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There’s something beautiful about the ordinary moments that go unnoticed by many—yet within them, I see transformation. A hand reaching out to help someone up the stairs. A child’s drawing proudly pinned to the bulletin board. A newcomer quietly lingering after service, drawn by the warmth of a smile. A shared umbrella on a rainy morning walk to the door. A teenager nervously volunteering for the first time and being met with cheers instead of doubt, drawn by the warmth of a smile. These are the ripples that move through me, subtle yet profound.

I have come to know that the greatest changes rarely begin with grand gestures. They begin here—with kindness. With presence. With the decision to show up, even when it would be easier not to. I think of the woman who came early one Sunday, despite a week that had worn her thin, just to set out coffee and chairs so others could gather in comfort. She didn’t expect recognition; she simply believed that making space for others mattered. That small act of showing up created warmth long before the first hymn was sung. I have watched lives shift because one person decided to say hello. I have witnessed healing that started with a single shared laugh. And I have seen justice rise from the simplest acts of solidarity.

As we move deeper into summer, a season of movement and gathering, I invite you to reflect on the power you carry in your daily choices. Every gesture, every word, every moment of compassion—it all matters. And it all adds up.

You might not always see the impact of your actions. But I do. I see how these small, quiet moments leave an imprint that lingers far beyond the moment itself—how they become part of the legacy we all shape together, an unseen influence rippling through time and memory.

I saw it when someone left a card on a chair for a grieving friend. I saw it when a group gathered to clean the garden, not because anyone asked, but because they cared. I saw it when you stood up, spoke out, and gave voice to those who were not being heard. The ripples from these moments are still moving, still shaping the community that gathers here.

This is the sacred work of building a beloved community—not just in service or ritual, but in the everyday. In how we greet one another. In how we listen. In how we make space for everyone at the table—like pulling up an extra chair without hesitation when someone new walks in, or rearranging a circle so no one is left on the outside. It's not just a metaphor—it’s an invitation to rearrange the shape of our community so that it includes every voice, every story, every soul. just in service or ritual, but in the everyday. In how we greet one another. In how we listen. In how we make space for everyone at the table.

There is holiness in the simple. There is power in the quiet. And there is purpose in every heartbeat that echoes within these walls.

So as you move through the days ahead, carry this truth with you: You matter. What you do matters. The world is changed not only by great speeches and sweeping plans, but by each small, intentional act of love.

Let your ripples be gentle and strong. Let them carry warmth, welcome, and wonder—like offering a ride to someone without transportation, sharing your favorite book with a curious soul, or simply making eye contact and smiling at someone who feels unseen. These are the kinds of ripples that turn moments into movements, and gestures into grace.

With every creak and whisper, I stand ready to hold your stories.

Yours in spirit,

The Spirit of UUNWI