the bake day

another great weekend. beautiful weather. saw kk and kyle's new house. had time to rest and time to PLAY with our refugee friends! this time we had options...games at the park or baking at the church. i opted for the baking. so fun to see these girls crack an egg for the first time and use a measuring cup. one of our amazing young adults at hcumc, liz, organized the day and captured some of the fun on camera...

the reminder

the best part of my day...

walking down the hall, seeing an 85yr old man sitting on the edge of his bed in a dimly lit room, and making a split decision to stop in. i introduced myself and pulled up a chair next to his bed. during the course of the conversation i learned that he has no surviving family accept 2 step children who call and come by as often as they can. i asked him what he had been thinking about. he replied that he doesn't know what he thinks anymore. his loneliness made me sad.

so why would that be the best part of my day? because for a moment i was used by God to remind this man that he is loved by God. and in that moment i was reminded of how loved i am by God too.

if you're reading this, know that regardless of where you are or who you are that God is pursuing you and loves you beyond your imagination...even when you feel like an 85yr old man sitting in a dimly lit room who doesn't know what to think anymore.

the encounter

these last couple of days in the hospital have been a blessing. in my last post i spoke about the bondage experienced by so many of those who find themselves here. i prayed that God would encounter those who are hurting...well, God's doing a pretty good job...encountering me.

i sat with this sweet woman this morning as her husband died. what a gift to be with someone during such an intimate time. she told me stories about their lives as we waited for her daughters to arrive. here is my reflection to remind me of this sacred encounter...

The Dance

"May I have this dance?"
He asked confidently.

"Of course."
She answered sweetly.

The beginning of a new life together,
where their shining moment
was a dance
in their boots
in Hollywood.

"I'll miss you."
She said tearfully.

One last breath.
He breathed peacefully.

The beginning of a new life yet again,
where their shining moment
will be a dance
in their boots
in Heaven.

To be heard by everyone.

the rollercoaster

up, up, up we go, then down so fast that it feels like our stomach is going to fall out...it's a crazy feeling. but, for me, riding a rollercoaster is totally worth it!

it's the second sunday of easter. for many, the season of lent and the celebration of our risen Lord feels like weeks ago...not just days ago. so much happens in a week. our lives go in directions we could not have imagined. many of us experience moments of doubt and fear and then thank God most of us return to a life of assurance and faith, but only by the grace of God.

i am thankful for the moments that bring me back to that life of assurance and faith in a good God who has a good plan for me. sipping on a good cup of saturday morning coffee, jump roping and playing soccer with our refugee friends, enjoying the weather, and taking little maggie for a wagon ride around the neighborhood today are little reminders that i am right where i need to be...on the rollercoaster.

tonight i will find myself on call in the hospital from 7p-7a...a place where people are most likely not experiencing the joy i experienced this weekend. sickness and disease keep them in bondage; their bodies are unable to be so free. my prayer is that God meets them right in the midst of their doubt and fear so that they may either return or find for the very first time the joy that comes from a life of assurance and faith. or maybe the joy will simply come in knowing that they are on a rollercoaster and they are not alone.

thank you, God, for sitting next to us on the ride...