Let us leave this gathering
not with the pressure to be polished,
but with the permission to be real.

To say the awkward thing kindly,
to reach out before the words are perfect,
to risk being seen—
and in doing so, make space for others to be seen too.

In a world that often asks us to curate and filter,
may we remember:
truth is magnetic.

And small acts of honesty
can call a community into being.

Carry this light with you—
not in your hands, but in your words,
in your invitations,
in your willingness to begin.

Note: These chalice extinguishing words pair well with the chalice lighting “Let Us Dare.”