The older I get, the more I find myself hungry for a simple, downwardly-mobile, radical lifestyle, one that honors and cares for the least of these and the hurting, and one that finds my husband and me living in strong community with other people of faith. I also secretly wish to be the person who sold …
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Well-Acquainted with Grief
“Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop on the heart until, against our will, in our own despair, comes wisdom from the awful grace of God.” ~ Aeschylus I collect certain people. Pack them into life’s travel bag, looking them up at the first sign of hardship and pain. I …
A Broken Furnace Vs. Homelessness
Whine. Whine. Whine. My furnace went out this week. I woke up Monday, just as my husband’s car pulled away to take him to Southern California for five days, noticing the house was a bit chilly. And silent. The furnace wouldn’t come on. No problem. I’d call our Heating and Air Conditioning service, and they’d …
A Non-Heated Discussion about Race and Violence
There we were, an interracial, intergenerational group of about twenty something people represented by Caucasian, Asian, African Americans and Hispanics, huddled in a large circle in the basement of a pub, having a rational discussion about the hot button topic of race and violence in America from a perspective of faith. We were attending part …
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Longings Never Cease
My son returned from three and a half years in the Peace Corps and has been living in our home as he searches for the new pieces needed to rebuild his life here. We are watching his roller coaster adjustment, and he’s filled with the emotions predicted by the Peace Corps before he ever left …
An Unlikely Friendship
I loved this article in the recent issue of Time magazine about the relationship between Bill Clinton and the Bush family. In an era of hostility from both sides of the aisle, this cover story painted such a picture of grace shown by both men. The article tells how these former presidents show acts of …
The Listing of a Year-Long Health Crisis
June 2014 Healthy and active gym member New seizure medication Severe muscle pain ER, MRI, CAT scan, x-rays No diagnosis Ice pack hidden under scarves at work Chiropractor, primary care physician, neurologist August 2014 Pain continues Useless over-the-counter meds and muscle relaxers Work at 8 a.m. sharp Numbness in arms and legs, vertigo, jackhammer …
WORK
“All work is honorable.” – Bill MacKillop During my college years, I prepared to go to work at the midnight hour while my roommates prepared for bed by climbing under their warm blankets and turning off the light. Sunday through Thursday evenings, I packed up supplies for my graveyard shift job and left …
In Sickness and in Health
We went to a lovely wedding this weekend and witnessed a young couple who are madly in love commit to each other for a lifetime. When my husband and I made the same promise 31 years ago, we were in perfect health, filled with energy and the promise of a new and exciting future together. …
Reconciliation
“Reconciliation should be accompanied by justice, otherwise it will not last. While we all hope for peace, it shouldn’t be peace at any cost but peace based on principle, on justice.” Corazon Aquino It’s happened to me twice in the past year. Two times in one year when all the years before have included …