Uphill idealist

It's important for you to know, that I hate to clean out my wallet. While I love to see it all organized and tidy, the process of un-stuffing and sorting is at the bottom of my list of "things I like to do." However, in the process of un-stuffing my wallet I found something of beauty. I came across a purple crayon. This purple crayon. Yes at first it reminded me of the kid's story, "Harold and the purple crayon" , and then it reminded me of a friend who always stops to take photos of every purple flower she finds.  Hold that thought.  Every. Purple. Flower. Is. Something. To. Take. Note. Of. So when I took the purple crayon out of my wallet. I thought of Harold's Crayon. Then Elle's purple flowers. The purple iris's I saw on a nature walk this week. Every. Purple. Something. Is. Something. To. Take. Note. Of. Purple beauty is everywhere. There is beauty all around us, that hides in plan sight. Crayons are stuffed in...

Shepherd in the light of day, Share with us your whole heart. Loving people today - make us a new start. Jesus’ blessing, we carry – it’s a blessing we are called to share. Good Shepherd lead us all along the way, From each new beginning and in the midst of the fray. We are bound up in God’s presence – in the dark valley and fields of green. The Good Shepherd is guide us on high ground, low ground and all places in between. Shepherd in the light of day, Shepherd in the dark of night Share with us your “Good Shepherd” heart. Help us love people today – Jesus, make us a new start. Painting -  The Little Shepherdess  is a  painting  by  William-Adolphe Bouguereau  completed in 1889 Poem Copyright 2019 T.L. Eastman Based on 23rd Psalm

Grow where you are planted... This photo was taken 4 years ago today, while in interviews to be approved for Ordination. I knew that day that things were not going well and that I was going to face some difficult criticism. At the end of the day my gifts for ministry were affirmed, but the team determined for me to have experience in a new context and I was told I would serve a vicar year away from home.  In the matter of a day, my whole world seemed to chan ge and the emotions of that moment are still palpable today. However, God in all God’s mystery, love and mercy was with me through all of it...even the ugly crying, wandering and coming through the challenges of a call to a new place. These purple flowers breaking through the cement are still a reminder today that God is present in all things, in all times.  God is with you.  Remember this today.   # gratitudematters

Give the comfort of presence,  resting gently alongside and with. Notice the warm sun streaming through a window  to reveal the joyful shadow dance of tree leaves on the carpet at my feet. Eat a meal, simple and humble, that is a feast for body and soul. Share space. Give weight to ground me. Look deep into my eyes. Know me fully and still long to know more. This is my faithful friend.   Sometimes they walk on two feet and often they walk on four. Copyright 2019 T.L. Eastman

“Chloe, how big is your family?” Points to her family and counts.. “1, 2, 3 aaannnndddd...” “Four”, I say and point to her. She smiles. “Ok Chloe, how many people are in God’s family?”  Without delay she says, “All the people!” Yes Chloe, God’s family is for all people. 

A few days ago, a friend told me a story about how in ancient times, leaders of a household would light a lantern at night so that people could move about the home safely. The images  I imagined were something like a three wick candle I might find at a gift shop or even  a red lantern I'd find in the camping section of a box store. But as she explained the type of lantern that these early peoples would have used, what came to mind was that looked like a botched pottery project. These lanterns were made of clay, formed into a bowl to hold the oil and one end was pinched into a narrow spout for a cloth wick to rest. Not only would this kind of ancient lantern not give off a ton of light, required the carrier to walk slowly as to not spill the oil, The lantern bearer had to take their time and travel one dimly illuminated step at a time. In Psalm 119: 105, the Psalmist who would have had personal experience with these ancient lamps writes...  "Your word is a lamp to my...

As I was cleaning up my kitchen table after confectionery preparations for a party, I was struck by the persistence of the golden nonpareils that had been used to decorate cake pops. In my efforts to gather up all these tiny, sweet candies; I was reminded of friends of mine that while my husband and I were away for our honeymoon, had taken it into their hands to "decorate" our place with confetti on the ceiling fan, jello in the bathtub and (of course) nonpareils sprinkled all through my underwear drawer. For months, years and several moves later - the top drawer of that dresser made light tapping noises that were the never ending reminder of the permanence of nonpareils released to the wild of what we know as "life". Nonpareils while tasty (which may be their only redeeming quality) are much like glitter in their ability to stick around EVERYWHERE. While I enjoy glitter for it's light catching glimmer, it also has the same ability to resist containment....