The Power of Sharing Our Celebrations
This time of year, when the holidays of so many of our traditions begin to overlap, I am filled with joyful memories of the power that lies in sharing about our beloved celebrations. Imagine with me for a moment… The beauty of these stories is that they are not imagination, they are all real experiences…
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Our Assets
The vast majority of people in this nation care about our neighbors, respect people’s rights, and long for a better world. This same majority feels like we are helpless to strengthen our democracy. But wait! We live in every neighborhood. We are the answer we have been looking for! What if people in every neighborhood…
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Potluck for Democracy
Yesterday, I publicly announced PTU’s newest initiative: The Potluck for Democracy. I made the announcement on a webinar hosted by the Parliament of the World’s Religions as a part of their FOCUS24 | Faith, Democracy & Our Common Future: Shaping a Path Forward. FOCUS24 is a year-long interfaith series building capacity, fostering community, and advancing…
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Humbled and Hopeful
Seventy people of diverse cultures, traditions, and life experiences came together last Thursday at our first LGT event. We gathered for food and conversation and found something more: hope. We live in a time of deep despair about the inequalities among humans our separation from each other. Many of us wonder if there is anything…
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Anticipation and Exitement
After eighteen months of one-to-one conversations, group meetings, and many details the moment is here. Our first Let’s Go Together (LGT) gathering in Skagit county will take place on Thursday night! We have over 30 groups and 70+ people registered to come. I believe people in this nation are being tempted by a lie: That…
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The Importance of Experience
Over the past few months, I have had the opportunity to catch up with some alumni of past interfaith programs I have directed. It is such a joy to see these young people flourishing in the world, and I am continually struck by the deep wisdom that they continue to bring to our shared world.…
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Grit, Guts, and Prayer
PTU is deepening its partnership with the Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement at Seattle University. We are looking forward to co-creating a series of events about how wisdom communities can strengthen democracy. More about that soon. In my conversations with the center’s director Michael Trice the words “grit” and “guts” have come up. Michael…
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It’s Happening
Last Sunday, we held a facilitation training to prepare local leaders in Skagit Valley for the first big event in our Let’s Go Together (LGT) program. The LGT program brings people of diverse cultures, traditions, and life circumstances into relationship with each other. This year’s events will be both a powerful experience for those participating…
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All We Can Do
On Sunday I spoke to a leader of a wisdom community who is a dear friend of mine. He shared something that so many of us are feeling: Despair. I told him that I feel that sometimes, too. We discussed the challenge of exclusive in-grouping in the form of ethnic nationalism. We wondered if what…
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