Riverside Reflections

The Reverend Millie Rochester

It is my practice to arrive at church early on Sunday mornings. Whenever possible, I like to sit in the quiet of our sanctuary, and just be for a little while. Soon enough, the building will fill with happy sounds of people entering, with the beautiful music of the Choir practicing, with kitchen conversation as coffee is prepared, with people of all ages greeting one another – all sounds that bring joy to my heart. But for a little while, I just sit, doing nothing but noticing the light as it plays on the snow outside the window, noticing the beauty of the quiet moment.

How good it is to center down!

To sit quietly and see one's self pass by!

Our spirits refreshed. . . we move back

into the traffic of our daily round

with the peace of the Eternal in our step.

How good it is to center down!"

These words of Howard Thurman come to my mind as I prepare for a trip to Monterey, California, for a ministers’ conference. It will be a good week, an exciting, interesting week, of learning along with friends and colleagues. Roger is going too, and looks forward to devoting time and attention to his writing. And the two of us will have time together, outside of conference activities. After the conference, Roger and I will drive up the coast to Portland, Oregon, for a visit with our children, our first visit in a long time.

At times like this – before-the-trip times; before-the-church-fills times – a pause in the action is important. Centering down in the midst of my busyness requires that I stop rushing through my to-do list, observe myself, and just breathe. When I return to my activity, I am more focused and doubly able to appreciate my surroundings. I am blessed to be in a place where appreciation is a natural state of mind.

In the coming weeks, we will have opportunities to express our appreciation for one another, and for our spiritual home, the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Winnipeg. As stewards of this faith and this faith community, we will ask ourselves and one another to renew our commitment to carrying the flame of hope and love through our generous donations.

By the time this is read, I will have returned home from California and Oregon. I look forward to the conversations we will have. I hope your participation here fills your life with as much happiness as it does mine.

Warm blessings,

~Millie