UPDATES FROM THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Written by Kera Beskin

Friends, the world feels foreboding. I work as a policy manager at a CountyCare, a Medicaid health plan. Medicaid is the government health insurance program for low income families, pregnant people, and people with disabilities. 20% of Illinois residents are on Medicaid. It is the largest funder of nursing homes and substance abuse treatment. Medicaid often provides life saving care. Professionally, I’m tasked with tracking what changes to Medicaid are coming and I am deeply worried about the future of this government program.

Since my dad was a farmer with variable annual income, my family was on Medicaid off and on throughout my life. My summers in rural Minnesota were filled with home grown sweet corn, pumpkins, and rhubarb. My mother was a proud Lutheran woman who had the Serenity Prayer tacked up in our kitchen. Recently, I have been reciting that prayer to myself and transporting myself back to the safe, warm, worry-free memories of childhood.

The Serenity Prayer forces me to focus on what I can control. I cannot control what the Trump administration will do with the Medicaid program. But I can call my representatives. I can call a friend and tell them I love them. I can donate to causes I care about. I can continue to work for the world I want to see. I can take time to rest. I can volunteer my time as a board member at the Unitarian Church of Evanston.

What can you do today to fill your spirit? What can you do to take care of yourself to continue the fight? What do you want to see for the Unitarian Church of Evanston? In these challenging times, we can come together. I encourage you to join the board of trustees at the Big Questions discussions in March or April as we focus on topics of accessibility and connection. Register on Realm.

March 22nd – on Zoom  10-11:15 am

March 30th – in person at UCE after worship 12-1:15pm

April 11th – in person at UCE 6:30-7:45pm

April 22nd – on Zoom 7-8:15pm

The Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change

the courage to change the things I can

and the wisdom to know the difference.

—Reinhold Niebuhr, 1892-1971