March 29, 2023

Mar. 29, 2023

“It’s hard to be human.”
–David W. Lewis

Dear Ones,

We have a mantra of sorts in my household, articulated many years ago by my partner, David, and repeated many times. (Mostly by me. I seem to have a knack for gathering wise words from others and repeating them over & over–go figure.) “It’s hard to be human” turns out to be useful in so many situations when our thoughts and feelings seem inadequate to the task of making sense of human behavior and experience. For me, it suggests that whatever we’re facing isn’t so much senseless as it is difficult and arising out of the different complexities of different lives. It also suggests that extending grace and understanding and compassion as far as we can (without violence to ourselves) may be a good default response to cultivate.

It’s been a hard week to be human in Nashville. In the aftermath of Monday’s shooting, we are feeling many things, wondering what happened and why, worrying about safety, and casting about for ways to respond to tragedy that honor those most deeply affected and align with our deepest values.

Please be gentle with yourself in the coming days and know that I am here and available should you need a shoulder to lean on. 

Please be gentle with those around you and remember that some of them may be processing unthinkable grief or riding waves of fear. 

Finally, whatever your experience of this tragedy, please consider how our sorrow and care for each other and all our Nashville neighbors might be transformed into action, working for sane and sensible gun safety laws and recommitting to building a world in which every person is welcomed, included, and supported. 

Yours in sorrow and love, 

Rev. Denise
RevDenise@gnuuc.org