A Moment of Reflection

These past weeks have carried a weight that words fail to capture and emotions are left to quietly carry.

Across our country and here at home in Minnesota, events such as immigration enforcement operations, mass shootings, and ongoing uncertainty have stirred a deep, collective unease. Many of us are grieving, not only for specific losses, but for the sense of safety and predictability we once took for granted.

This is not a political moment.
It is a human one.

Whether we are personally touched by these events or absorbing them through news headlines, social feeds, conversations, or quiet moments alone, it is natural for our nervous systems to register stress, worry, and sorrow. Our bodies are not separate from the world around us. They feel what we see, hear, and imagine.

Right now, many people are asking quiet questions.

What do we do with all of this feeling?
How do we carry it without breaking?

There are no simple answers.

But in a time filled with noise, division, and rapid reaction, there is something worth returning to.

Stillness.

We invite you, and ourselves, to pause.

Whether for a moment, a minute, or a mindful breath, let us allow a quiet space for reflection.

A moment to recognize what we are feeling without judgment.
A moment to acknowledge that pain, uncertainty, and hope can coexist.
A moment to sit with our shared humanity.

We do not need to have solutions.
We do not need to be right.
We do not need to act or decide.

We only need to be present, with ourselves and with one another.

In this time of collective unease, may we find small moments of compassion, for ourselves and for the people around us.

A moment of silence.

May we hold space for reflection.
For one another.
For ourselves.

And most of all, for love and compassion.