Message from Rev. Lee - March 6, 2026 - The North Parish Church of North Andover

Photo by Molly Kerrigan

“When we cede control of our attention, we cede more than what we are looking at now. We cede, to some degree, control over what we will care about tomorrow.”

– Ezra Klein

“When you pay attention to something you don’t especially value, it’s not an exaggeration to say that you’re paying with your life.”

– Oliver Burkeman

On the morning after one of this week’s snows, the sun was out, melting the ice on the tree branches. Walking out into the morning, it felt like one of those sudden spring rain showers when the earth is greening, the sun is out, and you might look for rainbows in the sky. It was beautiful. I felt blessed or re-baptized into the community-of-all-life by the trees whose gentle ice-drops/raindrops were falling on me.

Meanwhile, Friday marks the 7^th day of a new war with Iran. It is disconcerting, to say the least, to be “doing normal life”- experiencing all of our own significant joys and sorrows- while yet more children are being bombed in other nations, and while in our own nation, some kids are being separated from their parents and held in inhumane conditions. There is a kind of exhaustion and moral injury that goes with knowing and not knowing what is happening, of feeling unable or unsure of how to effectively challenge the many injustices swirling all around us all at once, of deciding daily how much attention we give to or withhold from it all, of wondering about the future. How to counterbalance the stress, anger and grief? I hope the North Parish community can help you with the need for a counterbalance.

Shortly before the war began, I deleted one of my news apps because I could feel myself getting sucked in, ceding control of my attention or as Oliver Burkeman says “…paying with my life.” Then the war started and I wanted my app back. I have resisted. On Sunday after service, the “Coffee and Clarity” session will share advice on where to find trusted sources of news.

What will we pay attention to this weekend? How will each person and family find their path through it all? How can we support one another? How can we use our organizational power to promote a religion and a politics and a practice of upholding life in the midst of a culture inured to suffering and death? This will be an ongoing conversation that we’ll be having for years, decades to come. Meanwhile, we got the chance to gather and receive a blessing sung last Sunday by the children’s choir and youth singers. Meanwhile, we get to be blessed each week by each other’s presence, smiles and stories. Meanwhile, we get the chance to be blessed by the trees and dripping water. Meanwhile, we practice paying attention.

Yours in both the moral injury and the blessings,

Rev. Lee

P.S. After 36 days (from January 27^th through March 4^th), the staff were delighted to have heat back in their offices on Thursday. To keep warm, the staff have been wearing winter coats (and long johns, and fingerless gloves) and using small electric heaters (one per office- more than that flips the breakers.) Many thanks to our hardy staff for bearing with the cold in order to keep working as a team together! Thanks also to those who have contributed to the Building Fund to help cover the expensive repairs.

P. P.S. For those who are wondering given my big mistake last Sunday: If you aren’t wearing glasses while you pledge on your phone through the REALM system and happen to pay your entire pledge in advance, at once, using your credit card by mistake, all you have to do is contact Stephanie at office@northparish.org and she will stop and cancel the payment. : )

To make an appointment with Rev. Lee, click here.
Email: RevLee@northparish.org
Phone: 978-687-7948