Uphill idealist

Mark 10:2-16 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 2 Some Pharisees came, and to test him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” 5 But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife,[a] 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 10 Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.” Jesus Blesses Little Children 13 People were bringing lit...

There is a wonderful section of Anne Lamott's book, Traveling Mercies, that describes her conversion experience. There was no altar call and no pleading - but there was persistence and the knocking that could not be denied.  "...everywhere I went, I had the feeling that a little cat was following me, wanting me to reach down and pick it up, wanting me to open the door and let it in. But I knew what would happen: you let a cat in one time, give it a little milk, and then it stays forever. So I tried to keep one step ahead of it, slamming my house door whenever I entered or left. And one week later, when I went back to church, I was so hungover that I couldn’t stand up for the songs, and this time I stayed for the sermon, which I thought was so ridiculous, like someone trying to convince me of the existence of extraterrestrials, but the last song was so deep and raw and pure that I could not escape. It was as if the people were singing in between the notes, weeping and joyf...

Today was full of familiar songs, joyful clowns (literally), parish fellowship and an afternoon of witnessing the hands-on caring of people at a funeral home visitation for a church family. It's hard on these kinds of days to be apart from loved ones. I see families assembled. I hear their stories and laughter. I feel the closeness of this space and long for my family, their stories and hearing their laughter. But just yesterday I heard their laughter in my ears. It was just a moment ago. Time in its wonder has a way of tucking pockets of love in tesseract folds. In a moment I'll unfold a moment and we'll all be together. In that moment I'll tuck away tears and hold fast to the music of the laughter that is ringing - in real time- in my happy ears.

Tenderness is something much needed in the world today. We think we need to be tougher, stronger, and more independent. But the truth is... we need each other. Yes we might make each other crazy at times, we won't often agree, and we all need moments alone to recharge. But, as a norm - people need to be with other people. I'd like to even suggest, that people need to be with other people to practice the art of relationship building and relationship I think relationship building requires tenderness. My grandson Owen asked to hold his brand new baby cousin Atticus at our Labor Day Picnic today. His mamma (my daughter) helped him hold him carefully and as he stared at this tiny one month old infant, he was overcome with tenderness for him and kissed him. We all gasped.We teared up. This loving display, "got us in the feels".  We were proud of this busy two-year old Owen showing such gentle intention and care for little Atticus. We all saw how...

This yellow leaf,  once was green with promise. It was connected, nourished, and alive. Hints of the fall were all around: Crisp evenings, rushing winds, and shorter days. But this yellow leaf fell in silence.  There was no sound as she surrendered to the swirling water. Her story was not collected, heaped up or leaped into. She twirled,  calmly, quietly and silently; so as not to cause a stir on the surface. But the space she left behind was deep, wide, and shouted of her absence. Yellow leaf had curly raven hair, ice blue eyes, fair skin and freckles - that showed themselves when you stood close. Silence should not claim your life. So today, I shared the story of your death and the dream of our goodbye  that gave me hope to keep on living. Yellow leaf,  no more will you float in silence. You should dance on the wind,  swirl dramatically into your favorite wood, and be swept up over and over again:  for leaping,  laughter...

Luke 7:1-10 Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant "After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, ‘He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.’ And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, ‘Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, “Go”, and he goes, and to another, “Come”, and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this”, and the slave ...

(Valentine Ian made for me 2012) Love Takes Time Love Makes Time Now is the Time --Paul Pearsall Thankful for the love and time we've already shared, so thankful that we step forward together in the adventures to come.  1989-2013 and counting. Happy Valentine's Day Ringo. -Dove

1 Corinthians 13 Image from Cafe Sozo. (This short message was shared as part of the wedding ceremony for my friends Daniel and Leanna today...) "1 If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, the...

It was a family celebration. So many had traveled a long distance to be there. This was a special occasion where everyone dressed in crisply pressed outfits, shined their shoes, and combed their hair so it was just perfect. Cowlicks were on their best behavior, or Aqua-netted into submission. I wore a yellow and white dress with a embroidered bumblebees. On the peasant-styled top half a single bee sat as the rest of the bee colony scattered and buzzed along the bottom left corner of my ruffled skirt. I remember knee high dress socks and patent leather molly-brown-hush-puppy shoes on my fidgeting feet. The sense of energy in this day was overwhelming in my six or seven year old body. My mind and body was a beehive of anticipation waiting for the festivities to begin. My Grandmother always dressed in modest, but stylish ensembles and her hair was coiffed to fluffy silver-white perfection. Grandma smelled of sweet powder and when she bent over to give me a kiss. I was happily taken off gu...

So often people will think of the areas of life that they fall short or what may need some improvement. I think there is some wisdom in knowing where we need some work as humans, but I also feel it is equally important to learn, foster and use the gifts each one of us are instilled with. So here is the challenge or question that I'd like to present: "What gift(s) has God given to you that can be used in the care and ministry of loving others?" How have you seen that gift used in the past? How would you like to use it? If you dream big and I dream big together - how could God work in that big pool of gifts in the lives of others??? Let's share our gifts today and dream of what they can accomplish for God's purpose! 1 Peter 4:8-10 (New International Version) 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,...

"Show me how you do that trick The one that makes me scream" she said "The one that makes me laugh" she said And threw her arms around my neck "Show me how you do it And I promise you I promise that I'll run away with you I'll run away with you" Spinning on that dizzy edge I kissed her face and kissed her head And dreamed of all the different ways I had To make her glow "Why are you so far away?" she said "Why won't you ever know that I'm in love with you That I'm in love with you" You Soft and only You Lost and lonely You Strange as angels Dancing in the deepest oceans Twisting in the water You're just like a dream Daylight licked me into shape I must have been asleep for days And moving lips to breathe her name I opened up my eyes And found myself alone alone Alone above a raging sea That stole the only girl I loved And drowned her deep inside of me You Soft and only You Lost and lonely You Just like heaven ___...

The other day, a friend of mine was telling me about his little boy Noah and all his Noahism's. Today while listening to a mix on Pandora, I came across a band called Noah and the whale. I don't know too much about this band, but the common name caught my attention as well as the song and video posted above. I hope you are feeling loved today. Either way, consider this song and sentiment as some love being sent your way - from me and of course, Noah. :) Happy Friday! Tara

Image from AJM Networking . When someone is a VIP they are bound to receive some wonderful treatment, adoration of fans, and world wide attention. VIP's are treated special and are sometimes seen as "better than" the average person. After all they are very important people. Right before Jesus ascension into heaven Jesus gives his followers a new commandment. John 13:34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Jesus could have given any instruction to his followers that day, but he choose to emphasize the primary and life-long importance of living a life of love. The love we have and share with the people around us is better than anything we could give or receive, even all those things a VIP might be likely to have. To become a VID(Very Important Disciple) , one needs to look first to the needs of others and go about the busines...

Image from Phil Mack Irish Country Music . My husband Ian and I have old photos from when we first started dating, also in that box are the letters and cards we sent to each other when we lived a town away from each other. While we will have been married for eighteen years in June and have accumulated many things in that time, my favorite possessions are contained in that cardboard box. There are so many things available in the world for us to own. So often, we begin to believe that things are the key to happiness. However,the most precious possessions for most people are not things that are found at the mall. The old treasure boxes of our lives bring back the memories and relationships represented by the contents in that box of old photos. I think I love my old box of photo's, because it helps bring those memories back to life. I love the way the mind can recall things so vividly with the help of a photo, a familiar smell or an old letter. Letters epically have a way of cutting to...