Tradition has often been seen as a threat. And that\u2019s certainly how it\u2019s felt to many of us at times. We know what it is like to be bound tight by tradition. Suffocated by rules and rituals that limit what we can think or who we can love. So, rightfully, our Unitarian message has long been: \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to throw tradition out!\u201d But we also know it\u2019s more complex than that. We are not always perfect at it, but for a while now, we\u2019ve also recognized that tradition can be a gift, not just a threat. We\u2019re more and more likely to agree with W. Somerset Maugham, who wrote, \u201cTradition is a guide and not a jailer.\u201d And not just a guide, but a connection to the wisdom and wonder of the past.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"