Dear friends,

The idea of acceptance resonates with me in two very different ways. First is the difference between acceptance and rejection. Years ago, when I was an artist applying for gallery and museum shows, it was pretty typical to receive a fair number of rejection letters along with a few acceptances. I became used to that rejection, standing at the mailbox, opening the letter, hoping for good news, then scanning for the real news in the first line or two. No matter how long the letter was those few words were all I needed to know. If it was rejection, I went through the stages of grief pretty quickly – about the time it took to walk from the mailbox to the house. Shock, denial, anger, depression, acceptance - all done in 25 steps. I must have made that walk many, many times, because my memory of it is so clear. By the time I went through the kitchen door, I had made my peace with the bad news. Of course if the news was good, if my work had been accepted, I would just float through the kitchen door.

Either way, good news or bad, acceptance brought with it a lift in my spirits. Even acceptance of bad news provides some measure of peace. The world is reordered, different but accepted. There are major losses that take far longer to process than a short walk. Easier perhaps is the acceptance we can offer others, saying yes to who they are right now. Either way, acceptance is a process. It takes some time. It takes an openness to change. Are there things that remain unacceptable to us? Of course. Only time and perspective, grief and celebration might change that.

Grateful to be walking together,

Rev. Virginia

Next month’s theme is Maturity. If you have poems, quotes, etc. you think would add to the program and discussion, please forward them to Rev. Virginia.