journey, where do we start, what are the skills required, and what might be asked of me as I surrender to the mystery?

This month, I invite you to explore what is possible in your life.   As a place to start, Unitarian Universalist minister Scott Tayler, encourages us to ask the following questions:

What is awakening in my life?

What in me wants to unfold?

What needs “unlocking” in my life so possibility can emerge? 

Where do I need to loosen, soften, or crack open a closed door so that what is stirring inside me has room to grow?

With your questions in mind, step out into the grace of the cosmos and the support of your UU community and prepare to be ambushed by the possibilities. 

Let Astonishment be Possible by Gretchen Haley

Whatever you have come anticipating, whatever you expect or worry for our world, for the future for our lives – let it go.  Make space in your heart to be surprised.  Make room in your soul for a new story to take shape.  Let astonishment be possible…Imagine here the bursting of joy, relentless and resilient, coming in waves to wash over us with music, and story, silence, and still this dreaming together.  Being hope for each other and courage to believe in this new day dawning for us all.