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Braver/Wiser: Courage and Compassion for Life as It Is

Life is full of hard edges and complicated choices. Braver/Wiser gives you weekly message of courage and compassion for life as it is. Every Wednesday we deliver an original written reflection and brief prayer, grounded in Unitarian Universalism. Join the Braver/Wiser community and sign up today!

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 298

  • A woman sitting on a large tree branch, with the tree around her, holds her hands to her heart with closed eyes, as if meditating.
    Our bodies are so wise, and they hold so much information.
    Reflection | By Julica Hermann de la Fuente | September 27, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Body, Discernment, Wisdom, Worship
  • From above, the back of a person's head as they sit in meditation and use a Tibetan singing bowl.
    I have struggled forgiving myself for not knowing how to create appropriate boundaries.
    Reflection | By Lynette Yetter | September 20, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Acceptance, Buddhism, Compassion, Forgiveness, Journey, Relationships, Spiritual Practice, Worship
  • A colorful, simple painting of two people's heads facing one another, with brighly colored sparks or energy radiating off of them.
    May we remember to slow down when we find ourselves having difficult conversations.
    Reflection | By Tania Márquez | September 13, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Conflict, Relationships, Worship
  • In a spring garden, dark purple peony shoots rise from a flower bed while a person in gardening gloves works.
    Self-compassion was one of the best gifts I gave myself.
    Reflection | By DanaLee Simon | September 6, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Acceptance, Change, Earth, Healing, Nature, Patience, Personal Stories, Self-Respect, Stewardship, Worship
  • A person's hands are clasped in prayer in what appears to be a church pew.
    Every relationship is an ongoing story that unfolds between people.
    Reflection | By Erika Hewitt | June 28, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Brokenness, Connections, Forgiveness, Healing, Relationships, Worship
  • In a sunny room, raised hands are the focus of this photo, with a few blurred faces in the background.
    May we be active participants in the liberatory potential of democracy.
    Reflection | By Shaya French | June 21, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 5th Principle (Conscience & Democracy), Choice, Conflict, Conscience, Democracy, Unitarian Universalism, Young Adults, Worship
  • Six cylindrical vases are filled with colored liquid, so that together they form a rainbow. This photo captures the bottom of each vase and the reflection of their color on a blank surface.
    I would have loved it as a kid to have a church that encouraged us to listen to our heartfelt yearning of self.
    Reflection | By Zeb Green | June 7, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Anti-Oppression, Coming Out, Direct Experience, Gender, Identity, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Pride Sunday, Truth, Worship
  • A hand opens a door, revealing a restroom.
    I belong, and you belong, and we belong—just as we are.
    Reflection | By Li Kynvi | May 31, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Anti-Oppression, Body, Courage, Direct Experience, Humanism, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Oppression, Pride Sunday, Privilege, Secular, Worship
  • A bustling train platform, with passengers and lit signs in Japanese and English, at the Shinjuku station.
    If I’m not cultivating an open heart and watching for the helpers, the teachers, and the angels, I may miss them when I need them the most.
    Reflection | By Sue Ferguson | May 24, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Caring, Character, Compassion, Direct Experience, Gratitude, Hospitality, Trust, Worship
  • A close-up of a bright fuschia flower blooming on a spiny cactus, with other pink buds around it.
    When we become fully aware of our limited time on earth we can still leave behind flowers and songs.
    Reflection | By Tania Márquez | May 17, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Beauty, Death, Indigenous American, International, Personal Stories, Worship
  • A small child clutches a sandwich in their hands, showing fingernails painted light blue.
    We are the hands and feet of love. And sometimes its fingernails, too.
    Reflection | By Joanna Fontaine Crawford | May 10, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Body, Children, Direct Experience, Gender, Generations, Imagination, Unitarian Universalism, Worship
  • A person's hands scoop green material into a full compost bin, filled with flowers, eggshells, and colorful vegetable matter.
    The miracle of grace is available to us even when it has been left untended.
    Reflection | By Jennifer Hundley-Batts | May 3, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Abundance, Direct Experience, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Food, Grace, Nature, Patience, Stewardship, Summer Solstice, Worship
  • With a snow-covered landscape visible outside, a bird trapped inside of a window flaps its wings.
    In our times of need, may we each be saved by hope, connection, and love.
    Reflection | By Lynn Gardner | April 26, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Compassion, Salvation, Worship
  • A tiny chickweed seedling still has the cap of its seed pod, while the tiny seedling next to it is unfurling its tiny green leaves.
    Remind me that life is magical and mysterious.
    Reflection | By JD Stillwater | April 19, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Animals, Awe, Beauty, Direct Experience, Earth, Earth Day, Earth-Centered, Nature, Stewardship, Wonder, Worship
  • From behind, a child holds a camera at the edge of a river. In the distance, and through the camera screen, there's a heron faintly visible.
    May we remember the belonging that is ours simply because we were born.
    Reflection | By Lindasusan Ulrich | April 12, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Earth, Imagination, Nature, Worship
  • The cast of "Jesus Christ Superstar" on stage, at a moment where Jesus is kneeling with a woman and smiling.
    It’s complicated, sorting out where Jesus fits into my life as a witch. But he hasn’t gone away.
    Reflection | By Myke Johnson | April 5, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Christianity, Easter, Lent, Worship
  • At a March For Our Lives event, a protester is seen from behind wearing a very large sign that says #Enough
    How can I be love instead of being anger and fear?
    Reflection | By DeEtte Waleed | March 29, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Disaster or Crisis, Integrity, Love, Violence, Worship
  • On a road, a Black man in jeans bends down to talk through a passenger window to the car's driver.
    My intuition became honed, for safety and survival.
    Reflection | By Lynette Yetter | March 22, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Worship
  • A trail is vaguely visible on a mossy forest bed, through thick trees. A blaze of blue paint appears on one of the many trees.
    What’s your most memorable story about getting lost? What do you remember about finding your way home?
    Reflection | By Erika Hewitt | March 15, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Connections, Despair, Direct Experience, Home, Hope, Humanism, Journey, Searching, Worship
  • The torso of an Asian person wearing an apron as they scoop freshly cooked rice out of a rice cooker.
    We must unstick our minds if we want to bring change into the world.
    Reflection | By Tomo Hillbo | March 8, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Contemplation, Direct Experience, Food, Growth, Humility, International, Reason, Revelation, Worship
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