The following is a poem I wrote and shared for the first time at the conclusion of this past Sunday’s service:

In Their Own Time and Space

There is a stillness
beneath the ordinary.
A rhythm, ancient and unnamed,
that dares to move slower.

It is the breath of a child
gathering courage
before speaking.
It is the stillness
of one who takes watch
while the rest of us sleep.

We were not born
to be factories.
Not clocks.
Not cogs.
We were born
as bloom and wind,
with seasons and needs,
fault lines and firelight.

I have seen
the morning person praised
and the night owl pitied.
But let me tell you—
there are stars only visible
after the world falls quiet.

What if
we stopped asking
who is “right”
and started listening
for what is real?

I have sat in rooms
where the wordless was holy
and difference, divine.
Where needs were named
without shame,
and help was offered
without heroics.

Let us remember:
Life is not linear,
not competition.

We are not here
to be improved.
We are here
to grow alive.

So, when someone moves
in their own time,
in their own space—
may we not rush them.
May we not foolishly
try to fix them.
May we build a world
where they are welcome
to simply be.

And may we, too,
be free.

Some upcoming happenings outside of our standard Sunday morning programming:

• Tuesday, August 12th, 6pm, CFD Committee Meeting and Dinner
  We will be celebrating the transition that some of our volunteers are taking, meaning there is space for others to participate with the kids at UUFM! Please contact Macey at lffdirector.uumankato@gmail.com if you would like to join us to celebrate those departing from their roles and to learn more about what it’s like to volunteer!
• Saturday, August 16th, 4pm, Food Not Bombs Prep

 

Activities yet to be determined – please let Macey know by emailing her at lffdirector.uumankato@gmail.com if you have any interest in participating in any of the following, as these are ideas that could use some support. Please know staff are always open to hearing yours, too:

• Painting small-scale mural in the Children’s Faith Development classroom
• Organizing fall clothing and item swap day
• Crafting keychains for our Backpack Blessing ritual
• Lastly, this one is a certain date, but another invitation is assisting with kid-friendly crafts at Mankato Pride (possible coloring, beads, tie-dye – I am still considering what will be possible)