The last day we were in Charleston, South Carolina,
Greg and I took a self-guided walking tour called, “Gardens, gates and
graveyards” or something like that. It
was an interesting ramble through old church yards and cemeteries. But when we got to the gate that led us onto
the Unitarian Universalist church grounds, I was awestruck. The gate opened onto a narrow path that was
well-marked but gave the impression of being over-grown. It felt like we were entering a secret
garden. The path went along and
eventually opened onto the most wonderful graveyard I have ever seen in my
life.
All the well-tailored cemeteries we had seen that
day fell away when we entered this sacred space. The green growth seemed out of control but
none of it hampered our ability to walk freely on the pathways. We wandered around in awe. If I were planning to be buried, I would want
to spend my eternity in a place just like this, surrounded by rambunctious
nature barely able to be held back, overhung by untrimmed trees draped in
Spanish Moss. And wow, what it must look
like in the spring!
I don’t think it is just because I am a Unitarian that I loved this place, though it was someplace that felt comfortable to my
curious mind and my untamed soul. It was
just a beautiful, refreshing and surprising place. But
of course, I am a Unitarian in the first place, because in my Unitarian church,
my curious mind and my untamed soul are not only accepted but welcomed and cherished.
Welcome to the Garden of Remembrance.
We celebrate our companions along the way.
As members and friends of the Unitarian Church in
Charleston, we commit ourselves to:
Principled actions that honor the generations that
have brought us here;
Responsibility nurturing our resources, one
another, and our greater community;
Making possible the spiritual journeys of our
church family and generations to come.
Our diversity enhances us, our love guides us, and
our convictions strengthen us.
See you in a few days. We’re off wandering again.
