a prophetic voice-

My work among the elderly brings me into contact with some very special people. The greatest gift I can give to them, I believe, is the ministry of presence...being with, listening, hearing what they have to say. And recently I have begun not only remembering but recording their words, trying to convey the essence of who they are- for myself, but also for you, my readers. I hope these "sketches" draw word pictures for you of 3 wonderful, uniquely different women who I have come to love and respect.   Elizabeth’s thank you… There were nine of us, she said. Nine of us and mama raised us all,               ‘til she died… Only forty-three, she was, and I was twenty-one- married with two chirren Of my own, but I raised them up, every one. My sister next to me, she did the ironin’ And got them all a-dressed and fixed for school ‘Cause I went off to work. Eight hours on my knees, scrubbin’ tiles- Didn’t have no mops in ...

I used this blessing in my sermon this morning and received so many comments about it, plus requests for it that I decided to share it more widely here. May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live from deep within your heart.   May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of p eople, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.   May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out y our hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.

Thoughts on a wintry Sunday morning And suddenly Winter is here The near-full moon rising Casting light upon trees Bereft of their leaves Benevolent feeders offer Succulence and sustenance To the birds of the air And walkers on the street Pass by bundled in ways Unseen and unimagined Only a few short days ago While on other streets and byways Those without shelter huddle Neath overpasses, pulling Their meager garments tightly Around shivering bodies Hoping the wintry weather Will be short-lived And here I sit- warm and well-fed Risen after resting in a downy bed The whys and hows of destiny As much a mystery as ever But certain that I needs must Grant Gratitude a permanent place In my heart and life

Grief is a peculiar thing. Even when we feel we have put it aside or worked through it, even when years have passed between the loss and the present time, it can re-surface without warning in unexpected and surprising ways. Such has been my experience as this holiday season begins, as I have found myself recalling the last Christmas my mom spent with us- the entire family- here at my house. She had not had a good autumn and I watched her getting progressively weaker, her pain level from the periodic vertebral fractures escalating, though she usually denied the pain, feeling that pain medication made her too drowsy. I was tired from the care-giving, from carrying the full burden of the household on my sometimes weary shoulders, and so I announced my intention of not putting up a tree that Christmas. Mother received the news quietly, as was her way, but after several days had passed, she very gently asked me if I wouldn't reconsider as she would love to have a Christmas tree so we...

Where has November gone? It seems like just yesterday the month was beginning and now Thanksgiving approaches. Most of the trees in my yard are nearly bare, though the lovely Japanese maple is clinging to her leaves which turned color only recently, setting the side yard aflame with an incredible red fire. As I sit here contemplating the week ahead, I am filled with gratitude, perhaps more than ever before...and I am giving thanks for so very many things. First, I am incredibly thankful that my sister, Kathy, will be celebrating her birthday this week, after a long and challenging summer of surgery and chemotherapy. Her voice over the phone sounds so hope-filled and positive and I surround her with love and light and prayers each day, that there may be many, many more birthdays ahead for her. Then, of course, I am thankful for my three children and nine grandchildren, such unique individuals and yet, collectively, a delightful conglomeration of faces and personaliti...