Uphill idealist

Come and be here, steal past my fears, O wounded healer, O humble leader. Show me your hands. Show me your sides. O holy victim, O crucified. I will receive you now. I will receive your love. I will believe in you. I will go on with you. Speak to my heart. Bring me your peace. O broken Savior – O gentle fighter. Breathe on my face. The breath of life. O my Christ let me – share in your life.  Bring to my lips now – your blood and body. O bread of heaven, O hope of glory. Send me in love into the world. O faithful teacher – wisdom of God.   Prayer from book of Uncommon Prayer The prayer I just shared with you is based on the account of Thomas, coming to see Jesus after the resurrection. Even in his questions, Thomas comes to Jesus. Thomas asks for a blessing. Thomas, amid great danger and risk – goes to the upper room, to receive what is needed from Jesus – to then go into the world and proclaim the good news in word AND action. While today’s text is not the lesson of Thoma...

Peregrinatio pro amore Dei is Latin for the phrase - "Pilgrimage for the love of God". I was recently introduced to this phrase in the paper pilgrimage of Unnoticed neighbors by Erina K. Ludwig. Unnoticed Neighbors Trailer from The House Studio on Vimeo . The love of God is something grander that I can ever comprehend; yet I feel the call to share it in more and more practical ways. As followers of Jesus we are at times called to speak God's love to others, but it's imperative to never forget the quieter call to be the hands and feet of grace in the slice of world we happen to live. This life of grace can involve our voices and ears, but it's purpose is not for ourselves - its for the benefit of others. It's not just speaking, listening, doing or being quietly present - but a combination of all of these means structured in the grace of God that we are called to as Jesus-followers. The pilgrimage may or may not take us to far away lands - but the call to lo...