In Retrospect

It has been awhile since I last posted and now I am in the throes of preparing for another trip to Africa. We leave on July 23 and will be going once again to the Kabanana District near Lusaka Zambia to work among vulnerable children. Our project this year is to provide a more sanitary latrine facility, additional classroom space, health and sex education and community based school support for a preschool and for Healing Place - a school run by Pastor John and Thenny Mpanga. July 1 marked the end of nearly 15 years of pastoral ministry at Calvary Presbyterian Church. It was an emotional time - a bittersweet mixture of tearful goodbyes, unfinished ministry, and people that we have grown to love and care for on the one hand and joyful anticipation of a new chapter in life. As I look back over the last 15 years of ministry there are a number of things that stand out in my mind as vital details and profound memories. - Challenging a congregation steeped in traditional mainline Presbyterianism to step out of that box and engage the community and the world with a missional commitment - 3 mission trips to Mexico to build houses, 3 trips to Africa, 1 trip to the Gulf Coast to help rebuild after Katrina hit. I can recount nearly every detail of those trips; the people we met and ministered to; the jobs we accomplished; the team members; the funny incidents and stories; the heartwarming bonds of love and fellowship; the deep satisfaction of knowing that even if we hadn't made huge dents in the problems of the world, we had changed the lives of some forever - Along those same lines is the gratitude of knowing that over 275 people - from age 15 to age 70 - have participated in one or more of these trips or one of the many other mission trips our church has supported to Mississippi, New Orleans, New York, Boston, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico. - A group of folks that met every week in a local Ale House for Bible Study, prayer, laughter, tears, fellowship, food and more. I am also reminded of people like Thomas, Bonnie, and others who served us and watched us seek to live out the Christian life in a real world setting - Attending AA "birthday parties" with brothers and sisters who were celebrating months or years of sobriety and knowing that I had supported them in some small way. - Over 550 erudite, inspirational, biblical, applicable, life changing sermons preached - Person after person who either wrote a card, a note for the scrap book or who stood and spoke at the party. As I heard those comments and read and re-read the notes and letters, the thing that stood out so clearly to me about 15 years of ministry was not my preaching or my insistence on challenging people to step out into the world; not my Bible Study or classes on current topics; but on personal relationships. Mention of any of my sense of accomplishments was minimal. People talked about supporting them in their Christian life or encouraging them in some ministry. Someone mentioned a life-changing experience on a backpack trip and another on a bicycle trip through the Rocky Mtns. Some mentioned my support of music program, others spoke of things I had said or done. But most simply talked about having a relationship that helped them. Sometimes you don't know the effect your life may have on another person. And sadly, people don't take the opportunity to say kind things about the way another person has affected their life until they are leaving or they have died. I feel humbled and grateful that people were able to share with me and my whole family what 15 years has meant to them (and in some cases an additional 5 years in Renton, Maple Valley and 14 years in Las Cruces). I pray I didn't do anything or act in any way that held ulterior motives of self-advancement. I tried, I believe, to simply act as a "Christ-man" (a term my grandson Davis coined after watching the movie Courageous). In the course of that, God brought dear friends, co-workers, colleagues, accountability partners, and, in some cases, those who challenged, opposed, made me think more deeply about my positions int my life and thereby caused me to grow. I have not deserved the favor God has bestowed on me and my family. As the say in Africa, "God is Good - All the Time." As I look back, I have no regrets, only deep satisfaction mixed with a desire to keep pressing forward in some way. Retirement from professional ministry does not mean quitting the challenge of "living for Christ and bearing fruit." (Phil. 1:21) It simply means finding new ways of doing that. Judy and I decided to attend church last Sunday even though we didn't have to. Neither of us had any responsibility to be there, no sermon to preach; no program to lead, no question to answer; no complaint to listen to. For the first time in many years both Judy and I were able to sit in church and simply focus on God and let others worry about microphone batteries, time going over, sermon content. And through that we encountered God in a new way. Wow. That's what it is like to go to church to worship and not to work. I had no idea. So, we press on. Next stop is Africa. I guess I have to put on a leader hat again for a few weeks as this trip was planned before I knew July 1 would be my retirement. But we are excited to extend Christ's love in tangible ways and to know that though retired, there is lots to look forward to and not just fond memories to nostalgically remember. If you are interested I will be posting from Africa (maybe even from Dubais where we have an overnight stop)on this site. Feel free to read or comment if you wish. Gotta run now and straighten out some technical problems I am having with my email and computer. Keep the faith.

FISHING OUT OF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BOAT

"Go to the other side of the boatand you'll catch your limit!" I wish it were that simple but its usually not. I can be in the same boat, fishing the same exact gear, using the same technique as others - With rare exception I will be the one who doesn't catch fish.

After the resurrection the fishing disciples went back to their old fishing grounds. Having fished through the night, their luck was equal to mine. Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
Tired and discouraged, they were ready to pack it in when off in the distance, standing on the shore of the lake, Peter saw the faint silhouette of a person who was calling out to them - "Throw your net on the other side of the boat and you'll find some."

I have often wondered why would they have listened to someone they didn't recognize. But if you know anything about fishing and fishermen, you know that when your not catching, you'll try anything. So they did...they dropped the nets on the other side of the boat and they caught so many fish they needed help hauling them all to shore.
It was only when they got closer to shore that they realized that it was the risen Jesus who had called out to them.

It was a great, joyful moment. Peter, in typical fashion stripped down to his civvies and swam to shore to greet the Lord. Pure exuberance and unrestrained emotion. It all culminated with a fish fry and beach party.

Food is always and has always been a great way to celebrate and to draw close. No wonder the breaking of bread is sacramental. It does draw a person closer those sharing the meal as well as to the host. In another place, on a road to Emmaus, this same Jesus appeared to two disciples and only became known to them in the breaking of bread.

This story from John's Gospel is one of my favorite post-resurrection stories. I love it that Peter was overjoyed to see Jesus again. I love it that they got to enjoy a meal and the fellowship that goes with it. I love it because it involves boats and fishing. I love it most of all because at the Lord's suggestion, they decided to fish differently and for that step of blind faith, their efforts were rewarded...beyond all expectation and hopes.

That is what knowing the resurrected Christ does to a person's life. The Lord tells you to stop doing things in the same old way with the same old results that you have been using. Knowing Jesus should give us courage and faith to change; to not settle for the same old, same old.

A lot of people do not like change. Its difficult. Its not that the future is bad, its just uncertain and when a person is accustomed to doing things in certain ways, well, its just hard to recalibrate.

Obviously, as retirement nears for me, the Lord will be asking Judy and I to fish out of the other side of the boat and engage in new, different ways. Yes, I am retiring from serving Calvary. But I am a disciple of Jesus and I can't see not serving in some way - voluntary or otherwise. It is and will be a step of faith for us. Jesus Risen calls out though and asks us to do things differently. I'm up for it.

It will also be an important time for our church as this change occurs. For nearly 15 years with me as Senior Pastor, Calvary has graciously adapted to my weird ideas, big plans, and sorry jokes, you have kindly adapted, put up, responded to and shared in ministry with me. You have grown accustomed to doing things in a certain way. It would be easy - and perhaps natural - to slip back into a complacency, continuing to do things the way they've always been done. But that may not be the most effective way to do things; "to catch fish."

Now seems the perfect time for you to hear the call of Christ and go to the other side of the boat, try a different method, and do things just a little differently. That's what Jesus in risen glory calls us to.

And it's even more important in your personal life. After you've finished your Easter dinner, visited with family and friends, done your annual (or bi-annual) church thing, don't be content to go back to things the way they were. Step out in faith. Hear Christ's call. Know that in risen power and glory, the Lord is calling out to you to do things differently. If you just try it, who knows, maybe you'll be so blessed, you won't even be able to haul in the catch.

Musings for the days leading up to Christmas

What's most important? How do I understand the true message of Christmas. How is the way I celebrate this blessed season a reflection of my passion and commitment for my brothers and sisters in other parts of the world?

I realize that in the hectic, crazy schedules which define our lives, Judy and I have had to struggle to maintain balance. We have immersed ourselves into the wonder of some amazing lighted Christmas displays. Zoolights (in spite of a long walk from a distant parking lot) was amazing. The creativity, patience and skill of those who designed and constructed this lighting display at the Pt. Defiance Zoo stunned us with beauty, dazzling light and animated displays. I thought to myself, this can't be topped.


Thursday, I took a group out on the boat to follow the Argosy Christmas Ship in a lighted boat display. It is always one of the highlights of our boating experiences. This year was no disappointment. About an hour before we needed to leave the dock, the dense fog lifted and we were treated to a crisp clear cruise around to Dash Point where a lighted tree and giant bonfire shone brightly as we waited for the Christmas ship to arrive. It's always an adventure to travel at night by boat. But we missed any logs, other ships and docked safely in the warm glow of carols and lights and good friends.

A number of people had told us we really should go see the Holiday Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens. So last Friday we jumped in the Hybrid Sleigh, set the GPS, turned the stereo up high and headed out to see another awesome display of lights - even better in my opinion than the previous week's. Wow. I came home determined to do something more creative and complex in our yard next year. Just wait. Now, we have tickets for this Friday to drive through a neighborhood in nearby Spanaway (that's right. You heard me. Tickets to drive through a neighborhood) to see an entire community decorated.

In the midst of all the happy twinkling of colored lights, elaborate displays, joyful music, and throngs of people, one thing seemed to be missing - JESUS.
Last I checked, Christmas is a time to remember and celebrate the birth of God into the world. Incarnation. The divine taking on human flesh. God in a manger; born to give his life in sacrificial love for a lost and hurting world.

And lots of people are hurting. This year more than any other Christmas in my memory, I have heard of and talked to more people who are going through rough times than ever before. Serious illnesses, deaths, loss of jobs, financial pressures, family strife, depression, worry and anxiety are as much a reality and maybe even more so as the dazzling lights and happy music; the parties, dinners, and gift exchanges.

It struck me this year then that the reason God became man was not simply to give us another holiday or reason to party and spend money. It was to bring hope and healing in those places of brokenness, hurt, and fear. That is why the angels told the shepherds not to be afraid. There had been born in the city of David a baby, who was Christ the king. Truly a reason to see glory and experience God's peace and favor.

I was emailing back and forth with one of our missionaries in South Africa and she recounted how Christmas is not really a sacred or special time there as much as it is a chance to go away on "holiday."

That got me thinking about our dear partners and friends in Zambia. They won't be sitting under a brightly decorated tree or in front of a cozy fireplace with a warm, seasonal beverage. They won't be sitting down to a big feast or dashing off to the mall the day after Christmas to return unwanted or ill-fitting gifts. For them, Jesus entry into the world means something much more organic and authentic: eternal hope and profound love - love that is stripped of all the sentimentality, glittering lights and canned music.

The love of God that brought Jesus into human life for them means taking in, feeding, and educating orphans. It means for the first time they have safe drinking water. It means that there is a unity and connection with Christians from half a world away to are inexorably tied in Christian fellowship and service with them.

That is a world and a life that is probably much more like the world into which Jesus came 2000 years ago. How easy it is for me to forget that as I get so wrapped up with all the trappings of Christmas here in my culture and my world. So as I look at brightly lit holiday displays, I also think of darkened fields and dirt paths leading among the small homes of my brothers and sisters in Zambia. As I marvel at the beauty of our statuesque tree and the decorations so lovingly placed on it by Judy, my mind's eye is etched with the picture of a tower supporting a water tank and all the people of a small community gathering underneath it to draw water from it. As I open cards and presents and overeat delicious holiday treats, I remember that the greatest gift ever given was not a present - but a presence; God making his dwelling in our midst. That reality shines through no matter where in the world we might be or what our circumstances are. And it is what unites us with God's people everywhere. I pray I won't forget them and that I can continue to share in the partnership that is ours because Jesus was born.

WATER; LIFE

Water: Fresh. Sparkling. Clear. Refreshing. Healthful. Accessible. Wasted.

Water: Scarce. Stagnant. Murky. Sickening. Disease. Gerry Cans and barrels. Precious.

Two different perspectives on a life giving commodity. Even though the majority of the world is comprised of water, safe, drinkable water is inaccessible to a large proportion of the world's population. The human body is 98% water yet without it, our bodies weaken and die.

Generally, I don't think much about water. I let it run while I shave and while I try to adjust the shower temperature to just the right degree for my liking. I brush my teeth with it and wash my car with it. I water the grass and our flowers. I use it to make coffee, cook pasta and boil potatoes. I swim in it, bathe in it, skim across it in a boat and see it as something to take for granted.

But around the world, where poverty, disease, illiteracy, overpopulation and lack of opportunity prevail, a correlating reality is that fresh, clean, safe water to drink is not available. Often women and children have to walk miles (kilometers just to collect enough water to cook their daily food, drink and wash with. Often that water that takes so much time, energy, and so heavy a toll on health, is water we wouldn't think of using for any purpose.

When Jesus met a Samaritan woman at the well over 2,000 years ago, she was doing what is daily reality for a large percentage of the world's population; she was drawing water for her household. Then as now, the task of gathering water continues to be relegated to women and children. It would not have been uncommon for Jesus to have asked a woman for a drink from the water she was collecting.

What was uncommon and extraordinary was that this was a Samaritan Woman; a woman that it would have been scandalous to have been talking to. But that was Jesus. And as he addresses her, he tells her about a different, life-giving kind of water; the kind of water that, if a person drinks it, wells into springs of living and eternal water.

You and I have also experienced that life-giving water that is Christ's life within us. We know what it is to have been forgiven, renewed, refreshed and cleansed by the life-giving power of Jesus' death and resurrection. We have water to give...in abundance. We have both the ability to provide safe drinking water for the world's population so that a child doesn't have to die every 15 seconds from a waterborne disease. And we also have that life water welling up to eternal life within us that so many people in the world are desperately craving.

Each year Americans spend over 400 billion dollars on things like tie tacks, gag gifts, desk organizers, expensive toys, and more gifts that our loved ones may not need and, in some cases, really don't want. At the same time Americans will spend inestimable amounts of their income on parties, food, and drink. Now I don't want to sound like old Ebeneezer Scrooge here (at least the way he is portrayed at the beginning of Dickens' iconic Christmas classic). I am not saying Bah! Humbug! Don't celebrate and don't enjoy the season. Instead, I am suggesting that we consider giving gifts that really make a difference; that we emulate old Scrooge at the end of the famous tale; by blessing others who have true need like the Cratchett family.

This is the third year Calvary will have been involved in something called the Advent Conspiracy - a program in which God's people conspire to celebrate the Advent of the Savior in a different way. What does that mean? It means focusing on the true reason for this celebration - the Worship of the Christ Child; the Son of God.

It also means spending less on frivolous gift giving and self-fulfillment during the season (for example I always give up buying expensive coffee drinks at Starbucks and other establishments and use the money I save to give to AC. Judy and I also have committed to not give each other expensive gifts but to use that money to support AC as well) Conspiring to celebrate Advent and Christmas differently also means giving more - more to causes and to people whose lives will truly be changed. At Calvary we give to provide safe drinking water, sanitation facilities and warm blankets through our efforts at Advent)Finally it means loving others sacrificially by giving ourselves, our time, our creativity and our presence.

Will you join the conspiracy? Will you be part of a not-so-covert plan to reclaim the celebration of Christmas to its original intent. Mark reminds us the "The Son of Man did not come into the World to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45) Join us and find some way of re-prioritizing your Christmas and be a part of this conspiracy to celebrate the Lord's Advent by serving

Jesus Food

Last week, I attended Seattle Presbytery meeting with 2 of our Elders and with Cindy, our Associate Pastor. Besides enjoying a beautiful Indian Summer day and a beautiful drive, we were welcomed warmly to the new facilities of North Point Presbyterian Church - a thriving, new Church Development in Poulsbo. They're doing great stuff in addition to their own programs of worship and nurture.

One of the programs they are involved with is serving lunches weekly on their front sidewalk for high school students attending High School across the street. This program I think is done in conjunction with Young Life. But it has become so popular that the last time it was held, a student was making announcements on the intercom and told the entire student body that particular day was "JESUS FOOD DAY."

As I begin to study and prepare sermons for our fall series on the Gospel of John I have been reminded particularly of Jesus' statement "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE." It is a particularly relevant statement for him to make because he had just miraculously fed a crowd of 5,000 (I do not think that many Poulsbo High School kids eat "Jesus Food" at Northpoint PC on a weekly basis). Jesus then went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee for a little R & R when his sometimes pesky disciples came and found him and began peppering him with questions about how to do the works of God and what signs Jesus might give that would help them believe. One of them even brought up the miracle of the Manna in the wilderness that their forefather's had eaten everyday.

It is in this context that Jesus tells his disciples (followers, believers, insiders) that He is "THE BREAD OF LIFE" - the true "Jesus food." Anyone who comes to him will never go hungry and whoever believes will never again thirst."

Bread - what a powerful image that is. Yes, it seems like a bare subsistence food for those of us in the affluent West. Yet how many people would give anything just for a piece of stale bread to fill their distended stomachs? But Jesus repeated that imagery over and over (Give us this day our daily bread... & this bread is my body broken for you...do this in remembrance of me). Physical bread - metaphorically and literally - is so vital to life. Without food on a regular basis the body withers and dies.

Jesus' point is not to dismiss that reality. In fact I believe those who follow the "Bread of Life" are called to offer food and sustenance to the hungry of the world in his name. So it is never all right to say if we just tell people about Jesus then all their problems like hunger or homelessness, or injustice or poverty, will go away.

He fills us with spiritual nourishment that satisfies completely. In his name we are to offer our loaves and/or fishes to feed the hungry masses. In doing that we meet their real and present needs and we show the reality of our relationship to Jesus.

Symbolically we come to him and fill ourselves on that bread of life whenever we observe the Lord's Supper. I don't know about you, those little cubes of bread would never be enough to satisfy my physical hunger. However, Jesus the bread of life does satisfy my spiritual hungering for meaning, for purpose, for identity and for acceptance. In him my life is nourished. In turn, I am empowered to go out in service to others.

Have you had JESUS FOOD lately?

Christ in the Ale House

The Huffington Post - a rather cheeky, tongue in cheek pseudo-newspaper carried the following headline on December 10, "LATEST JESUS SIGHTING OUTSIDE AN IRISH PUB IN AUSTRALIA." Contributing correspondent Marc Hartzman noted that "Jesus' first recorded miracle was turning water into wine. But now, it seems, he may be more in the mood for a beer."
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It seems that when the Seanchai Tavern began a project of repainting, the pattern of remaining paint on the stripped away door bore a remarkable resemblance to Jesus standing as if to greet customers with outstretched arms. The owners of the tavern have no intention of repainting or covering up the image as it has brought in lots of business and has attracted curiosity seekers and religious iconoclasts alike.

Reading this made me think about the life and ministry of Jesus who was equally comfortable teaching in the synagogue as he was eating in the home of a tax publican or visiting with a Samaritan woman at a public well - a scandalous thought for most good religious Jews of his day.

Throughout history, theologians like Martin Luther didn't mind discussing the finer points of dogma over a pint of their favorite brew. And somehow, I agree with the preacher at our Presbytery meeting last night who said, "If Jesus were alive today, we undoubtedly would find him at the local pub hanging out with those who weren't really the religious."

That is different than saying some vague image in chipped paint is a sign from God or that one establishment - be it a pub or a grocery store - is more favored by the Lord by showing his face on the door.

I am just about ready to walk out my office door and head to downtown Enumclaw to the friendly confines of the MINT - Enumclaw's own Ale House. It has been the home to a Wednesday night group of Christians and seekers alike who gather to enjoy some good pub food (love the Pizza Bread, the Rueben and the Border Burger) and a glass of wine or a pint of their favorite sudsy libation. For nearly five years now, this group has gathered to discuss a variety of different topics, Bible Passages, thought provoking books or the previous week's sermon.

I'd like to think that Jesus was spotted in the tavern as we gather there. We've prayed for members of the staff, thrown a going away party for one of our favorite waiters/bartenders as he headed off to culinary school. We washed the bathrooms, mopped their floors and pressure washed their sidewalks one FAITH IN ACTION SUNDAY. And most of all, we have been a regular presence filling the round tables in the fireplace corner. I hope our lives, our words and our actions have been representative of the Lord. I would hope that in some small way, when we leave, it could be said that "Jesus was in the house in the form of those 15 people who meet there every week."

It may not be a tavern but I wonder if people see Jesus in the other places I go - Rotary, the Grocery Store, the marina where we moor our boat, at the traffic light and the Starbucks window? Does my life reflect the love and grace of the Lord or am I just kind of an abstract amalgam of chipped paint?

I think I am going to bring this idea up for discussion tonight. Gotta go meet Jesus at the Tavern.

The View From a Hospital Bed

It had been just a little over 14 years ago since I was wheeled out of Rio Vista Rehabilitation Center in El Paso. After over 14 weeks of being in a hospital in one shape or another, I was finally free. It was exhilarating even if my body was still feeling the effects of the traumas I had incurred. But I will never forget that day. We stopped and got a Coffee Frappuccino at the Sunland Park Barnes and Noble. It was cold, sweet, ambrosia in my mouth. About 30 minutes later, Judy wheeled the car into the Mesilla Valley Mall in Las Cruces so I could wheel my chair into the Dillards Store to see my daughter Melissa - a joyfully tearful renunion.

Then it was home to the comfortable and familiar surroundings of our beautiful home and my favorite Erkones Stressless recliner. I felt reborn and in many ways, I had been. At least I felt as if I had been given a second chance at living. Still not sure of the outcome of whether I would walk again, it seemed that day like all things were once again possible.

Judy had set up a hospital bed downstairs in the front bedroom. I remember the sweet moments of conversation we had that night. The windows were open and a gentle desert breeze enveloped the room. Even if we would not share a bed that night, it was enough to be home, in the same house, just relishing in each other's presence.

But putting hospital memories behind is not easy. Ever since the accident happened on May 8th, I had been reflecting on the words of Paul to the Philippians. One passage haunted me: "Forgetting what lays behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:14)That being said, I knew God had plans for me and that my injuries were behind (kind of). But memories of the hospital ICU, the endless, pain-wrought nights, the fear of the unknown, the dependence on others for my every need, the loss of dignity and modesty, the hard work of rehab, the almost insurmountable tiredness took a long time to die out.

After I resumed my ministry as pastor, I found it hard to even go visit a parishoner in the hospital; particularly if they were in an ER trauma bay or an ICU wing. The smells, the beeping monitors, the business of nurses and doctors, all resurrected strange, ominous feelings from the past.

It's taken about 14 years for me to be able to walk confidently into a hospital room. While identifying with the pain, fear or frustration of the patient I was visiting, my compassion was mixed with personal feelings of dread and negative memories. I guess some people may call it Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder. I don't know if that is accurate. I do know that those memories and feelings have never left and it has just been recently that I have been able to really suppress them.

So last weekend proved to be a battle of common sense versus those memories. I had come home early from Men's Bible Study. I had gone out at 5:45 am to play golf with two other guys and by the time I had finished the 7th hole, I was aching, tired, and feeling miserable. I went into Bible Study and couldn't stop shivering. So, with a little encouragement from the "guys," I went home early and went to bed. Through the day my fever climbed proportionately to the growing redness on my lower right leg. By later that evening, my fever had spiked and I was miserable. So I just took more Ibuprofen and bundled up, trying to shake off what I thought was a case of the common flu.

By Sunday night, the redness and swelling had continued to spread upward and my fever had spiked again. So, against my dread and discomfort, I agreed to go the hospital ER.

The short story is that I had cellulitis - a bacterial infection of the tissue beneath the skin. It can be dangerous if left untreated and I was grateful to get on some potent IV antibiotics right away and then to be admitted to Enumclaw's gorgeous new, state-of-the-art hospital; St Elizabeths.

Though the experience brought up lots of past and painful memories, I was overwhelmed by the tender, skilled care of the nursing staff; the knowledge and wisdom of the Drs. on duty and by the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, friendship in the form of visits, cards, calls, flowers, and even Starbuck's Coffee. It is humbling to be bed-ridden and sick; dependent on the ministrations of others. That is where the past memories lie.

But it is humbling also, in another, more positive way, to be on the receiving end of people's compassion, love and care. I think that in the 14 years since my last hospitalization, this short stay pointed out that I had anesthetized myself to what it feels like to be a patient in a hospital bed.

So even though it brought back some difficult painful memories, it also reminded me that it is an amazing, humbling, gratifying thing to be part of the family of Christ and to receive such attention, love and care.

This line of closing comes from a prayer, delivered over the public intercom at the hospital by Glori Schneider, the chaplain at St. Elizabeths.

"You see the messiness of our lives and You desire to lift us above it. You see our woundedness and long to love us into wholeness. Lord, just for today may we be aware that it is possible to heal our world by caring about the one next to us. That our hands can be your hands and our words can be your words if our hearts are willing to be use by You to bring love and healing into this world. You, Holy God, 'love each of us as if there were only one of us.' Lord help us do the same."



Thanks to all who prayed, visited, called or sent cards. May we be to each other the hands and words of Jesus to the ones next to us.