We bow our heads in order to imagine not one path, but many. We imagine a path forward for those who cannot imagine any path forward, because of poor health, financial hardship, family crises, and other roadblocks we cannot begin to understand or imagine.

We struggle to imagine a path forward for those who are forced to leave a homeland against their will and for those unable to leave a war-torn homeland despite their lives being in danger. We imagine a path forward for those who leave their homes to make a better life for their families elsewhere. May we be a welcoming presence along that path toward hope.

We come together to imagine a path forward for those of us despairing because we do not seem to know our country nor our neighbors, despite the fact that we have not moved at all. May we be the good we are hoping to find as we travel side by side down the path toward hope.

We imagine a path forward for those who feel lonely [optional: at this time of year]. May we take one another’s hands as we walk that path toward community.

Truly, we know as we imagine these ways forward, and take one another’s hands, the paths will lead to hope, the roads will lead to Beloved Community, and the arc will bend toward Justice because we have dared to travel with love in our hearts.

We now join together in a time of silence.