As Unitarian Universalist leaders, our polity and accountability are questions of covenant. Our relationships with one another present us salient opportunities to organize and create as a people. In prayer. In wonder. In action. We fly across states, drive through winding roads from town to city, turn on our Zoom screens, and open the doors of welcome in moments where isolation from our neighbors has seemed the safer option.

Over the past several months, leaders in our Central East Region have asked for ways to continue to deepen their relationships with neighboring congregations. As March is indeed the month where our small congregations are encouraged to connect through a variety of UUA offerings, we are each reminded that regardless of our congregation’s size, we can connect with our neighbors in faith—locally, regionally, and nationally, too.

Another way our region encourages congregations to strengthen their ties with other congregations is through our geographically designated “neighborhood” groups. The importance of this has been modeled for me time and again by so many of you, forming faithful inter-congregational connections with one another. We know we cannot do this work alone.

I thus offer you, dear ones, the following reflection inspired by this month’s Spiritual Deepening worl (PDF) and collective leadership of First Universalist Church of Rochester, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canandaigua, and First Unitarian Church of Rochester, as well as by the teachings of my closest neighbor, my 10 year old Mini Australian Shepard, Foxy.

March is a month of muddy truths—
of trying and failing and trying again:
frozen muck not yet thawed
between strong and tender paws spent
digging holes on rock, resting
ears perked, eyes alert & still
waiting to be let in again.