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Braver/Wiser: Courage and Compassion for Life as It Is

Life is full of hard edges and complicated choices. Braver/Wiser gives you weekly message of courage and compassion for life as it is. Every Wednesday we deliver an original written reflection and brief prayer, grounded in Unitarian Universalism. Join the Braver/Wiser community and sign up today!

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 50

  • A light-skinned Black person's arms cradle a tiny infant whose bare foot soles face the camera.
    Fear not, the angels would text me. Hallelujah, I’d write back.
    Reflection | By Marcus Liefert | December 20, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Advent, Awe, Children, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Direct Experience, Family, Hope, Parents, Wonder, Worship
  • Chrissy's son Kaleb kneels on a barn floor, using a saw on some lumber.
    God of our ancestors, may we find the ways in which we can connect across generations.
    Reflection | By Chrissy Bushyager | November 1, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Children, Direct Experience, Family, Generations, History, Parents, Worship
  • A small child clutches a sandwich in their hands, showing fingernails painted light blue.
    We are the hands and feet of love. And sometimes its fingernails, too.
    Reflection | By Joanna Fontaine Crawford | May 10, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Body, Children, Direct Experience, Gender, Generations, Imagination, Unitarian Universalism, Worship
  • A child sits at a desk, reading, while in the background a teacher observes her.
    Love shows up in complicated conversations.
    Reflection | By Jo VonRue | February 1, 2023 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Children, Direct Experience, Love, Poverty, Shame, Worship
  • A crowd of people in México in a posada procession outdoors.
    Every time we open ourselves to one another, we become more human.
    Reflection | By Tania Márquez | December 14, 2022 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Children, Christianity, Community, Generations, Inclusion, International, Race/Ethnicity, Worship
  • Against a sunset, an adult holds up a child with their arms outflung joyfully
    We have a holy obligation to bring about paradise on this earth; each generation helps us do that.
    Reflection | By Nathan Ryan | June 15, 2022 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Children, Father's Day, Fathers, Generations, Hope, Mothers, Parents, Purpose, Secular, Unitarian Universalism, Worship
  • A newborn infant lies on a bed next to their mother, whose torso reveals stretch marks and other signs of recently giving birth.
    Motherhood must be a choice. It cannot be chosen for us.
    Reflection | By Leslie Ahuvah Fails | May 11, 2022 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Body, Children, Choice, Mothers, Reproductive Justice, Worship
  • A mother and daughter, holding hands, walk on a path through a forest. They are smiling at one another, and are seen from behind.
    May we forever perceive the ways we can empower others.
    Reflection | By Sara Palmer | March 23, 2022 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Children, Coming-of-Age, Compassion, Growth, Parents, Power, Worship
  • Seen from behind, at the beach, a father has his arm lovingly wrapped around his child's shoulder.
    Happy kids are safer kids, because happy kids have adults they can ask for help.
    Reflection | By Quinn Gormley | March 2, 2022 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Acceptance, Anti-Oppression, Children, Coming Out, Direct Experience, Humanism, Identity, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Parents, Pride Sunday, Secular, Worship
  • A worn, chipped statue of Mary, pictured from the shoulders up, with a weary expression.
    Each Advent, my empathy for Mary’s situation returns.
    Reflection | By Taryn Strauss | December 8, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Advent, Children, Choice, Christianity, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Discernment, Women, Worship
  • In a nest woven from twigs and leaves, a small spotted eggshell is broken.
    Acknowledging that our dream was not happening didn't end the grief, but it did offer closure.
    Reflection | By Leslie Gatto | December 1, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Children, Direct Experience, Grief, Mothers, Parents, Worship
  • In a kitchen, a mother with an iPod and headphones dances and sings while her teenage daughter also dances.
    Spirit of Life, remind me to release that which no longer serves me so that I may be present to joy.
    Reflection | By Katie Romano Griffin | May 5, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Acceptance, Children, Family, Generations, Home, Mothers, Parents, Worship
  • A black-and-white photo, taken from above, of the photographer's legs outstreched over water, and his young son nestled on top of his legs.
    Sometimes love is simply letting someone else like what they like.
    Reflection | By Nathan Ryan | April 14, 2021 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Children, Connections, Direct Experience, Fathers, Generations, Joy, Love, Parents, Searching, Worship
  • A whisk and dustpan filled with dry twigs, fallen spruce needles, and broken Christmas ornaments
    This is a "love saves" story.
    Reflection | By Paul S Sawyer | December 9, 2020 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Advent, Anger, Children, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Compassion, Direct Experience, Humanism, Living Our Faith, Love, Psychology, Relationships, Respect, Responsibility, Self-Respect, Worship
  • With white Christmas lights strung in the background, and lit candles, a paper Advent calendar on a table has open doors.
    This year, the Advent season seems particularly seized by a spirit of the expected, the longing.
    Reflection | By Robin Tanner | December 2, 2020 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #COVID19, Advent, Children, Christianity, Hope, Living Our Faith, Parents, Purpose, Worship
  • Against a blue sky, a bright red spiral of roller coaster track carries yellow cars of passengers, who are suspended upside down.
    We seek blessed assurance through pandemic chaos, relentless loss, and unimaginable stress.
    Reflection | By Taryn Strauss | November 18, 2020 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #COVID19, Children, Family, Humanism, Integrity, Secular, Seven Principles, Worship
  • From beneath a bed, a parent and child hang over, flashlight pointed at the camera, as if checking for monsters under the bed.
    In these days of so much uncertainty, may we choose honesty over comfort, love over complacency, and truth over convenience.
    Reflection | By Rachel Lonberg | September 30, 2020 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: #COVID19, Children, Direct Experience, Discernment, Fear, Parents, Secular, Trust, Truth, Worship
  • A black parent embraces their child, who is smiling in to the camera
    One day, I’ll have to care for my mother as she once cared for me. I’m not ready to handle the truth that our relationship must change.
    Reflection | By Erica Shadowsong | September 9, 2020 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Caring, Child Dedication, Children, Coming of Age, Coming-of-Age, Direct Experience, Fear, Generations, Growth, Humanism, Love, Mother's Day, Mothers, Parents, Secular, Worship
  • A view of the starry sky at night, straight up, through the silhouette of trees around the edges.
    What once seemed certain is now unpredictable, even dangerous.
    Reflection | By Leslie Ahuvah Fails | September 2, 2020 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Challenge, Change, Children, Direct Experience, Earth, Humanism, Nature, Parents, Spiritual Practice, Worship
  • From behind, a Japanese man in a suit holds the hand of a small girl in a school uniform as they walk to school.
    The assumption that all people remember the same set of events, or enjoy the same set of things, puts enormous burdens of assimilation onto members of marginalized communities.
    Reflection | By Yuri Yamamoto | July 15, 2020 | From Braver/Wiser
    Tagged as: Anti-Oppression, Children, Class, Culture, Direct Experience, Diversity, Inclusion, Multiculturalism
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