A Little More Bent

I believe
in the good news of God's kingdom coming in our lives and on this earth,
but there is
global warming,
war,
starvation,
abuse,
homelessness,
depression and disease,
and so much more.
One must not turn away from the hurt and darkness,
but we must also be "a little more bent" toward
love, hope, creativity, healing, staying strong, beauty, forgiveness, and justice...
and both believing and being
the good news of God's kingdom.
(All right, enough heaviness, pass the oatmeal raisin cookies!)

The Walk

The old ballad goes,
"We must walk this lonely valley,
We must walk it all alone,
Nobody else can walk it for us;
We must walk it for ourselves."

There have been many times in my life
when this was true,
and I'm sure for you as well.

And it was definitely true for Jesus
this week among weeks.

And even though it is true, it is not true.
There is God, even if we can't always see how, walking with us.
There are others, even if we can't always see how, walking with us.
And all that God has ever made us to be and poured into us,
And all that others have made us to be and poured into us,
All of that is within us as we walk in the valley.
And the ultimate good news is that there is a Way out of the valley.

Yet, it is true. Even though it isn't true.

The Hammer Holds

I can not believe that it is Holy Week. This Thursday, we are the host family and leading a Sedar Meal. Then on Good Friday, I am leading the worship service and we are doing a Reverse Advant.

One of the songs that we are doing for the service is "The Hammer Holds". I asked two of my high school guys to put a video together for the service. I just received it and I wanted to share. I hope that you do not mind and more importantly, I hope that you enjoy the video and that it can be a moment to "savor" during this Holy Week season.

Lydia's Experience of Salvation

"And the preachers be so wrapped up in the glories of that next world," Lydia went on, looking into the dying fire, speaking to herself as well as to her sister, "that they're missing half the glory of this world. I can't believe the Lord meant us to be heavyhearted every minute here when He made so much to lift our hearts...Katy, am I wicked for such talk?"
The younger girl shrugged.
"The words I remember from the Bible mostly, they're about the waters of life and I think about my spring out here, bubbling up pure and plentiful-and about losing your life to save it. I believe I know what that means, Katy. I know it true. It means to lose your littleness in bigness, your own self into the all of living."
"Why I reckon so Lydia."
"That's not the salvation the preachers talk about, Kate." They sat silent while the hot coals in the fireplace crumbled to ashes. "But it's the only salvation I've ever had any true experience of," Lydia said.

(from The Tall Woman)

Here and Now and Alive!

Hang in there - spring is coming! Read this passage from the book The Tall Woman by Wilma Dykeman.

Fresh, sweet smells of late spring rode on the gentle wind. Bees used the air like a giant room. Above her and beyond her and all around, the mountains were stirring with life, thrusting up shoots and leaves and blossoms, feeding roots, soaking up pockets of spring rain for dry times ahead, yielding small animals that had burrowed away for the winter. Lydia felt the surge of life-as she had felt in previous springs. No matter who came or went, what crops were planted or unplanted, who was meted justice or injustice, this would always return. She felt as small as an insect curled in the leaf at her foot, knowing that all of this went forward without knowledge of her. And yet she felt large, too, as great and grand as the green peak of the mountain looming above her because she was part of it all. She was here and now and alive!

?

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THIS WORLD OR GOD'S KINGDOM IN THE LIGHT OF THE COLLEGE SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT WHO WAS MURDERED YESTERDAY. ALL SHE WANTED TO DO WAS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD. I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT. I HAVE NO ANSWERS. DO YOU GOD?

Good news for the weary

I'm a little wounded and weary, but I'm making it.
Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit
for they'll receive the kingdom of heaven."
That's good news, and I receive it!
Looking for a Bible now.
There's got to be one around here somewhere.
I found one!
By the way, the sunlight on the snow is so beautiful today,
and a bunch of red and fat chested robins were hanging around my porch.
Sweet.
Oh, there it is. The kingdom of heaven has just been poured
into the chest and heart of this poor robin.