reminders and remembrance

as of late I am reminded:

• that I am not alone
• that I am just as screwed up as the rest of us
• that "not forgiving is like drinking rat poison then waiting for the rat to die" -anne lamott
• that the tail end of a sunset and the coolness of a coming storm behind the barn can be deeply spiritual
• that working in a vegetable garden at 6am can be, too.
  
• that the kids' sermons tucked in between worship and prayer on sunday mornings are just as much for the adults as they are for the kids
• that pain is inevitable and joy is chosen
• that I have a heck of a lot to learn

as of late beauty was found:

• in sameness, in repetition
  
• in the new pub downtown
• in jon-led devotions
• in my ecumenical community
  
• in home-brews
  
• in studying the Arabian prophet
  
• in mothers and fathers
  
• in cooking for 20
• in listening well
  
• in being listened to
• in hearing from far-away people in far-away places
  
• in practicing a little discipline
• in coffee with an old, old friend
• in asking for forgiveness
• in individual faith histories
• in the old, unpretentious, worn-in, comfortable shoe called 'family.'

thanks be to God

shalom