By Jesse GreistSeptember 24, 2023 Some unspecified amount of time ago, in an undisclosed location there was a town called Wimachimaligned. The people of Wimachimaligned went about their business every day, with the farmers farming, the smiths smithing, the builders building, the lawyers lawyering and the musicians working 2nd day jobs. Now Wimachimaligned was muchi … Continue reading The Line
By Jesse Greist September 17, 2023 Growing up on an organic vegetable farm in North Haven, the “sermon” I heard most from my father was about the dangers of monoculture: The way it depleted the soil of nutrients. The way it contributed to erosion and led farmers to depend on ever more copious amounts of … Continue reading Monoculture V. Polyculture
Message for AllDoubt of the Benefit- Jesse GreistJanuary 22, 2023 “Give them the benefit of the doubt”. “Assume good intentions.” These ideas have always been such an important part of my Unitarian Universalist education, as important as any of the principles. In many situations, these ideas have served me well. If someone says or … Continue reading Doubt of the Benefit
Message for All -by Jesse Greist Where do we turn when we are struggling? The answer is different for each and every one of us, though I imagine the desire for sanctuary, for safe space is probably universal. For some of us, that safe, sacred space might be found in our house. For others, it … Continue reading Please Discard Attachment
“Daffodil Awakenings” by Jesse Greist April 3, 2022 I am a daffodil. Until mere days ago, I lay curled up, asleep beneath the fallen leaves and frozen soil of winter. In December, January and February, my sleep was deep, unquestioning, and reassured. In every cell of my being, I was certain that it was … Continue reading Daffodil Awakenings
The Cook Who Forgot to Eat January 27. 2022 There once was a woman who loved to cook. She chopped and sauteed and seasoned and created the most incredible delicacies from dawn each morning until long after dark each night. The few moments when she wasn’t cooking, she’d use to scour cookbooks and YouTube videos, seeking … Continue reading The Cook Who Forgot to Eat
Unitarian Universalism is often described as a living tradition. Rev. Lindasusan, you are a scientist, so I can assume that to you, like me, this idea probably raises a great curiosity. A living tradition… I have always been fascinated by the idea that my spiritual home is somehow alive, and I have spent much of … Continue reading Message for All- “Procession”
February 7, 2021 “Beloved Community in Jayankufa” By Jesse Greist I spent the summer of 1998 in a small town in the West African nation of Ghana called Jayankufa. I was working with a mixed group of Ghanaian, European and North American volunteers to re-plant a section of rainforest that had been clear-cut by a … Continue reading Message for All:Beloved Community in Jayankufa
Message for All “Hibakuijumoku” by Jesse Greist December 6, 2020 In our world, there are times of great stillness. A frozen winter night can be a time of stillness. Or a hot desert day. The fear of an animal when a predator is near, or the relaxation after that predator moves on, the quiet … Continue reading “Hibakuijumoku”
