March 2022
Anticipation
We can never know about the days to come
But we think about them anyway
And I wonder if I'm really with you now
Or just chasin' after some finer day
Anticipation, anticipation
Is makin' me late
Is keepin' me waitin'
….
And tomorrow we might not be together
I'm no prophet and I don't know nature's ways
So I'll try and see into your eyes right now
And stay right here
'cause these are the good old days
These are the good old days…
Carly Simon
What are you looking forward to? That was the question for our brief check-in at last Thursday’s meditation circle. Some said they were looking forward to the snowstorm. Some to warmer days, to attending a live concert, to getting a good night’s sleep.
“We can never know about the days to come.” Buddhist wisdom insists on this - teaching us to live in the moment.
Nonetheless. We can be present to what is at hand and still have things to which we look forward. I’m looking forward to my two-month sabbatical that starts next week. I’m happily anticipating seeing our grandchildren in Italy during their school break, looking forward to exploring Florence and a little bit of Tuscany with them. At the same time I know that the war in Ukraine and a pandemic that could spike again have the potential to scuttle those plans.
I’m also looking forward to seeing friends, taking long walks, reading, writing, working in the garden when mud season ends, doing some work in support of fair elections, tackling or finishing a project or two. I’m looking forward to days with nothing planned.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to any member of the Board if you have a question or concern. The sabbatical FAQ from last month appears again in this issue of the Beacon.
I will look forward to seeing you in May! I am grateful for the opportunity to take time apart and I am ever blessed to be your minister.
