One Step At a Time

There are times along our journey when we have to climb.  

Wondering if we will make it ... 

But again ... 

We are not alone 

God is with us ... 

the Spirit is with us ... 

"Since we live by the Spirit, 

let us keep in step with the Spirit"

Galatians 5:25

Go forth in your journey today

You are not alone

The Spirit is with you.

The Path

Each of us is on a journey ... 

and we have options about how to proceed.

One step in front of the other seems to make sense to me

At times I walk with others

At time I walk alone

While I am aware of the dangers 

I don't become paralyzed by them

Somedays the directions seem less clear 

So it is necessary to try options.

I think it all has something to do with free will

It has to do with choices

It has to do with having the confidence to make mistakes

It has to do with having the confidence to be wrong

It has to do with confidence to make modifications

Regardless ... I know I am not on this path alone

Thanks be to God

During this Holy Week Christ knew what path he was on.  It was a path that led to his eventual death.  It was a path that led to his eventual resurrection.  His was a path of righteousness.

"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day."   Proverbs 4: 18

Evening Quiet

The lights are low ... the sun has set ... now is the time to enjoy the quiet.

I invite you to fine a quiet tune to listen to as you sit here and experience the close of the day.  

Tonight I listened to the Compline Choir from Seattle Washington. 

Blessings to you, my friends, for a quiet night of sleep.

And a gentle wakening this most holy of weeks.

Those who come before us

Every day there are those who have come before us. They are not of the past, but they are on our present being.  They are the ones that leave a mark on us and contribute to who each of us is.  Perhaps you have read of those who have left a mark on me at one time or another. Some of these saints are living and others have since died. 

Today is the anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King. Forty years ago he stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  His words from the infamous speech "I have a dream" speak to me today in light of the shootings yesterday.   Those who died were living their dream seeking freedom and life as a US citizen. 

"Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring—when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children—black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics—will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!" August 28, 1963 Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968)

And the freedom which we are given (both the freedom for people as Dr. King talks about and the free will we are given as children of God) is based in the context of community.  We are part of a community ... its not about me ... its about we ... its about us.  

We too come before others. 

Live and love accordingly.

Who have you thought of these past few minutes that made a mark on you?

Tears for the dead and Prayers for Peace II

Again today the airwaves are full of stories from Binghamton.  Located about 160 miles from my home, an individual took upon himself to enter into a building and start shooting.  As of this writing 14 are confirmed dead and four reported to be in critical condition.  

Another day of sadness for way too many people.  Those in the building were there studying to become citizens.  They were learning English.  They were discovering a new world of opportunities. 

We need to develop social and emotional skills including respect, being able to slow down, acknowledge our feelings, take the high road.   

We need to find a way to live in peace.  

It's a choice we have ... to make the world a better place ... or bit by bit make is a worse place.

The choice is ours.   

Good and gracious God,

Be with those who tonight cry.

For those who have lost someone dear to them.

For those living in fear.

Be with those tonight who are bubbling in anger.

Who are filled with rage.

Calm them with your love and presence.

Give them someone to trust

Be with children who will lay down in fear

Who hear the popping of guns

Who feel alone and unwanted.

Give us strength to go out ...

To love the unloveable

Hug the unhugable

and look in the eye of the stranger.

We all want to belong ... 

With you we do ... 

Give us a good night's rest.

Amen

Whoops ... its been a long day

Its the end of the day ...
So busy ... all day ...
meetings ...
meetings ...
meetings ...

Quiet night at home ..
Time for sleep

For another day
Thanks be to God ...

The Senses

I seem to be most keenly aware of my five sense in the early morning hours, just upon waking. 

The sounds of the birds, 

The smell of the coffee, 

The early morning light, 

The first sip of coffee,

The feel of water on my face.

Awaking from a sleep 

Fresh to the world around me

Each day new

Each day fresh

A chance to start again

Good and gracious God, thank you for these gifts to experience all the world to the fullest.  Let me use these senses to discover the many glories around me.  Amen

Have an awakening today.