my friend Claudine

Our paths were crossed through our children.

I don't remember if it was an award night or a concert night.

It might have been Mr. Falcon night.

We got to meet each other in the high school auditorium.

After running into each other periodically at events

checking in briefly as we passed by

or waving from a distance

we got together for lunch at Panera one summer day.

Since then lunch at Panera with Claudine became my favorite routine.

Our conversations covered everything we were going through.

We were always interested in listening to each other's stories.

We celebrated and mourned together the ups and downs of ministry, parenting, and life.

It is rare to have a friend who listens so attentively 

that you can feel you are in sync with each other intellectually and emotionally. 

That's what I love about having a conversation with Claudine.

And along with her vibrant spirit

I always loved her polished grace over our meals. 

Today I learned about her father's prayer 

offered at her ordination service 30 years ago. 

I could feel how carefully and thoughtfully he chose each word 
for his daughter 

soon to be his colleague

and I was deeply moved by the sincere desires of his heart for Claudine 

as she begins her journey as a new pastor.

Among many, this part especially resonated with me. 

Deeper her sense of unity with all people

and give her an understanding and loving heart,

that she may minister to all troubled souls and open to them the doors of peace.

I am among those who received the benefit of his prayer 
as Claudine's understanding and loving heart 
ministered my troubled soul 
and opened to me the doors of peace many times. 
I wanted to let him know his prayer is answered.

Our Panera date has been replaced by a weekly Facetime on Fridays

something I look forward to every week.

And someday this may change into something else 

but I know that something else will be just as good if not better 
and I will be as blessed as I am now.

like a bird

Drakes Island Beach

impromptu morning walk with a friend

vast endless earth and sky welcomed us

waves were running to meet us halfway 

we were like children in a playground

walked, talked, laughed, stopped to pick up rocks

often gazed at different directions

Then there was a moment like this
as if someone clicked the pause button
when I discovered the bird 
standing quietly and gracefully
on the vastness of sands
all alone 
just she and her shadow
minding her own business (whatever that is)

Looking at her 
made my heart still
steps slower
breathing deeper
like having someone mindful around

I imagine myself standing on the vastness of sand
gazing at somewhere between ocean and clouds
listening to the gentle waves massaging the shore
filling my lungs with salty air through my nostrils
all alone 
just me and my shadow 
quietly and gracefully

 like the bird
a teacher of mindfulness

presence of Jesus

walking with a wise woman on a trail 

with beach roses and honeysuckle, birds chirping 

on an overcast afternoon 

maybe it was the color of pink 

maybe it was the sweetness of fragrance

maybe it was just an unexpected encounter with the beauty of God's creation

something made her heart tender

there were tears while sharing her thought

not out of sadness, distress, or pain

but out of the natural rhythm of her heart being touched

It was a moment of mindful awareness 

that it's not just the two of us walking. 

There was someone else walking with us.  

As for me, it was a blessing to witness Jesus' presence in her. 

fire in us

a night at Goose Rocks Beach

There's a fire in every heart.

There's something about this fire, big or small,

that makes us feel artificially powerful

and momentarily blinds us from seeing the ultimate damage.

It makes us intensely focus on keeping the fire going

without thinking what's burning and turning into ashes inside and around us.

That's why tending this fire in us is, in fact, a loving thing to do. 

It will eventually keep us from going to the places where we will burn ourselves and others.

Although we may feel the heat of pain 

as we look deep into the source of the fire, 

if we tend the fire in us with love and compassion

the fire becomes a source of light that casts the dark sides in us.

The more we tend the fire in us

the more we become the people of the light,

 the people of the bush on fire but do not burn up. 

La Tua Semplicità (Your simplicity)

a song inspired by a poem of Pope John Paul II

sung by Placido Domingo and Josh Groban

lately holding love in my heart has been challenging 

because my heart was in pain 

from the brokenness of the world

and from my own inability to heal or mend.

There's been a complicated mixture of thoughts and feelings.

The wisdom of this mystic revealed in his poem
takes me to the place where I need to return:

Christ's simplicity, the simple truth of the cross

and what I believe about love: 

to hold the pain and brokenness of the world 

and still in love with the world.

Now I realize why love is the greatest. 

When we cannot be hopeful

and it's hard to keep our faith,

love will remain to carry us through the pain and brokenness. 

. 

And there will be one day 

when all things are complete in God, 

the day in which 
what we have hoped for and what we have believed are fulfilled,

and we do not need hope and faith, 
the day 
"I will know less,
I will believe more"

And even on that day 

love will remain to bring us to God.

now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love (1 Cor. 13:13)

I choose love by Mark Miller

In the midst of pain, I choose love. 

In the midst of pain, sorrow falling down like rain, 

I await the sun again, I choose love.

In the midst of war, I choose peace. 

In the midst of war, hate and anger keeping score, 

I will seek the good once more, I choose peace.

When my world falls down, I will rise. 

When my world falls down, explanations can’t be found, 

I will climb to holy ground, I will rise.

In the midst of pain, I choose love. 

In the midst of pain, sorrow falling down like rain, 

I await the sun again, I choose love.

pray by Steve Garnaas-Holmes

Dearly Beloved,

Grace and Peace to you.

                

How do you live through a siege?

How do you guard your heart and keep your hope

amid violence, hatred, injustice and fear?

You pray.

Sit still.

Let the sounds of the news

and the voices in your head settle and fade.

Release your fears and desires. Offer them to God.

Sit with the God of love and mercy.

Just sit with God. Sit, and listen.

Listen to God's passion for life and wholeness,

for justice and healing.

What do you hear from God,

the God who says “Let there be light,”

who says “I will give my life for you,”

who enters the world's suffering?

What is God saying to you?

It may be silence.

God may be weeping. God may be praying,

radiating blessing for all who are broken,

working wonders, renewing life you cannot see or know.

Open your heart

to let that light and mercy flood in.

to trust that gracious will.

Breathe deeply of that peace,

willing to be light in the darkness...

and go with love and courage

into the day.

Deep Blessings,

Pastor Steve

__________________

Steve Garnaas-Holmes

Unfolding Light

www.unfoldinglight.net

one of my favorite people on earth 

soon he and Beth will be moving into our neighborhood

what a blessing