For me, the serenity prayer above is a reminder that during this pandemic, while it may feel like what is happening is outside my control, I can focus on what I can take action on and what I can make a difference on. It is now almost 5 months since all our lives, and the lives of those we serve, have been turned upside down. As we weather all the challenges that the coronavirus has brought us, UMA members share a common foundation from which to build toward our next normal. Together, we have leaned heavily on our faith and our faith-based values. In the face of complex, costly and changing regulations and requirements related to COVID-19, we gain clarity and motivation from our faith-based values. We are grounded in our conviction and commitment to provide the safest and most caring environment possible for those we serve... read more.

So many of us have been challenged in our organizations to pause, reconfigure, recalculate, and resume to conduct business in ways we have never imagined in our lifetime. Oh, how things were different from a look back to January - a new year and anticipations for the future. I would consider nothing is the same for any of us personally and professionally. Now we can hardly imagine life before. Forgetting what lies behind us and leaning forward is what God asks of us. We must put our trust in him.

Many organizations are beginning and continuing their accreditation journey with no clear certainty of what may lie ahead. These organizations have embraced the idea of completing the journey they are on; to finish the race; to not look back; and continue on to the prize of accreditation. The demonstration of this pressing "onward to perfection" is what defines faith-based organizations and sets them apart.