“Leslie’s Logos – January 2025”
As I write this, it is very foggy which feels like an apt metaphor for how I am considering the new year. While it is hard to see too much in front of us, we do know some things—and it might be good to contemplate them as the years transition.
- We know we need to be grounded. When things swirl around us, we benefit from being firm in who we are and what we believe. Remembering that we can care for one another and offer one another respect even in a time when scorn and derision are in the air is critical.
- We know we need one another. Times like these call for solidarity and witness for one another. They also make community so valuable. And our community relies upon each of us to do our part. Isolation in these times will fuel fear and despair.
- We know our values are a precious legacy. While we may not be seeing them enacted in some aspects of our society, we know that the long arc of our faith’s commitment to justice and inclusion are more important than ever. Our values matter in this world and we must continue to be a place of sanctuary for them and to keep them alive in our hearts and in the hearts of those who will come after us.
- We know we need to be open to learning. The last months have made many of us confront what we don’t know and to question some of the choices we have made. Listening to one another’s wonderings may be a way we can be truly supportive of one another, a valuable gift in these times. This will mean listening across differences.
- We know we have survived hard times before. The last decade has been one of change and challenge and as we have faced those times, we have learned much. Some of us have had a lifetime of struggle and have deep skills as a result.
So even though the next step may not be clear, we have some truths to be a beacon to sound through the fog and guide our way. The year to come will test us and we are wise to face it with trepidation. Let us also face it with the strength of what we do know. I look forward to our continued journey together in 2025.
In faith and perseverance,
Rev. Leslie Takahashi
Rev. Leslie serves as Lead Minister and is best reached at leslie@mduuc.org or by phone.
If you do not get a response, please let her know!
(925) 934-3135
Schedule an appointment with Rev. Leslie through Calendly at https://calendly.com/revlesliemeet