Eye to Wonder

            When I first joined the Unitarian church, Kelly Dignan was the minister. After many years of not attending any church, I kept returning on Sundays because of how much the sermons resonated. She has since moved on to community ministry, but I think about her and various ideas she has shared often.       The idea I return to more and more is "slow down to the speed of love." This touchstone phrase helps me recenter to the kind of person, parent, partner, and teacher I want to be. House a mess of toddler strewn books and toys? Slow down to the speed of love. Wifi down at school and trying to hybrid teach? Slow down to the speed of love.        For me, slowing down to the speed of love means letting go of the things that are more superficial and plugging in to the present moment and the people your with. I don't always succeed at slowing down when I'm stressed, but it's a helpful reminder to let go of what you can and focus on what's really essential.

         This fall, I'm finding immense joy in the trees in our neighborhood.  I've enjoyed fall ever since I lived in Massachusetts just after graduating college, since California fall doesn't have that quintessential fall feeling you hear about. But this year, perhaps because of how hot and ashy September was here, each sign of the season's changing feels hopeful and optimistic.      When Avi and I walk in the mornings and evenings, I've spent a lot of time looking up through the leaves in the tree. One of the things I love most about my neighborhood is that it is well-shaded by enormous trees. Even though I live in a residential area near a main road, when I look up I feel as if I've traveled farther into nature away from my house .     Lately, I've been thinking of trees almost as cathedrals. I look up and see the light filtering through as though it's streaming in through stained glass windows. Starting my days looking for the light and sky filterin