What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured. — Kurt Vonnegut

I think of loneliness in terms of disconnection with oneself, with others, and with the divine (whatever that may be for each of us). What happens when we are disconnected? Does being in a state of isolation and disconnectedness lead to what some call sin? What causes fear, anger, and disrespect for others and ourselves? When we are in a state of fear and anger do we build walls that further disconnect us? These are complicated questions about which books and pages upon pages of professional journals have been written. These are the complicated issues addressed in sacred texts. These are the complicated issues that we deal with as humans everyday. During a pandemic, these issues are exacerbated and placed front and center before us, begging to be addressed.

We are a church community that endeavors to be welcoming, accepting, and affirming, making room for all at the table so that we may become connected and stable, curing the terrible disease of loneliness. That’s why our UUCL Mission Statement is:

Love + Connection = Transformation.

This past weekend, Brandon Nuckols (UUCL Board Chair) and I volunteered to set up, attend to, and take down the UUCL tent at the Downtown Lakeland First Friday event. Because Brandon and I are committed to our mission statement and bringing it to life through our actions (as I’m sure the folks who volunteered the month before are, too!) this activity became more than just the logistics of setting up, sitting by the booth, and packing it up at the evening’s end. This activity was about connecting with the people of Lakeland and spreading our message of love and radical inclusion. It was about planting the seeds of building a beloved community that cures loneliness and the sins of disconnection.

Brandon connected with folx and handed out rainbow heart stickers. They were such a hit that people were seeking us out after seeing others up and down the street with these stickers on their shirts. One little sticker, one big affirmation of love, acceptance, and the inherent worth and dignity of all!

I was talking to people and asking them to write their “hopes and dreams for the City of Lakeland” on a prayer flag. To me, this was an activity of gathering. When we gather our hopes together and find our commonalities, can we build a more connected and loving community?

Below is the list of what was written on the prayer flags by people in our Lakeland community. I hope it lifts your spirits, and perhaps inspires you to come on out to our next First Friday event to love, connect, and work towards transformation!

The darker it is the brighter your light shines

Love, unity, acceptance

Less trash

More kindness to others and our earth

Solidarity, love, empathy

Free choice and respect

Love, family, happiness

Forgiveness

Love and happiness

Make the world a better place

Health and wellness

Kindness

More kindness

Peaceful conversations

Love peace love home love happiness love dreams love hope love spirit love

And from the hearts of children:

I am the best soccer player (perhaps he endeavors to be the best soccer player for our city and to make us proud! He has a dream!)

Wolf friend for me

Kittens

Lots of pictures of hearts and rainbows and scribbles that no doubt contain love!

There is certainly an active hope embodied in this activity that lets me know that people wish for a better world. People desire connectedness and love and a world transformed by our being together. May it be so because we make it so!

What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured. — Kurt Vonnegut

I think of loneliness in terms of disconnection with oneself, with others, and with the divine (whatever that may be for each of us). What happens when we are disconnected? Does being in a state of isolation and disconnectedness lead to what some call sin? What causes fear, anger, and disrespect for others and ourselves? When we are in a state of fear and anger do we build walls that further disconnect us? These are complicated questions about which books and pages upon pages of professional journals have been written. These are the complicated issues addressed in sacred texts. These are the complicated issues that we deal with as humans everyday. During a pandemic, these issues are exacerbated and placed front and center before us, begging to be addressed.

We are a church community that endeavors to be welcoming, accepting, and affirming, making room for all at the table so that we may become connected and stable, curing the terrible disease of loneliness. That’s why our UUCL Mission Statement is:

Love + Connection = Transformation.

This past weekend, Brandon Nuckols (UUCL Board Chair) and I volunteered to set up, attend to, and take down the UUCL tent at the Downtown Lakeland First Friday event. Because Brandon and I are committed to our mission statement and bringing it to life through our actions (as I’m sure the folks who volunteered the month before are, too!) this activity became more than just the logistics of setting up, sitting by the booth, and packing it up at the evening’s end. This activity was about connecting with the people of Lakeland and spreading our message of love and radical inclusion. It was about planting the seeds of building a beloved community that cures loneliness and the sins of disconnection.

Brandon connected with folx and handed out rainbow heart stickers. They were such a hit that people were seeking us out after seeing others up and down the street with these stickers on their shirts. One little sticker, one big affirmation of love, acceptance, and the inherent worth and dignity of all!

I was talking to people and asking them to write their “hopes and dreams for the City of Lakeland” on a prayer flag. To me, this was an activity of gathering. When we gather our hopes together and find our commonalities, can we build a more connected and loving community?

Below is the list of what was written on the prayer flags by people in our Lakeland community. I hope it lifts your spirits, and perhaps inspires you to come on out to our next First Friday event to love, connect, and work towards transformation!

The darker it is the brighter your light shines

Love, unity, acceptance

Less trash

More kindness to others and our earth

Solidarity, love, empathy

Free choice and respect

Love, family, happiness

Forgiveness

Love and happiness

Make the world a better place

Health and wellness

Kindness

More kindness

Peaceful conversations

Love peace love home love happiness love dreams love hope love spirit love

And from the hearts of children:

I am the best soccer player (perhaps he endeavors to be the best soccer player for our city and to make us proud! He has a dream!)

Wolf friend for me

Kittens

Lots of pictures of hearts and rainbows and scribbles that no doubt contain love!

There is certainly an active hope embodied in this activity that lets me know that people wish for a better world. People desire connectedness and love and a world transformed by our being together. May it be so because we make it so!