LESLIE’S LOGOS – NOVEMBER 2024

I am the owner of two dogs, so I know a little bit about doggedness.  Sometimes it is quite annoying—such as when the pups are determined to get out of their leads and run about in the back yards with their anti-greeting barks.  Other times it is quite endearing, such as my smaller dog’s determination to be as close to me as he can as much as he can.  Or my big girl’s persistence until she learns the new trick—she just won’t stop until she figures out what it is that I am asking for exactly.  

These times, my friends, are times for a little of that good doggedness.

No matter what world greets us on November 6 or on November 30 or January 20th next year, we know that our democracy is ailing and we need to be part of a long-term, dogged effort to help adapt it to the world we live in now. And we also know that the persistent issues we have around income inequality and othering and the threats to our planet aren’t going to be going away, so like dogs with bones, we need to find our stick-to-it-ness.

That doesn’t mean all the time or only with a grim determination—no, we need to be dogged about our enjoyment, about our commitment to our communities and about our need for joy as well.  We need to be dogged about continuing to hold the best and worst about our world together in delicate juxtaposition. 

While I know a few cat owners out there may be feeling disconnected from this, you know there is a feline equivalent that you can insert and use as a model as we continue to make this world a place where people can live in wholeness and thrive.  Whatever metaphor works for you, whatever support you need, let’s put it all in to the mix and use everything we’ve got because we need to be in this for the long haul. 

As Unitarian Universalists, determination is in our DNA. With our new history library space, I have been thinking a lot about our spiritual doggedness. We have been, throughout the decades, the people that sometimes arrive a little early at the party—on the set-up crew to notice that women matter, for example, or that trans people matter—and then we stay to the end of the clean-up.  And the world needs that.

Let’s continue to support one another.

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!

Schedule an appointment with Rev. Leslie through Calendly at https://calendly.com/revlesliemeet