It is time to Slow Down!
As I sat down to craft this message for our church
newsletter, a rather curious thing occurred. I had previously penned a piece
for another newsletter and, in a twist of serendipity, I found myself
accidentally pasting those words in a newsletter that should have had what is written below! The theme of that mislaid message?
Slowing Down. It seems the universe itself is echoing this sentiment,
whispering in my ears, "It is time to Slow Down!
As I look back over the past year, I am struck by how
swiftly time has seemed to pass. Our next Service will focus on the theme of
Slowing Down, an apt subject as we approach August, a month traditionally seen
as a time for rest and relaxation. For the congregations I have the privilege
of serving, I hope this upcoming month will provide an opportunity to draw
breath, enjoy the summer weather (if the rain grants us a reprieve), and
reflect on the journey thus far.
The path we've trod together over this past year has been filled with many ascents and descents, a testament to life's inherent complexity. This journey we call life is a tangled weave of relationships, obstacles, and adversity. But it is within this intricate pattern that we find our strength, our resilience, and our capacity for love and understanding.
We often become so caught up in this ceaseless march forward that we forget to pause, to rest, to simply be. Sometimes, circumstances force us to halt in our tracks, demanding our attention and stillness. However, there are also times when we can consciously choose to slow our pace, to retreat from the fray, and in these moments, I urge us to seize the opportunity.
To slow down is to lay down our burdens, to examine them with a discerning eye, and to discern which weights we need to pick back up again and which we can leave behind. This is the time to slow down, to explore our inner landscapes, and to search for the divine spark within ourselves.
In the book of Lamentations, it is written, "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him." Within our Unitarian context, let's reflect on this. What might it mean for us? Perhaps it's about seeking the divine within ourselves, waiting for the moments of clarity and understanding that come when we still our minds and open our hearts. I believe that in those quiet moments of reflection, we can discover aspects of our selves that may surprise, enlighten, and enrich us.
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