The month of September has always been transitional for me. It is naturally full of endings and beginnings, like the end of summer vacation and the beginning of school, and, for gardeners, the end of peak growing season and the beginning of dormancy. It’s a time when we upshift from a leisurely to a more industrious pace.

We all find comfort in these rhythms of life and experience distress when these are interrupted. We know this all too well from living in the pandemic. And just when it feels that we are settling back into normal rhythms, we are faced with another setback. Masking back up was not a huge deal, but it isn’t easy to give up enjoying refreshments with one another after the service or group luncheons to favorite restaurants. But we do know that this, too, will change, and we will resume our march toward normalcy.

Our public health environment is unstable and fluid, and we all know how COVID is currently ravaging our greater community. Rest assured that community public health outcomes are being monitored regularly, and we will continue to adjust our activities accordingly. We can appreciate the timeliness of interventions from the Safer Congregation Ministry Team and the Governing Board and take solace that we are all of one mind that the health and safety of our congregants remains our top priority.

While we’ve had a setback in one area, other things are moving forward. Ministry teams are gearing up, and the Board has had its retreat and charted its course for the year. [Disclosure: As I write this piece to meet the submission deadline, that is more a statement of faith and hope than historical fact! This time of year, the peak of hurricane season, brings its own uncertainties and disruptions.]

And finally, you may have noticed that I changed the header of this column from “How do we inspire love?” to “How do we build Beloved Community?” I see that as a natural progression because each time we celebrate diversity, strive for justice and inspire love, we are building Beloved Community within and outside our walls.

Closing on a personal note, I have come to appreciate that I should always be asking myself, “Am I building Beloved Community or adding to the chaos?” I must confess that I have been challenged lately by our First Principle. Call it what you like — anger, frustration, COVIDrage — I have felt it all. I have resented and blamed others for the changes I’ve had to make just when things started to feel good again. That is human, yes, but I also find it ugly, counterproductive and self-destructive. I am finding that the First Principle pulls me back and challenges me to recognize the humanity in those who think and act differently from myself and seek ways to make things better — to be a true builder of Beloved Community.

Faithfully,

Arnie Ondis

Governing Board President