“Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ah, summer. There 
are many opinions about summertime and many of us hold opposing opinions of it at the same time. It can be both beautiful and oppressive, relaxing and stressful, enjoyable and overwhelming. It can be a time of relaxation and rejuvenation or just more of the same old, same old with added humidity and mosquitos. Regardless of your schedule or your responsibilities, I hope that you get the chance to get out and notice the beauty and wonder around you before we plunge back into the dark, cold of winter. I hope you get the chance to learn something new and to put our faith into practice. To get you started I would like to offer you some summer reading, listening, and activity ideas. It’s like those summer reading lists you used to get in school, only much more interesting and fun.
The InSpirit Bookstore is a valuable resource for all things UU. Here are some of their offerings I hope to read this summer:
- Centering: Navigating Race, Authenticity, and Power in Ministry edited by Mitra Rahnema
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin Diangelo
- A Year of Living Kindly by Donna Cameron
- History Teaches Us to Resist: How Progressing Movements Have Succeeded in Challenging Times by Mary Frances Berry
- In Defense of Childhood: Protecting Kids Inner Wildness by Chris Mercogliano
And for the kids
- A Queer History of the United States for Young People by Michael Bronski
- An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States for Young People by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
- I Am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde
- The Book Tree by Paul Czajak and Rashin Kheiriyeh
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
If you are looking for something to listen to in the car or sitting at the beach or getting chores done at home there are some wonderful podcasts you can try out. You can find them on Podcast Addict, Stitcher, iTunes, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Here are some that I have been listening to this year:
UU Specific Podcasts
- Fortification
- The Pamphlet: Uncovering Unitarian Universalism’s Hidden Histories
- The UU Perspective with Sharon Morrell
Other interesting and informative podcasts
- Code Switch from NPR is produced by journalists of color and centers on conversations about race and identity
- How to Be a Girl is the story of a single mom and her six-year-old transgender daughter
- Invisibilia also from NPR, “fuses storytelling and science to see the unseeable forces that control human behavior and shape our ideas, beliefs, and assumptions”
- On Being with Krista Tippett, conversations about the big questions of meaning
For family listening
- Brains On! A science podcast for curious kids and adults
- Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls – not just for girls!
- Storynory has family-friendly stories and folktales from around the world
- TED Kids & Family
- Wow in the World from NPR journeys into the wonders of the world around us from inside our own brains to out into space
Maybe you want to get out and see or learn something new. Here are a few websites and apps to get you started.
- If you are into hiking (or nature walking as my family calls it) you can check out www.southjerseytrails.org. There are ways to search for the level of difficulty, accessibility, and kid or pet-friendly trails.
- Want to stay comfortable inside and see the world at the same time? Try Google Earth. Select “Voyager” to see the many games and activities you can try out to explore our planet and its people.
- Wondering about the stars in the night sky? Download the SkyMap app to your smartphone. It will show you exactly what you are seeing. Visit the Edelman Planetarium at Rowan University to view a public show or check out the South Jersey Astronomy Club (www.sjac.us) which has open membership and public stargazing events.
- Learn about science in a fun hands-on way. Stockton PAC is hosting Franklin Institute events on July 10, 24, & 31. See Stockton PAC website for more details.
Hopefully, these suggestions have sparked some summer curiosity and a need for learning. May you find the time to rest, to learn, and to grow in faith this summer.
Jessica Dunn Safonof
Director of Religious Education
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