Hope: Trusting the Process

By Anna Redd  •  February 19, 2026

There are many definitions of hope. Some describe it as a feeling of expectation or desire for something to happen. Others see it as trust, or even as clinging to a mere possibility when certainty is nowhere in sight. Often, hope isn’t rooted in what we want for ourselves alone, but in what we want for others and for the greater good, for something better than what currently is.

Recent Blog Posts

Gratitude: The Only Way Out Is Through

By Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald  •  November 19, 2020

November. Finally, it is post-election day. There’s a breath of Indian Summer in the air this week in Michigan, and my heart is lighter. I’ve made conscientious efforts..

Muse and Musician Celebrate Gratitude

By Rev. John Gantt  •  November 13, 2020

So many ways to say thank you — a hug, a kiss, a handshake, a touch on the arm. Too personal, however, until this time of waiting out a pandemic ends.

Gratitude During Election Season

By Rev. Rebecca S. King  •  November 06, 2020

Learning at a young age that my voice matters, I have been voting in elections since I was eighteen years old. Last night, I logged onto a website to track my absentee..

Our Gratitude Series: An Introduction

By Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Center for Abundant Aging  •  November 04, 2020

Changes Around Us We are fully into autumn, when shorter days make after-dinner walks less desirable. The cooler temperatures are slowly descending to the point when..

Ask Some Other Question: How Are You?

By Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Center for Abundant Aging  •  October 29, 2020

One of the things I miss during this pandemic season is small talk. You know, the conversation with colleagues as you walk up a flight of stairs on the way to the same..

Crossing the Street

By Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Center for Abundant Aging  •  October 22, 2020

What behaviors have you changed since the introduction of the COVID-19 virus into our world? There are the obvious things like wearing masks. And generally feeling..

On Being Alone and Isolated During the COVID Crisis: The Profound Effects of Social Isolation

By Rev. Dr. Bobbie McKay  •  October 15, 2020

My moving into a multilevel retirement community coincided with the new reality of quarantines in this COVID-19 crisis. When you moved in, you automatically became..

Fighting for, Not a Battle Against

By Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Center for Abundant Aging  •  October 13, 2020

I recently read an interview with Alex Trebek, the 36-year host of Jeopardy! In March 2019, he shared with the world that he had been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic..

Let's Talk About COVID-19

By Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Center for Abundant Aging  •  October 02, 2020

Now that we have passed the six-month mark of living amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we have some thoughts about lessons learned, things to consider and direction forward...