Author Archives: Bob Patrick

To Perish and To Flourish

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Bob Patrick

In her poem “Evidence,” Mary Oliver ends the first part of the poem with this admonition: Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable.  Keeping my heart open to the unimaginable is another way of saying–don’t let your imagination … Continue reading →

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Thoughts and Prayers?

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Bob Patrick

Thoughts and prayers. It used to signify a heartfelt wish Thoughts and prayers. It used to be a way of saying “regardless of your religious background or mine, I stand with you.” Thoughts and prayers.  It used to be a … Continue reading →

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Take Care of Your Soul

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Bob Patrick

What does taking care of our souls look like today, this week, especially for those of us living in Georgia, so tuned in to the school shooting that took place not far from our congregation’s place of worship? For some, … Continue reading →

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Invitation in the Face of Violence

Posted on September 9, 2024 by Bob Patrick

In the aftermath of another school shooting, this time only a few miles away from where I live, what does “the practice of invitation” look like? Who am I inviting, and to what? The truth is, the insanity of a … Continue reading →

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Ideas, Feelings, Values and Practice

Posted on September 2, 2024 by Bob Patrick

Spirituality comes with several parts.  There are spiritual ideas that may draw our attention, inspire us and energize us. There are countless spiritual books full of these ideas. There are feelings that we may identify as spiritual, love likely being … Continue reading →

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Repost: Scratching and Digging In Common Ground

Posted on August 27, 2024 by Bob Patrick

Repost from May 3, 2024 Before I even get beyond this first line, I want to say that I do not pretend for a moment that the following issues are easy or simple. There, having said that . . . … Continue reading →

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Repost: Is Democracy a Gift?

Posted on August 21, 2024 by Bob Patrick

Reposted from July 1, 2024 During the month of July at UUCG, we will be considering “the gift of democracy and compassion.” It feels eerie to me, in some respects, to ponder the gift of democracy at a time in … Continue reading →

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