It is delightful and difficult to believe that July 1, 2026 marks exactly one year since I moved into my apartment home here in Milwaukee. What a year it has been! I must start my reflections by sharing my abundant gratitude to the Board of First Church, to Reverends Jennifer Nordstrom and Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson, the entire staff, and so many of you for your support during my needed short-term medical leave. The number of cards, a jar of olives, gifts of poetry, a meditation book, and many emails warmed my heart through what has been a trying time. I have never lost my voice for more than a few hours, so having it gone for nearly two months due to ulcerative laryngitis has been intense. I am grateful to have medical coverage, to the medical staff at Froedtert, to dear friends, to all of you, and for rest and time to make sense of what this has meant in my Ministry and Calling. I wills share more in the coming weeks.
What does our congregational theme for July, “Renewal: Newness and Mystery,” mean for me, and for us all, during these still unprecedented times? Let’s do take some extra time this month to sit with and dig into this theme as individuals and together.
I would like to share just a bit of my journey over the last many weeks. I continue to heal through my doctor’s care and vocal therapy exercises. I am on the mend.
During the initial weeks of my extended cough and losing my voice completely, it was truly a
mystery even to my medical team as to what was going on. As you might imagine, as one who lives and makes my living through the use of my voice (preaching, singing, robust laughter, kikiING, chatting with people almost everywhere I go, and rooting for my UW Madison Women’s Volleyball team, etc.), it took some time to start to lean into the reality of what was going on. I learned quickly that I could not sing while engaging in my chores, yell at the television as I did unconsciously, nor connect with friends both near and far. All of this came to an abrupt halt, which impacted me on many levels, including a dip in my spirits.
Life questions began to creep in: Who am I without my voice; how can I possibly not speak for six to eight weeks; what about my life’s responsibilities and things I am accountable to and for; what if it never returns? After a few weeks, some rest, and acknowledging I had to follow the doctor’s and Reverend Jennifer’s advice to stop everything, I started to lean into what has become an unplanned Sabbatical. Here, “newness” crept in over the last several weeks. I had my 58th birthday on April 24, 2026. I took silent walks with a new friend. I went to the Milwaukee
Museum of Art several times. I have read, read, and read books from my studies at Starr King School for the Ministry (2005 – 2009). And I rested. I also got to witness the mission and vision of First Church be lived through online worship, following you all in the justice work within and outside the church walls through Milwaukee media and with some the Church’s Facebook posts.
As we enter the usual warmth of Midwestern summers, may we remember the basics of staying hydrated, as cool as possible, and trusting that mystery can be a blessing that leads to newness, even in the most difficult of circumstances. Again, I thank each and everyone one of you for your care, support and love during this time in my life and Ministry here at First Church. May we continue to allow our Unitarian Universalist values and the mission of this church to guide our feet through all that may come.
Sincerely and in possibilities
Rev. Chris Long