Last evening 11 of us sat in a circle of chairs at the front of the dimmed sanctuary.  The Transitions group has met for the last two months and this was the closing ritual.  Each person brought items that symbolize what is ending in their life and what is emerging.  One by one they placed them in the center of the circle, describing why they chose each item, mentioning grief and gratitude for what is closing, hopeful expectation for the gift of what is next.  A nearly fifty-year age span meant we covered a wide range of the human experience.    

Transitions are inevitable, naming and ritualizing the little deaths and births we undergo through them takes intentionality.  On Sunday this group will lead us in worship and share some reflections on the experience.

Here is a quote I came across recently that captures well the spirit of the process:

Aging is not for the faint of heart.

One day, you wake up and realize — youth has quietly slipped away.

But it didn’t leave alone.

It took with it your insecurities, your rush to please, your fear of not being enough.

And in its place?

It left you with something stronger:

A slower pace, but a steadier step.

The wisdom to say goodbye without fear.

The grace to cherish those who choose to stay.

The power to be you, unapologetically.

Aging isn’t about losing — it’s about letting go.

It’s about learning to accept, to release, and to truly see:

That beauty was never just in the mirror…

It lived in every story, scar, and silent strength we carried within.

Aging is a gift. Wear it with dignity.

~ Meryl Streep

Joel