As I write this article, I sit in Colonial Williamsburg for the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) fall conference. The conference theme: The Arc of the Universe is Long, Why Does Our History Matter. Commonly, Unitarian Universalists think of ourselves as a religion for the now, for the future. But our history has just as much to do with our past as it does our future. History matters, because it helps shape our identity. As meaning-making individuals, it helps us to make sense of our lives, gives us a place to stand and to realize that none of us ever really start from scratch. When I say I am a Unitarian Universalist, I am saying I have adopted UU history as a part of my own. Unlike our family histories, we have chosen to be Unitarian Universalist. As part of this meaning making, we have a responsibility to learn our history and explore how it fits into the story of our lives. The conference began with an exercise asking us to write down a piece of our Unitarian, Universalist or Unitarian Universalist history that speaks to us most and informs our experiences as UUs. I surprised myself with my own answer: many pieces of our history resonate with me. But I found myself coming back to the pieces of our history in which our forbearers stood for justice. We are a faith that has traditionally stood up for equality, the rights of individuals, and for our beliefs and values. We put our values into action even when it is hard or risky. What parts of our history resonate with you? If you haven't started all ready, I ask you to begin thinking about how our history shapes us today and moves us into the future. As we look forward, let us never forget where we came from, how it informs us and what we have learned.

Together on the journey,

Michelle