Uphill idealist

  I was around six-years-old when I first went to sleep-away summer camp.  At the time I lived in PA and the camp (through my church) was in Ohio. All school year, I attended Sunday School faithfully partially because regular attendance allowed my family scholarships to help with the cost of Summer Camp. Over the school year, I attended most Sunday's and by the end of the year, my little coupon book was full of stamps - providing me with a scholarship to attend a camp session. I provide this background on how I first got to go to camp, because it is an essential part of explaining what Summer Camp meant (and means) to me.   Going away to Summer Camp gave me a whole new experience of community. The whole process of going to and attending was the first times I experienced, "it takes a village", personally. From the Sunday School Teachers who drove a sedan full of kids to Ohio, to the counselors and staff who supported new campers: through the first 48 hours of homesick...

If I were to have a  conversation with change about changing a mind, this is how I imagine it mig ht go… “You're here. I did not expect you n ow.                Change. “What do you expect?             Change. “What are you asking me to do – who are you asking me to become?”             Change. “I’ve never heard this before.”           Change your mind “ This is different than what I thought before.   I’m learning something new.”           Change your mind “I’m not sure I know everything I should. This is a good. This is hard.           Changing your mind “I wish I didn’t have so much to  learn.   I care about you – I’m willing to try.  ...

There is nothing better than a windy day. One that arrives, with almost, too-much-force. Disheveling hair. Opening the door of my soul. Stealing the sound of my laughter like a game of hide and seek. Whipping around my arms and legs. Holding space for me to ebb and flow – Like the seagull held secure in her head-first, wing-flapping, flight. Going somewhere and nowhere at the same time. This is a playful space to pull and press worry, hope, and wonder in and around me. Refreshing, drawing out, and channeling away,  everything that keeps me from flying. Copyright September 2020 T.L. Eastman

  1 2 3 4 What do we stand on a rock for 5 6 7 8 We stand for God’s love, don’t hesitate! We’ve been blessed with hearts bold and stout worthy strong. We, like Peter, have been called by love our whole lives long. To stand for love, justice and grace – Everywhere we go,  mercy all over the place. Wherever it is a rock you see That is the place for love to be This is the place for love to be You are the place for love to be Crying out with songs of praise Never-ending for all our days Lived, shared, generous, true. LOVE Wherever we go, God’s love is calling you … Stand. 1 2 3 4 What do we stand on a rock for 5 6 7 8 We stand for God’s love, don’t hesitate!

As we hear the account of Jesus and the Canaanite woman, I want us to pause to listen to today’s text from the prophet Isaiah – as the prophet teaches the expansive nature of God’s house – as a house of prayer for ALL peoples. Isaiah 56:1, 6-8   1 Thus says the  Lord :   Maintain justice, and do what is right,  for soon my salvation will come,   and my deliverance be revealed. 6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the  Lord ,   to minister to him, to love the name of the  Lord ,   and to be his servants,  all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,   and hold fast my covenant—   7 these I will bring to my holy mountain,   and make them joyful in my house of prayer;  their burnt offerings and their sacrifices   will be accepted on my altar;  for my house shall be called a house of prayer   for all peoples.   8 Thus says the Lord  God ,   who gathers the outcasts of Israel,  I will gather others to them   besides those already gathere...

Rocks, lines, running, laughing - going somewhere bigger. Missed, overlooked. Determined, telling me something important. Refill with a silver ladle. Missed, overlooked. Salamander, tadpole, dragonfly, sparrow - alive because you are here. Refill with a silver ladle. Where the common people walk. Salamander, tadpole, dragonfly, sparrow - alive because you are here. Determined, telling me something important. Where the common people walk. Rocks, lines, running, laughing - going somewhere bigger. (French Pantoum) Copyright 2020, August - T. L. Eastman

We'd wake up early to drink hot, black coffee in the summer heat -   because you believe the heat of the coffee will help keep us cool as we...             walk to the garden,                           pull up carrots whole out of the earth                                                  and pick and eat concord grapes -                                                 ...