By Linda Kennedy (she/her), UTO Board Province IV Representative

At a recent evening church service, I was struck by those four words in a hymn we were singing. 

Wouldn’t the world be a much better place if we all had a well-tuned heart? 

I am grateful for those with well-tuned hearts who have come into my life and hope to learn from their examples. 

Dede, a dedicated church leader for her whole life, decided at 87 to start a new senior ministry at her church incorporating mission, ongoing learning, and support. Her model has been used at churches throughout the country. 

Nina, who could no longer get out to serve at her church but could make calls to check on others at the church. At 100, her calls continue to be a joy and gift to people. 

Julia Chester Emery, the founder of the United Thank Offering, who determined that if we simply collected coins in our gratitude Blue Boxes we could fund special projects. Since 1883, the United Thank Offering has awarded more than 5,400 grants totaling over $144 million, providing shelter, clean water, food, and other resources to people all over the world. 

Finally, there is Jane Goodall, who taught us so much about taking care of Planet Earth and reminded us in her “Famous Last Words” interview: 

“What message do I want to leave? I want to make sure that you all understand that each and every one of you has a role to play…and that every single day you live, you make a difference in the world. And you get to choose the difference that you make…And if you want to save what is still beautiful in this world — if you want to save the planet for the future generations, your grandchildren, their grandchildren — then think about the actions you take each day. Because, multiplied a million, a billion times, even small actions will make for great change.”

There are also the countless other well-tuned hearts who cross our paths every day welcoming the strangers in our midst, helping the person in a medical emergency get care immediately, taking dinner to a friend “just because,” donating food or time to a food bank or charity, and showing us how grace can make such a difference in this world.

I am so grateful for all of them. They are all “saints of God.” I hope that you will join UTO over the coming weeks to celebrate Julia Chester Emery and her well-tuned heart at the UTO training day on Jan. 10. Please join us to contemplate the well-tuned heart in a gift economy during our Lenten Book Group on “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer. This book on the grace of a gift economy reminds us that ”all flourishing is mutual” and that well-tuned hearts can make huge differences in the world through small actions. 

So this season, remember to “tune” your heart and go in peace to love and serve God and your neighbor. We are the hands and feet of Christ on this Earth.