Ministerial Musings on Risky Business

Friends,
I am excited this month to be following up our monthly theme of choice with the next theme of Risk. Risk is often seen as something dangerous that should be avoided at all costs, but it is not an inherently negative concept. Risk really describes an episode in our lives when the stakes are higher than they might otherwise be. Yes, this is a time when we might lose something, but it also presents us with an opportunity of even greater gain.
Risk calls on us to have courage and be brave. The word courage comes from the Latin word “heart.” Risks require us not only to choose what’s next with our head, the cold logical calculation, but to embrace our choices with our hearts as well, to follow our passions, and to dream big. But none of that is possible without risk, which is why risk plays an important role in the meaning making project of both ourselves as individuals and our faith community.
Now that we’ve gotten January out of the way, and many of us have moved on beyond the obligatory resolutions that we make, why not take the time to think about what risks we want to take this year, individually and as a community. I say this because I truly believe that leaving meaningfully, the second part of our shared mission at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greeley, is a risky proposition: not accepting the easy made answers of others, but instead taking responsibility for our own true search is a risky proposition.
This past month, I was so happy to have been able to march with you all at both the Women’s March and the Greeley MLK march and celebration. I know that for some of you, this was an old habit and the risk seemed very small, but for others, I know that these events were very fresh and required some courage to participate. I hope that you found the risk of public witness to our shared values was well worth the reward and that you are anxious to come back out (and soon)!
What else might we be willing to risk this year? Have you considered deepening your commitment to our beloved community, if you’re mostly a Sunday visitor, have you thought about ways you might be of service to the community? If you already serve in some capacity, have you thought about the risk of helping lead in the community? Have you dared think of becoming a member? This is a wonderful month to dare, this month of risk.
So this should be a month of very exciting conversations and explorations. I
hope that you are as excited
about it as I am to be leaping off
this month.
Yours in Faith and Fellowship, Rev. Aaron Norris