A small number of people can make a big difference. In our democratic republic, we elect leaders to make decisions on our behalf at every level of government, and we are stuck with those elected by a majority of voting citizens for a season. While it is an imperfect system, it is what we have … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections January 7th, 2022

The New Year always inspires mixed emotions for me: What did I leave unfinished? What opportunities have now expired? What are my goals and priorities for the new year? What could I achieve or experience if I plan and pay attention and the universe opens the right doors? What contribution can I make to make … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections December 31st, 2021

Christmas Eve always feels special to me. Despite all I have learned about the mythical birth narratives of Jesus, and all I have gleaned from other winter traditions and holidays, the little girl in me remembers church bells, Christmas trees, caroling, and opening ONE present the night before Christmas and it all still holds what … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections December 24th, 2021

The Winter Solstice is upon us next Tuesday. In this hemisphere, it will be the shortest day of the year with the greatest number of hours of darkness. We have a history of fearing such a time because our brains are wired to rely on vision which requires light. This year, I encourage you not … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections December 17th, 2021

Holidays focus a lens on our lives which make the good so much better and the bad so much worse. I remember being 8 months pregnant with Liam and ordering Chinese food for a Christmas meal with Bill, Mom and my brother Mike. It was our first holiday season without my father, who had received … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections December 10th, 2021

It always amuses me how clean and shiny the stable appears in the nativity pictures and how magically recovered Mary seems to be. Birth is messy and exhausting. Stables are filthy, dusty, and stinky much of the time. Babies are beautiful and sweet when bathed and dressed in clean clothing, but that is not always … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections December 3rd, 2021

“Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.” – John Lennon I am a planner. I always have a plan, a back-up plan and often a back-up to the back-up. My purse always contains the usual wallet and keys plus pen and paper, lipstick, cough drops, extra quarters, tissues, phone charging cord, … Continue reading Rev. Ruth’s Reflections November 20th, 2021