On December 27th I went to the Building that for 106 years housed Centennial Evangelical, Centennial Evangelical United Brethren, and Centennial United Church - one Congregation that over its long and storied history, had carried three distinct denominational names ... Wednesday December 27th, a small group of folks gathered to pack up the last remnants of that Congregation, and to move out ... Through the day there was lots of recalled memories ... looking through old Photos, reading record books, recalling memories and moments spent in the wonderful building that we the People of Centennial United have called home for these many years ... I even found my baptismal record ...
It was a hard day. It is always hard saying good bye to a friend ... As I wandered through the building that for so many years was my home - my sanctuary, I thought about all the friendly ghosts that inhabit the building for me ... I recalled with some tears the many memories I carry with me from that place ... a place that will no longer be my home - my sanctuary.
The year 2006 has been the year wherein I have lost the sense of Sanctuary in life ... on the cold winter morning of February 12th that loss began with fire that consumed the historic, heritage structure that housed Minnedosa United Church ... then the bitter betrayal by some I had lovingly called friends ... the experience of burn-out and then the hardest news of all: that Centennial was closing ... the losses and the hurts mounted ... at times it seemed like there would be no end to the sorrow and the hurt that I was enduring ...
Fortunately, along the way came some positives ... time to reflect and heal ... time to remember and celebrate those memories ... the arrival of new friends ... the support of other friends and family ... the precious gift of laughter and life ... With each downward twist and turn came an upward twist and turn, until the upward twists and turns began to out number the others ... and suddenly the sky began to lighten ... suddenly it seemed less bleak ...
It has not been an easy year, this 2006. But I can look back with gladness that I lived it and have in many respects survived it. With the loss of Sanctuary came much pain and hurt ... but with time and Grace and the balm of care and love from friends, the year ended in a positive way ... and 2007 began with potential, possibility and a positiveness that I have not felt in a very long time ...
This week, I can wrap 2006 up and tuck it away with a "Whew !! Glad that's over ..." and get on with living in the New Year ... It was hard to say Good Bye to the Sanctuaries of Minnedosa, Centennial, and those of friendships I once valued ... but life goes on, and God (and the cosmos) has a funny way of creating new Sanctuaries ... If only we dare to hope ... believe ... and trust in it ...
It will happen. That's the reality I will create in 2007: The simple reality of new and wonderful Holy Sanctuaries throughout my life ...
Dayenu !!! Dayenu !!
and L'Chaim !!
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