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Send us Fan Mail No one is an island unto themselves; we embrace our interconnectedness and social nature.  Often it is the inspiration of others that gives us courage, and the awareness that others, too, experience fear and yet find a way to act in courage.  Given the cost of staying comfortably avoidant in harmful situations, how do we best nurture courage in our community?  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail We all feel fear and the pressure to cave to it. What helps us strengthen our ability to put fear in its place? What helps us choose courage when facing difficult decisions and dangerous actions?  Speaker Katy Swalwell lives in Beaverdale with her husband and two children. A former social studies teacher and education professor, she is now an educational consultant, author, and book publisher. She has been a member of First Unitarian for almost a year.   Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The word courage reminds us to honor the practice of heart-wisdom and love.  The opposite of anxiety isn’t calm, it’s trust. Can we foster our capacity to be courageous by centering compassion and love?  How might we treat a friend taking on something scary? Can we extend that love to ourselves? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail What Do You Think, Episode 4: Dr. David Courard-Hauri, Professor of Environmental Science, Drake University Iowa Environmental Council: https://www.iaenvironment.org/  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Courage means taking on risk of failure or foolishness, of becoming vulnerable. And, courage asks us to confront what is easier to avoid, to say what needs to be said.  How do we find courage in the midst of fear and avoidance?  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail There is great hope and trust needed to begin something truly great. The caterpillar has to trust the molting process to become a butterfly. What spiritual and ethical practices do we need, personally and communally, to begin something special? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail What Do You Think? Episode 3: Dr. John Pauley Professor of Philosophy, Director of Interdisciplinary Studies Simpson College Support the show

Send us Fan Mail “What Do You Think?” Episode 2: Josh Mandelbaum Josh Mandelbaum is a Des Moines City Councilmember representing the 3rd Ward, and a senior attorney for the Environmental Law and Policy Center. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail As we come to the Autumn Equinox, the earth reminds us that the end of summer is the beginning of autumn, that every beginning is also an end.  What must we end in order to begin something new in our lives? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail How do our Unitarian Universalist commitments support us in this season of beginnings? Bring water to share in our annual Water Communion ritual, bring energy and curiosity to find something new to begin at the Community Faire after the service! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Tim Knepper, Drake University Professor of Philosophy, director of the Comparison Project Upcoming events: https://comparisonproject.wp.drake.edu/events/  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail As a long-time agnostic secular and member of the Humanist Society, Paul Derrick doesn’t rely on any God or gods to watch over and comfort him, to hear and answer prayers or to intervene in human affairs. So, where does he turn for strength, comfort, solace, support and consolation? This Sunday we welcome back the Westphals for horn duet music.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail 11 Minute Meditation to Let Go and Forgive with Rev. Steve Sieck Support the show

Send us Fan Mail 9 Minute Meditation to Understand our Feelings with Rev. Steve Sieck Support the show

Send us Fan Mail 5 Minute Meditation for Awareness by Rev. Steve Sieck Support the show