“If you can see your path laid out in front of you step by step, you know it’s not your path. Your own path you make with every step you take. That’s why it’s your path.” Joseph Campbell
My first year of college, living in Denver, CO, freshly out of high school brought a few challenges. One of those challenges that affected my day-to-day life was that I did not have a vehicle to drive. This meant I made use of public transit nearly every day. Oftentimes, I would take multiple busy buses or light rail trains to reach my destination. That year taught me a lot outside of school, thanks to the many interesting interactions and challenges I was met with.
Last week, I dreamt of being in a large city and navigating unfamiliar buses again. I was moving quickly from place to place, among crowds, trying to make sense of which bus would take me to the destination I was intending to reach. I was accompanied by friends in this dream but wandered off on my own to try to find the way. Ironically, I did not consciously have an idea of exactly where I wanted to end up and did not get far before the dream ended.
There were many thoughts sparked through this dream experience I encountered. It not only reminded me of my past, but it also brought up much metaphor for me. Because there were so many buses stopping near the busy street corner I was on, I was reminded of the many choices we are presented with in our lives, many of which pass us by quickly. Because buses that drive multiple routes stop at some of the same stops, allowing folks to transfer from one to the next, there may be times one accidentally ends up taking an unintentional detour. Those accidental, inconvenient trips we did not plan on going on usually have something to show us. While I do not subscribe to this idea that everything happens for a reason, I believe we always have the choice to notice, learn, and adapt.
Our lives will never look exactly how we imagine. While disappointment is a part of the human experience, let us delight in the surprises that unpredictability gifts to us. Grant us patience as we navigate our detours and acceptance of where we are. May we remain humble and open to what we might still learn through our challenges. Let us bow to those whose paths cross ours, knowing that each of us experiences curves and setbacks sometimes.
Please know that I am just an email or a phone call away. While I am no longer holding virtual “office hours”, you can reach me on my personal phone at 507-995-7929 or by email at cfddirector@uumankato.org . If I do not answer, I encourage you to send a text or leave a voicemail. Currently, I am available for daytime meetings on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. I also do have availability most other weekday evenings. I will continue to do my best to serve as a resource to our community, through connecting you to one another and of course, directly. Being a light in the lives of others is as important as ever, and I hope you will stay connected.
Macey Forsyth
Please consider joining our private Facebook group: UUFM Children’s Faith Development (https://www.facebook.com/
Link to the stories: Our virtual Stories for All Ages are now available on the UUFM YouTube Channel. At least one new story will be available by Sunday, each week.
https://www.youtube.com/
Youth Group: Our Youth Group meets tonight, Wednesday, April 7th from 6:30-8pm, with Barb and Macey. Zoom info will be posted on our Facebook group and sent in an email. We ask that those in attendance bring some colored pencils or markers for an activity that we have planned.
Virtual Children’s Chapel: Our next Children’s Chapel will be held this Sunday, April 11th, with Deb and Macey. We will be focused on the theme of Becoming and the spring season in poetry on this Sunday. Our young friends are invited to read or paste a favorite poem if they have one. Zoom info will be posted on our Facebook group and sent in an email.