Dear TPUUF Community,

As we enter the new year at Thomas Paine Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, our Soul Matters theme of Practicing Resistance calls us to reflect not only on what we stand for, but how we live our values in a world that often contradicts them. Unitarian Universalism has long affirmed the worth and dignity of every person, the necessity of justice and compassion, and the importance of democracy and conscience in public life. Yet we are living in a time when many of these values are under strain — when marginalized communities face renewed threats, when truth and civility are too easily dismissed, and when fear and division are used as tools of power. Practicing resistance invites us to respond not with despair or resignation, but with courage, clarity, and purpose.

For Unitarian Universalists, resistance is not fueled by anger or vengeance — it is rooted in love. It is the love that insists every person deserves safety, dignity, and opportunity. It is the love that refuses to normalize cruelty, bigotry, or injustice. Practicing resistance can mean speaking truth when silence would be easier, challenging policies and behaviors that harm others, and showing up in solidarity even when our presence feels small compared to the size of the problems we face. Our tradition reminds us that resistance is both inward and outward: we resist apathy in our spirits even as we resist injustice in our society.

There are many ways UUs can embody this resistance in daily life. We resist by nurturing compassion instead of contempt, curiosity instead of cynicism, and hope instead of numbness. We resist by supporting democracy — voting, advocating, organizing, and protecting the voices of those too often left unheard. We resist by learning and unlearning, by listening deeply to those whose experience differs from our own, and by grounding our actions in ethical reflection rather than reaction. Sometimes resistance looks like marching or writing letters. Other times, it looks like caring for a neighbor, encouraging a discouraged friend, or creating communities where inclusion is the norm, not the exception.

As a fellowship, we practice resistance by continuing to be a place of sanctuary, courage, and moral imagination. When the world grows harsher, we resist by strengthening our kindness. When public discourse grows cruel, we resist by modeling respect and compassion. When fear seeks to divide us, we resist by deepening our commitment to community. Practicing resistance is not a single act — it is a spiritual discipline, sustained through reflection, relationship, and shared purpose.

May this month invite us to ask not only what we oppose, but what we faithfully stand for. And may our resistance be a beacon — grounded in our Unitarian Universalist principles, nourished by this beloved community, and guided always by love.

 

Linda Weaver

TPUUF Board President