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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Announcing Youth Engagement Program

A few years ago, I sat down at a coffee shop with some disgruntled high school students. When I asked them what was wrong, they informed me that they were tired of being called “cute.” I smiled quietly and listened to their frustrations.   There is a deep truth to what they were sharing. For…

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This Is the Year

My first day as executive director of PTU was almost exactly six years ago. The board and I knew we had a lot of work ahead of us. The key issues at hand: We started with educational engagements to help groups listen deeply to each other. With the leadership of Jeff Renner, we established our…

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Burning Passion

In 2015 I felt a burning passion in my heart, my bones, my soul. I saw increasing divisions in our society. I saw the dehumanization of Muslims, Jews, Indigenous and so many more. I knew that we were on a path that leads to fear and violence. We are still on that path now. Many…

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