CLOSING REFLECTIONS
It is difficult to believe that this is the last time of sharing my thoughts with you through this monthly column. This year, in which much of my life has been spent celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of the National Unitarian Fellowship, has sped by, punctuated by marshalling thoughts and putting them into print. Thank you for allowing and encouraging me to share them with you. Reflecting on this one opportunity made me realise how important it is to communicate, building links with other Unitarians, both as individuals and as groups, using both established channels of communication and creating new ones.
In September a group of NUF members met at Great Hucklow to celebrate the past and present of the NUF and to look forward to future possibilities. Greetings from the GA were brought in person by President Revd. Brian Cockcrof. This representation and recognition of the NUF’s foundational affiliation to the GA was maintained as Brian spoke of his own life and of those who had been an inspiration to him before going on to share in the Anniversary Weekend. In sharp contrast to this established relationship we were delighted to have a glimpse of a new community coming into being as a group of young adults spoke of their recent trip to the Opus and Concentric Conferences in America. These young people are enthusiastic, spiritually alive and socially responsible as they begin to carve out an individual identity firmly based in the wider Unitarian family. They recognised the importance of networking in the name chosen for the group: British Unitarian Young Adult Network or BUYAN for short. On Sunday morning the congregation at Great Hucklow Chapel welcomed the GA President, NUF members and the young adults/seniors. The NUF Minister Revd Goacher led the service drawing the weekend to a suitable close in his consideration of time past and the importance of using it wisely and thoughtfully in the present.
For me the year has been one of becoming better acquainted with the glorious proliferation of Unitarian communities and some of the people involved in them. It has left me with an eagerness to explore further the opportunities which are on offer both personally and for other NUF members. I have been surprised and somewhat saddened that for so long I have been unaware of how much our movement can offer and also saddened that very many Unitarians are unaware of the NUF or believe it isn’t for them thinking it is only for those who aren’t members of congregations.
Reflecting on the past year convinces me that there is much to celebrate in our Unitarian family, a wealth of overarching resources on which to draw and on which to build through the GA, national publications and the wonderful venue at Great Hucklow. Modern technology and speedy travel frees us to extend our networking links, make new friends and establish new relationships between fellowships and communities. At the same time as we reflect on and bid farewell to the old year we have glimpses of the one to come with all the initiatives and opportunities which it might offer.
The Unitarian - December 2005 - "Thought for the Month" by Joan Wilkinson