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!

Changing a filter will refresh results (and remaining options) immediately.

Displaying 101 - 120 of 322

  • I was leaving my mom in another world, located far away from mine.
    Reflection | By Mike Adams | October 6, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: History, Identity, Indigenous American, Indigenous Peoples Day, Race/Ethnicity, Worship
  • In order to be welcoming, the systems of power and privilege in our spaces need to be actively dismantled.
    Reflection | By Shannon Lang | September 29, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #8thPrinciple, #BlackLivesMatter, Anti-Oppression, Direct Experience, Diversity, Equity, Hospitality, Humanism, Race/Ethnicity, Secular, Unitarian Universalism, Worship
  • I want to be shaped in a way that lets me serve the eternal.
    Reflection | By Jake Morrill | September 22, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Contemplation, God, Meaning, Presence, Purpose, Transcendence, Worship
  • Dear Creative Life Force, the infinite healing power of creativity is the best gift you've given to us.
    Reflection | By Erica Shadowsong | September 15, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Creativity, Direct Experience, Family, Identity, Personal Stories, Self-Respect, Worship
  • My God lives in the margins and witnesses to the broken-hearted.
    Reflection | By Jami Yandle | September 8, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Acceptance, Self-Care, Self-Respect, Worship
  • Somehow, the things that are too much to bear alone are bearable together.
    Reflection | By Elizabeth Stevens | September 1, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Disaster or Crisis, Worship
  • My inner compass reminds me of the power we’ve been given to create a new future.
    Reflection | By Mariela Pérez-Simons | July 14, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Earth, Earth-Centered, Imagination, Limitations, Nature, Self-Care, Self-Respect, Worship
  • I learned that love and support can be expressed in many different ways by different people.
    Reflection | By Ndidi Achebe | July 7, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Brokenness, Community, Compassion, Direct Experience, Fear, Humanism, Limitations, Love, Relationships, Worship
  • Emergence, becoming, is inherent in each of us.
    Reflection | By Kimberlee Anne Tomczak Carlson | June 30, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Change, Direct Experience, Earth-Centered, Growth, Nature, Patience, Transformation, Worship
  • Do we who are UUs really believe in the values of our faith enough to enact to them in bold, clear, and unequivocal ways?
    Reflection | By Takiyah Nur Amin | June 23, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #8thPrinciple, #BlackLivesMatter, 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), America, Anti-Oppression, Conflict, Direct Experience, Division, Equity, Justice, Living Our Faith, Race/Ethnicity, Unitarian Universalism, Worship
  • Help me live in gratitude for the LGBTQ+ ancestors who paved this road we walk and roll on.
    Reflection | By Li Kynvi | June 9, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Activism, Anti-Oppression, Direct Experience, Identity, Justice, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Pride Sunday, Worship
  • I feel sad to lose a spiritual practice that I can now recognize, honor, and appreciate.
    Reflection | By Rayla D. Mattson | June 2, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Direct Experience, Letting Go, Secular, Worship
  • Memorial Day is not to be celebrated. It is to be observed, scrutinized, and witnessed on behalf of the true witnesses of our human failure to love our neighbor as ourselves.
    Reflection | By George A Tyger | May 26, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: America, Death, Direct Experience, Family, Grief, Memorial Day, Military, Sacrifice, Secular, Service, Worship
  • Committing to right relationship means being willing to revise our practices when we learn that previously accepted habits might be harmful.
    Reflection | By Christine Slocum | May 19, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #COVID19, Body, Community, Worship
  • It’s through our shared interdependence that we are sheltered and saved.
    Reflection | By Karen G. Johnston | May 10, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Compassion, Connections, Fear, Interdependence, Relationships, Service, Worship
  • Spirit of Life, remind me to release that which no longer serves me so that I may be present to joy.
    Reflection | By Katie Romano Griffin | May 5, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Acceptance, Children, Family, Generations, Home, Mothers, Parents, Worship
  • I am no longer a victim of change: I am shaping the world that is to come.
    Reflection | By Martha Durkee-Neuman | April 28, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Beginnings, Change, Direct Experience, Ending, God, Patience, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Worship
  • May we be with one another in solidarity and struggle.
    Reflection | By Tuli Patel | April 21, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Brokenness, Family, Hope, Secular, Solidarity, Worship
  • Sometimes love is simply letting someone else like what they like.
    Reflection | By Nathan Ryan | April 14, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Children, Connections, Direct Experience, Fathers, Generations, Joy, Love, Parents, Searching, Worship
  • May I have the wisdom to be curious when I find myself grumbling about “them.”
    Reflection | By Erika Hewitt | April 7, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #COVID19, 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Conflict, Conscience, Healing, Humanism, Integrity, Relationships, Secular, Self-Respect, Worship

Writing for Braver/Wiser

If you're interested in writing for Braver/Wiser, please refer to Writing for Braver/Wiser (PDF) to learn more!

Ready to Submit?

If you've reviewed our "Writing for Braver/Wiser" guidelines, visit our submission page!