Uphill idealist

​ Recently, I had an unusual meeting with a bird – inside my car. I opened my car door and something brushed against my leg. I cautiously turned to look and found a robin, blinking back at me. On being noticed, the robin hopped into the passenger seat of my car and peacefully settled on the front dash. She showed no sign of fear. She curiously and calmly looked for her exit to head back into the open sky. I opened the car door and  she hop, hop, hopped - out of my car and into the sunny day. As she flew away I wondered if this feathered friend had a message for me and googled the meaning of, “meeting a robin close up and personal”. I learned that in some Indigenous traditions, robins are understood as messengers of Peace. This understanding of Robins as messengers of peace, is one that still resonates with me. In the middle of a busy day of errands, worries and many expectations - I needed a surprise delivery of PEACE. If you were to encounter a robin of peace today, how would you ...

​ The Best Espresso in thr World! A woman once told me about a place in a small town in PA where she had the best espresso of her life. She went on to say how she’d travelled the globe and had never had another espresso as good as that one. Surprised by her statement, I asked, “Was the name of that shop - - - - -? Was it in -, PA?” She said, “Yes! Do you know the place?” I was shocked. It was more than knowing the place. I was one of the staff at that shop and back at that time I had fallen in love with making beautiful espresso drinks. I learned how to make a cafe au lait with three distinctive sections and a stripe of floating cream in the middle of the tall glass it was served in. I looked at the woman, amazed at her recall of something I had long dismissed and said, “I think you are talking about the espresso that I might have made!” She was shocked!  She asked if I had a shop today. I told her I was now a pastor. She pleaded for me to open a espresso shop once more.  Toda...

This article first appeared in First Lutheran Church's January 2015 newsletter, but I share it here because the message of what "track" we listen to and live by has legs here as well. Thank you for your grace on the context, and may this track be one that is life-giving to you in the days to come. We are on the heels of the Christmas season and there has been some time to pause and reflect on the story of the Christ child and the message of love and forgiveness God brings to us through him. You have heard the story of the Nativity from the Sunday School youth of our church, heard beautiful music proclaiming the gospel from our choir led by Kimberly King, and perhaps have listened to the Jamestown High School A’ Capella Choir sing for the vespers service (the 90 th year anniversary by the way.) There has been a great deal of proclamation as well a much to take in and listen to. Personally, this last week of Advent has been a challenge for me as I’ve been with...

Image found at Desert Pastor. As mentioned, I've been reading Anne Lamott's book, "Traveling mercies">. The title alone has stirred some thoughts in my heart. Here written below are some of the ripples of idea on living in and through traveling mercies. When I was a little girl and throughout my childhood, I remember the ritual of praying with my family before any significant road trip. My Dad would say, "Let's hold hands, we're going to ask God for traveling mercies." I'd usually be sitting in the middle seat,being the youngest of three kids, perched between my brother who was seven years older than I and my sister who four years older than I. My sister would happily grab my hand and my brother would reluctantly hold a few of my fingers to officially complete the prayer circle. He didn't mind the prayer part, but holding his littlest sister's hand - that was a bit too much for any teenage boy. Most of our road trips involved heading ...