01/08/2026
Like many, our hearts are heavy this morning following the shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis yesterday. Between her death, the recent shootings closer to our home at Brown University, and other tragedies, it can be hard to find hope these days.
In our search, we are reminded of Sara Hayman's story. Sara is the minister of the UUCEllsworth in Maine. We collaborate with her on a story for The BTS Center's2025 Convocation. The BTS Center cultivates spiritual leadership for a climate-changed world.
In Sara's story, she recalls walking across Maine for peace. One of the things we love about her story is that the ending isn't wrapped in a perfect bow. Like the thousands of people who took to the streets last night in quiet protest, Sara doesn't pretend a single walk solves all problems. Instead, she reflects on the importance of those moments and offers a path to help us navigate the ever-changing emotional landscape of these challenging times.
You can hear Sara's story on the Climate Changed podcast, as well as June Zellers', another storyteller from the conference who shares Sara's appreciation for the role the natural world plays in our healing.
https://thebtscenter.org/climate-changed/podcast-convocation-stories-episode-1/