“Around us, life bursts with miracles--a glass of water, a ray of sunshine, a leaf, a caterpillar, a flower, laughter, raindrops. If you live in awareness, it is easy to see miracles everywhere... When we are tired and feel discouraged by life's daily struggles, we may not notice these miracles, but they are always there.”
I was driving and listening to the radio this week when I heard something about Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart’s upcoming 30th anniversary concert. It was then that I remembered that this Sunday also marks the 30th anniversary of my ordination, which took place at the UU Society of Wellesley Hills, MA on Mothers’ Day 1995 (which was May 14th that year.) How time flies! Good thing I started my ministry when I was just ten years old (ha ha!)
When I was a ten-year-old UU kid going to the UU Church of Worcester, I never imagined that I would become a UU minister… or anything close to it. As they say, life is full of surprises and sometimes life/the spirit/god moves in mysterious ways. I’ll never forget the story of a colleague who grew up in a Catholic family but became a UU minister. When she told an older relative about her plans they exclaimed, “Oh no, we prayed too hard!”
Where and how were you when you were ten years old? What adults were part of your life? How has your life changed? It might be a question to reflect on as you watch the 10 and 7 and 4 year olds run around at North Parish. Last Sunday, there was quite a discussion about salamanders and fire lizards up front during the children’s story. I also learned after the service that we had not one but TWO of our youngest ones happily walk off to the Religious Education program all on their own for the first time, much to the surprise and delight of their parents. At North Parish, little rites of passage are always happening, right under our noses.
With thanks for rites of passage, big and small, and the communities that make them possible,
Rev. Lee