Spring will come in your soul again Winter lingers there is yet more to do underground tending to the deeper matters grief questions longing.
Spring will come in your soul again like bulbs pushing through the cold crusty earth persisting until the green begins to show Announcing: “I am still alive!”
Spring will come in your soul again moments then hours occasionally for days Winter’s grief and longings meet spring’s hope and joy an invitation – speaking the beauty of what it is to be here, what it is to be whole.
I looked up just in time to see her reach up and grab the cloth from the edge of the table. The ceramic pot came crashing down. It broke open into many pieces and the strong, beautiful, and in full bloom, Anthrumim (Red Peace Lily), lay on the floor in a pile of dirt. I was in the middle of a zoom meeting. Thankful that my mic was muted so no one heard my: “NO!!!!!!!” although I’m sure from my expressions they could fill in the blanks: it’s the puppy!
The crash!
She already has a significant portion of my heart, so my response is tempered by my commitment to live through the puppy stage (how long does this last?) and enjoy the companionship of a well-trained dog. I can rethink this plant. It has a history and it’s the best plant I have; the only one that persistently blooms to let me know it’s happy here. I had already moved it once to “higher ground” when I saw her eyeing it on the plant stand last week. I underestimated her agility and strategy to find a different way to get it down to her level. It was the attraction of those beautiful green leaves! Which are toxic, of course.
So…I made the unexpected decision. Get a dog. Get it now. Get a puppy. Influenced by the generosity of my mother and sister, I took the risk and embraced the adventure. It seemed better than winter without a dog. Better than working too much, which is easy for us adults to do. Perhaps having a puppy also prevents one from not being silly as often as is needed for good health. Whatever the reasons or excuses…she is here, and we are living through this stage called “puppy”. Want to meet her? This is TRINITY.
She was already named when she came to me, and she knew her name well. Not to mention the quandary it might bring up if I determined “Trinity” was not a good enough name. It is not lost on me that a couple of weeks before she came, I was hanging an icon in my office; an icon with a title on the back: “Trinity”. So, she is here. My serene life before “puppy” is interrupted by indoor soccer, bones galore, chew toys for every hour, and a lot of night collapses where neither she nor I can move. I’ve met every neighbor that walks, strolls their babies, or has a dog. Word has traveled about her sharp puppy teeth – and – how much she absolutely loves people and other doggies. Our communal joy has increased with a puppy among us. She has some great service work ahead of her! But today…we are living through “puppy stage” together.
The plant I have enjoyed so much was a welcome gift when I started an appointment as Chaplain for the YMCA in 2016. It has thrived and always reminds me of the joyful three years serving with my YMCA friends and family. I’ve repotted it a couple of times over the past few years but had not noticed how much it was expressing its thriving now. When I scooped up the strong, green stems and placed the dirt into new containers, I discovered something. I had three plants, each with blooms on their stems and actually roots that were begging to be given more space to grow! It just wasn’t visible from the small container I’d been watering every week. It had become so familiar I didn’t notice the growth. And now…it’s all so much more!
Is it time to play?Because I’mready to playAnd I’m certain YOU need to play!
A puppy makes you play again, in case it’s been a while. Like a good friend who loves you just because you’re you, the puppy is sure a crash here and there will always be followed by a renewed sense of all that is good and right in life: JOY!
One crash; three beautiful discoveries!
I have been blessed by dogs that helped me grow in the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Hopefully the lessons learned in this new “puppy stage” will make me a better human along the way. More to come!
And may we always be mindful that sometimes a crash will break open something that was waiting for your discovery. Thank you, Lord, for that gift!
“FOR NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD” – the angel Gabriel in the Gospel of Luke 1:37
It’s not just a story for Christmas. It’s not just a story about unexpected pregnancies. It is a story that reminds us clearly that God can and does do anything with people, creatures, and all of creation. (Luke 1 is the reading)
Elizabeth and Zechariah, along with Mary and Joseph are two couples having an unbelievable experience with the holy. Mysterious. Outside of cultural norms. Breaking with traditional expectations, and even physical capabilities. It is miraculous and yes…unbelievable. It just does not make sense.
And yet, something inside Elizabeth trusts in this impossible message. Perhaps because the dream of having a child was so deeply embedded in her that the message aroused her hope. Or maybe all hope was gone, and she simply waited for the message to become realized in her body. Something inside Mary embraced what Gabriel had to say even though she could not comprehend it all; she accepted it as real and worthy of her full embrace. And so, these two women just kept going. They kept their eyes and ears on a faithful focus and let the “impossible” unfold.
Their husbands had a different experience and in their own time and own way, they also moved forward. Much is left unsaid about this. What is communicated is clear: nothing hindered the work of God in Mary and Elizabeth. It was never about Mary or Elizabeth. It was – and is – about what God was doing and whomever and however God chose to engage people in that holy adventure.
My grandfather was a farmer who often did things differently than his peers. He had a spiritual gift of faith and spent a lot of tractor time in the fields talking and listening for God. He took risks while others judged him crazy. He made decisions that others could not understand. He simply kept his eyes and heart focused on the next faithful step. The life of my grandparents, over time, yielded a miracle. A family spread all over the world with the deep unconditional love of God embedded in our DNA. Generations later, the miracle is still unfolding; it is not finished.
I really struggle when I lose my confidence. My work and life often require me to face difficult things. Depending on the Holy Spirit to help and trusting God to guide me is a critical part of the journey for me. Mary and Elizabeth faced a lot of obstacles and challenges. And yet, at each turn God provided a way for the miracle to persist…for birth to happen…for journeys to land in just the right place at just the right time. And here we are, thousands of years later, still marveling in awe and wonder and thanksgiving and praise for the ways God ushered forth the kingdom of heaven.
Doubt and fear are common enemies that creep up on us. Questions enter the mind: Is it too late? Am I too old or too young? Not enough education or experience? Look too different or think outside what is considered “normal”? Did I miss a critical piece that cannot be redeemed or restored? I could have, should have, would have, ….etc. Fill in your own blanks. Doubt and fear are not creative, and the patterns can be detected.
That is not how God works in our lives. Nothing is impossible with God. Trust the whispers of God in your life. Hold them in your heart and remain humble for how God walks with you. Say “yes” if you are given an invitation by God! Embrace the gift if God presents one into your life. However God comes to you…let it unfold one moment at a time as you simply do the next faithful step. Including sitting still when silence and stillness is the posture you’re invited to take.
With God all things are possible. THAT is the message that persists as we see God at work in the world fulfilling all that is promised. Trust it. Embrace it. Put your hope in it.
Prayer
Lord, we struggle with so many things. You see it. You know our deepest doubts and fears. You also know what we are capable of when you are the one acting in our lives. Please help us to hear you in whatever way you reveal yourself to us. Guide our steps and make straight on our paths. Remind us, Lord, that nothing will hinder your work from being fulfilled. Redirect our ponderings to that which you have planted deep within us. Thank you for restoring our confidence and hope in YOU. Thank you for all the generations that keep sharing the story of your faithfulness. We have so much joy in your presence! Amen.
So many beginnings! Walking into new classrooms Establishing “home” wherever we’re landing Sometimes for a while Sometimes for what may seem as if it could be forever Like a plant that grows in the forest revealing more beauty with each passing season. God is watching over us.
When the tears of grief arrive inconveniently where no one knows your loss Or The memory of love brings an unexpected smile that cannot be concealed And When dreams persist and insist on not being forgotten even when you tuck them away or send them down the river with peace… God is watching over you.
While setting up a new office Learning how to navigate a road you didn’t know you would need to take Accepting a diagnosis that asks your routine to adjust; doesn’t that seem rude? Discovering what we didn’t know about each other, and now we can’t forget. Grace stands near, ready to assist. More deep breaths We will all be OK. Creator, God, is here. Pause and receive.
Lord, thank you for creating us with capacity to experience the fullness of this life. For endings and beginnings For sorrow and deep joy For love in its many forms Bringing forth beauty and blessing As if you knew all along, we’d be turning around to ask for help. Thank you. Help us to be aware of your presence among us today. Amen.
We don’t always get what we want, and sometimes we get what we didn’t know we need. We buried my faithful canine companion in the foggy morning sunrise today. My Pincho (sister) and I did it together. It was peaceful; a resting place for his furry body. He was 15 years old, and we had the gift of sharing the last 7 of those years. I didn’t find him online or in a newspaper ad, not even at a shelter. I was looking for something else when he chose me.
Epiphany 2017; a very cold January day, one of the coldest of the year. My sister and I drove to Kentucky in pursuit of a white dog that had been posted online as available in a shelter. We were there several hours before opening time but we were still second in line for this dog. By the time the shelter opened there were 15 cars in the parking lot, all in pursuit of this one white dog. I guess we all thought he was perfect.
“First person in line gets dibs on the dog”, they announced it well before 10am so no one would be disappointed. We took our chances. I’d waited 16 months since Tiki (another faithful companion) died. He was my partner in work, my companion at home. It took a long time to be ready to do it all again. Sometimes we really do have to pace our hearts.
While we waited I let my cousin know we were near, in case we needed a reference. We were crossing state lines to go to KY where this certain white dog was waiting in the shelter. The shelter finally opened. The man that was first in line definitely wanted the white dog, and we accepted our fate. I looked at all the dogs in the shelter that morning; none was the dog for me.
Just as we were leaving my cousin texted me to ask if we’d been able to get the dog we had hoped we could have. I shared the story and that we were soon to be on our way home to TN, without a dog and still glad we tried. And then my cousin said the thing we didn’t expect to hear. “One of my friends just posted that they are looking for a home for their dog. Do you want to meet him?”
Thinking it couldn’t hurt anything, we headed that way. Within ten minutes we were standing in the kitchen of a family home. There was a mom and three young boys (the dad wasn’t home at that moment), and there was this little dog running around the house. While we were just standing there, hearing their story, this little black & white shitzu named “Oreo” came straight over to me, sat down at my feet, and looked up at me as if to clearly speak, “I am going home with you!”
In a true whirlwind, within five or ten minutes we are loading the truck with a dog bed, food, pee pads, toys, and Oreo. I’d never been “chosen” in that way before by a completely strange dog that had no reason to like me. It was very clear, Oreo was going home with me.
Pick up day, Epiphany 2017Starting over…a new lifeThe many collars in our 7 years
There is always a lot to every family’s story. And no one can ever fully know someone else’s story. In this case the little boys were growing up and playing soccer and all the things. It was a busy family life, and Oreo was showing signs of not being pleased with the competing schedules. They were his third owner…I would be the fourth. His original person was elderly and died, leaving him to a surviving relative. He stayed with them for a year, but schedules were a challenge and a new home was found …with this family of five. It was perfect for about three years. But there is more.
There had been a situation where Oreo was missing for three weeks in the winter. It was cold in Kentucky and somehow, he survived on his own, but went through a very difficult time. He lost all of his hair and a lot of weight. And just when they had given up all hope of ever finding him, someone called. He had shown up at their door and he needed help. He still had on his collar. Soon he was reunited with his family and they began helping him get restored to health. When we met him, he was looking good; his tail was thin and really the only sign that anything had ever happened.
I brought him home to TN. He was not the breed I was hoping for, nor the age or size, or anything else for that matter. But there was no mistake about him choosing me as we stood in that kitchen. He wanted to come home with me and I didn’t feel like I could do anything except bring him home. And for a whole year, I didn’t take him anywhere. I spent a lot of time with him and tried to give him a sense that he wasn’t going to be going anywhere else; he was “home”. We got to know one another. He slowly began to trust that I was going to be “his” and that he was safe. And I slowly began to accept that he was the dog I needed.
So we went to work. Almost every day. Whatever I was doing, I put him to doing it too. And he excelled.
Visiting kids at churchStaff stress reliefGreeting Pastor CarlisleAttending the girls small group meetinghating the bows placed by groomers waiting for the next assignmentBeing grateful for the youth staffGreeting visitors at the airport; friends arriving!Sharing bone time with Cinder (cousin)Visiting the injuredVisiting the sickStealing cookies from the youth group!
He did all the work and was fabulous at it! He seemed to know his job: encouragement and love.
He also learned to love “us”. He was included in the family gatherings, as most dogs do. He was able to express love and appreciation, even entertain whoever showed up for the “there’s always room for one more” invitation. I was so grateful to see him embrace this life!
Grandmother time always a hit! On the road togetherHe loves his Auntie Pincho so much!Canoe adventure with cousin CinderMinistry is hard work; tired!Keep it simple; low stressWaiting for youWinter potrait with cousin Cinder and Auntie PinchoChristmas greetingHe loved his grandmother!Always quick to secure a boneIt’s who I am
There is so much more! For today…I just want to honor what a gift Oreo was to my life and to the work we shared. I’m grateful he didn’t suffer in this life when he was old. I’m thankful we had so many moments to make clear that we knew the blessing we’d been given. I’m glad he chose me on that cold Epiphany in 2017. And by God’s grace I was able to receive what was being given.
God of Peace and Mercy God of Wisdom and Grace We acknowledge you who hold all things and are in all things. Thank you for the ways you reveal your glory to us and around us. The stillness of the summer air in June The watchful eye of a hawk in the morning The love in households where people are preparing for the day; The silence in places where nature is the companion.
Rush in, Holy Spirit. Rush in Great Redeemer. Rush in to change the conversations among families and friends, work teams and leaders, strangers on the street and whomever is in our path. We welcome you, Holy God, to turn our attentions where they need to be so that we can see your mighty hand at work. We know and trust, Holy God, that you are indeed present and acting right now. Mold us into what we do not know Transform us bit by bit or all at once; we need you. We trust you completely so we yield all of ourselves… to you. Thank you, Lord, for your steady faithfulness and for not giving up on any of us.
We love you. Amen.
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter til the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. – Proverbs 4:18-19
Need a little heaven on earth as you walk into the week? Wisdom given by Jesus is an invitation into the kingdom of God on earth. It is experienced as we put it into practice. This might be a good week to check your foundation.
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mind and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on rock. – Matthew 7:24-25
No one wants their house to fall. We don’t want our families to fall apart either. And we don’t want our lives to be meaningless. Quite the opposite! We want a place to be safe and well cared for. We want love and community that brings encouragement and joy into our daily lives. We need to know our lives are with purpose and meaning.
Jesus is offering a powerful teaching about life as God wants us to live it, (Matthew 5-7) https://bit.ly/46rnHq6 that culminates with this statement:
“…everyone who hears these words of mine and put them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
And then he mentions the storms of life. Because there are storms. Whether they come toward us like the rain above, or something that rises and surrounds us like a river, or a wind that blows from a direction we least expected – there will be storms. Life is full of them.
Even though I’m familiar with this teaching in Matthew, I never cease to be amazed and sometimes even shocked at this way Jesus encourages us to be in the world. It’s not “normal” at all. This is a very different way of doing life.
This way of being in the world directs attitudes, actions, relationships, business, discernment, spiritual practices, economy, and even prayer. The teaching is packed full of wisdom for life. No wonder he says, “enter through the narrow gate”; this is a special road to walk. It is even hard to find, which is why we are unable to do it on our own.
We often find ourselves asking for divine assistance. We especially seek God’s guidance to navigate the context of our lives right now. There is a lot of disruption and upheaval. People are grabbing news or priorities from a one-line social media post or the most recent AI suggestion. We all want to “do the right thing” but seem to be struggling with finding what that “right thing” is in a world where our context changes so quickly.
Our mental health is more vulnerable than it has ever been, and spiritual places of rest have, in many cases, become full of the tension in our world. We need God’s help. We need wisdom that is beyond us. We need sacred, ancient teaching that doesn’t fade with changing contexts.
The teaching in Matthew 5-7 offers us that depth. It is humbling and invites us into a space of surrender. Jesus spells out some very practical wisdom. He reorders priorities and clarifies what may have been misunderstood. The way he brings this to a close tells us how important it is: we are not going to withstand the storms of this life without this wisdom. It is not there to burden us or harm us. This is way to live into the abundant life even during the storms and wind and rising waters. There is a way to stay on solid ground.
If we want to create a checklist, we can make one from Matthew 5-7. There is a caution with that, however, because the Holy Spirit doesn’t abide by our checklists. The practice of surrender and seeking divine guidance undergirds everything. Still, if I go through these chapters and make some notes for my journey through life, I’m going to be fully engaged in the simple obedience of practicing these teachings.
It does give me guidance for how I do my work today. It does help me prioritize how I step into this week of Thanksgiving celebrations. It offers a reset and a realignment to what is important in the kingdom of God. This teaching actually invites us to step into the kingdom of God.
As we practice what is here, we experience glimpses of God’s kingdom coming to earth as it is in heaven. Coming into our hearts and into our lives. If you’re feeling as though you’re in need of a bit more of heaven in your life, perhaps finding just a verse or two from Matthew 5-7 will usher that blessing into your heart. What better foundation to hold you up as you begin a new week? You can read the whole text here: https://bit.ly/46rnHq6
Holy God, we are grateful for your teaching. We know you can see us and you already know there are many days we feel overwhelmed by life. It’s easy for us to get distracted, and in instances we may even feel disillusioned. We set up new rules and guardrails, they eventually fail. We grasp for help in so many places and sometimes forget that you have already provided a way for us. You teach us a different way to live. We trust you and we want to walk in a way that leads to life. Help us to let go and ask for your help. We need a little heaven to come to earth. We welcome you in whatever way you reveal yourself to us this week. We love you and we trust you completely. Thank you for giving your wisdom. Thank you for creating us with capacity to experience the fullness of your grace. We are watching for a little heaven on earth today. We know you are already here. Amen.
Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord! Bless his name! Share the news of his saving work every single day! Declare God’s glory among the nations; declare his wondrous works among all people because the Lord is great and so worthy of praise. He is awesome beyond all other gods because all the gods of the nations are just idols, but it is the Lord who created heaven! Greatness and grandeur are in front of him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. – Psalm 96:1-6
Does singing really matter? My grandfather had a habit of singing while he drove his old truck down country roads. Occasionally I had the unexpected pleasure of riding with him. I remember a song he made up and sang often: I know a little song Not too long Tulip! Tulip! That’s all gone!
He also talked about time with God while he was on the tractor, which was hours upon hours of his life. I suspect there were many songs that came from his lungs and mouth in that time.
The song we sing in faith is not about the quality of our voices or the melody that flows. It is what happens to our bodies and spirits when we lift out of our situations and circumstances and just sing. Try it. Make it up if you need to. If you were going to sing a song of God’s glory today, what would it be? What melody or words are within you of praise for God’s greatness right now?
God, I thank you for your peace that moves through our lives in all seasons. I praise you for the many ways you show us your creativity that is new every moment of the day and throughout the long night. I sing “Holy! Holy!” when no other words can say what you are stirring within me. We shout “Thank you! Hallelujah!” for your grace and mercy that is beyond our comprehension. We offer our praise and adoration today for your love that never stops reaching out and revealing itself among us. Help us to sing a new song today. Move into our moments of grief, celebration, play and work. Help us to sing of you! Amen.
When you need a little help getting that song going, God has blessed people with incredible gifts to assist. Enjoy!
Silence. Illusive. Revealing. Vulnerable. Real. I remember the silence in the house after my brothers death many years ago. It was deafening. We shuffled across the floor one moment at a time trying to figure out how to live. Just through the next hour. I was young. Life hurt. And it was so silent.
Recently at a Jesuit retreat house I enjoyed 48 hours of a silent retreat. The birds and scurrying of animals unseen offered sound. The wind blew through the trees and sang a melody every morning and again late at night. Occasionally I noticed the sound of my breath when I encountered something of beauty unexpected. It was restoring and offered much peace.
Surprisingly what lingers is the sound of dishes and silverware in the communal dining room. Sounds I have come to love. Signs of my neighbors (and mine) presence. Sounds of the basic need of food. The notes of music that say, “morning has come, let’s gather and eat, embrace the day.” Sacred.
Getting up from the table in my home I hear it again. Rinsing dishes. Dropping silverware in the sink. The clanging, tinkering, loud sound of life. I remember when that sound spoke of our grief and loneliness. There were many days we could not speak, the weight was too much. Today the clanging of dishes speaks of life. I couldn’t hear it until I stepped away and the silence revealed the blessing. A grace unexpected. A gift of silence redeemed.
May the peace of God bring blessing into the silent places of life. Providing, revealing, assisting, and offering to make something ordinary brand new.
This song was a favorite of my Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Tom. It was often a sound in our home – on the piano or the stereo. We never spoke about it except to know that after Uncle Tom’s death, it was a song we couldn’t play it in her presence.
Remembering is one of the most powerful practices of our faith. It lifts up our spirits when we are low. It increases our confidence that the Lord is with us. Remembering is prevention; it recenters us in our faith. Remembering reminds us where wisdom and help can be found for daily life. Forgetting leads us into some of the most difficult life situations.
Our ancestors, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wonderful works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled against the Most High at the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, so that he might make known his mighty power. [Psalm 106:708]
One of the gifts we experience with each new year of our lives is the collective memory. This rhythm of faithfulness is overwhelming if we pause to consider it. Psalm 106 is a long remembrance of God’s acts of faithfulness. The litany is full of humanity; our propensity to forget, rebel, and find ourselves in awful messes. Each time God’s people cry out for help, God responds. Time and time again, we see the kindness of God’s mercy. We experience redemption and restoring.
Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes, and were brought low through their iniquity. Nevertheless, he regarded their distress when he heard their cry. For their sake he remembered his covenant, and showed compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love. [Psalm 106:43-45]
Last night this Psalm came across my reading, and it gave me strength. Like the refreshment of a glass of water after a long hike, this remembering of how faithful God is changes the way we walk through life. Do you need to be reminded? Do you find yourself leaning on some lesser source for your life situations? Or maybe you’ve forgotten how faithfully God works within our lives. Perhaps Psalm 106 can offer some assistance.
Practices Start naming the ways God has been kind to you. Just a few words – a sentence that reminds you. Write them down; let it become your remembering psalm. In moments of discouragement or when you feel forgotten, pull out your psalm. Read it with amazement and gratitude.
Read Psalm 106 and notice the rhythm of God’s provision for the people in all seasons. God allows rebellion and forgetfulness to have its course. When we recognize our errors, the Lord hears our cries and restores us to the foundations of God’s love and righteousness. When you read Psalm 106 as a holy practice, you are joining the many generations of God’s people in naming God’s faithfulness. It is powerful and it will change your days! Read Psalm 106 here: https://bit.ly/Practice106
Prayer Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. [Psalm 106:47]
Life in the Deep End 