I’ve always thought that everyone should go to seminary. I learned so much there – learning how to listen and better communication skills; learning to see different points of view and being aware of my power; learning how to builds bridges; and learning, most of all, how to connect to the Holy that resides within and around me.
But then, one day, it occurred to me that going to church is pretty much like going to seminary!
If you are like me, however, going to church takes a lot more intention than seminary, with its grades and deadlines that strongly urge you to learn. At church, no one is made to believe or learn anything – it’s all about whatever your intention is. Are you here to learn? Or just wile away another hour with some lovely music and words? Sometimes, that’s all we can do. Not every Sunday has a lesson to be learned by everyone.
But I’m always amazed when people come up to me to tell me they learned something from the service. Sometimes the lesson they learned wasn’t something I even meant to teach! Whether the lesson was intentional or not, when someone tells me that learned something, it tells me that they came listening with intention: the intention to learn and grow. And that makes me happy because each time I put a service together, I’m learning and growing too! It’s nice to know I’m not alone.
I’m blessed with this community of intentional learners!
Rev. Sian
Rev. Sian Wiltshire is Orange Coast Unitarian Universalist Church's minister. Please feel free to reach out and say hello! She can be reached by email, revsian@ocuuc.org, or by church phone at (714) 556-2882 (x302).