“Thank you. Thank you,” she’d say, offering her soft spoken hymn of praise to you with each step she took. Ninety seven, clutching walker, while I held onto her, she walked in thankful wonder like a toddler taking first steps with glee. Each step a gift, counted. Walker steadied and grounded her body in motion while her thanksgiving steadied and grounded her spirit in the here and now flow of … [Read more...] about Gratitude
This Life
This life I claim as mine, hold onto and defend, is a gift, entrusted for a time, given, breath-by-breath by you. It is a vessel carved rough and beautiful for you to pour yourself into and overflow from, for your joy and mine and others. It is a gift I cannot truly receive, you whisper repeatedly, until I release my grip and let it go to you. Help me as I open hands and heart to release and … [Read more...] about This Life
Washed Up
You ask to wash my feet, as you disrobe and kneel before me. You wait, looking up at me. Joy dances in your eyes. I cannot breathe. Everything in me threatens to break loose, melt, flow, in the warmth of such tenderness. Your kindness undoes me. Your naked love disarms me, inviting me to bare all, too. If I say yes, the great flood of my longing, my need, my pure joy will break me open. Yes. I … [Read more...] about Washed Up
Naked
It is so excruciating and messy, so sacred and wondrous, this peeling away of all we hold onto, all we hide behind, until the naked, beautiful soul we are is exposed and your light and life in us shines through. —— “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it … [Read more...] about Naked
I Am Yours
You made me. I am yours. I came from you. Your life and light are in me. Free every cell of my body, every part of my being to know this, to celebrate this, to live this, to dance in joy. —— It is he who made us, and we are his. Psalm 100:3 From Heaven at my Door by Juanita Ryan … [Read more...] about I Am Yours
Our Father
We are your children. May we know you as our true and loving Father, Merciful One, Compassionate One. Thank you that you are here with us and in us, actively working to heal and free and bless us. May we receive you. May we say “Yes” to you and to your loving will for us. May we participate with you in your healing, restoring work, in our lives, in our families, in our communities, in our … [Read more...] about Our Father
How Silently
Like a slight breeze stirring a lace curtain at an open window, like a blue winged dragonfly setting off a single ripple across a still lake, like a first snow fall descending soft, hushing all, so you are with us, achingly gentle in your touch, your voice, your presence moving in us, awakening us to you. —— Because of the tender mercies of our God… the rising sun will come to us from … [Read more...] about How Silently
Sweet Comfort
We sit together, near the water’s edge. Your arm of protection around me, my head resting near your heart. When the waters lap lazy, I am able, at times, to quiet my mind and relax into your steady embrace. But when waves of fear rise up like threatening armies and explode at our feet, I too often loose all bearings and forget that you are there. I practice being brave, as I learned in childhood, … [Read more...] about Sweet Comfort
Your Gaze
You gazed at me, inviting me to gaze back into the ocean of your love. It was unbearable. I could not sustain a gaze. Only glances. Your love fell in waves against my shame and fear and pride, carrying away small segments a little at a time. It felt like certain death. And so it was. Little by little I died. I thought there would be nothing left. But you knew the seed of life you had once formed … [Read more...] about Your Gaze
I Was Blind But Now I See
I sat holding myself as a child. Yet not a child at all, but a monster, unrecognizable as human. You came, Jesus, and stretched out your hand. “Ah,” I thought, “You will heal this child.” I looked at you, your hand reaching, your eyes twinkling. You were an artist at play. But your hand did not touch the monster child. Instead, you touched my adult eyes so I could see. So I could see this one on … [Read more...] about I Was Blind But Now I See