Kitty pic

So does anyone want to take a stab at captioning the photo above. That is my 18# friend, Willie, before he weighed quite that much. One of my dear friends suggested something like: "Excuse me, I'm busy here. Please close the door." Any other suggestions?

On a gray, chilly day, after hearing that another dear friend's dearest friend has just died, this cat silliness makes sense to me. Or at least as much as anything else in this crazy life.

I received a DVD from the Woman of the Year event which I wish I could share with you, but don't know how. I looked at that woman named Carol and I couldn't quite believe she was me, know what I mean? I was pleased with her, though, so that was good.

Many blessings to anyone who visits here! And much gratitude for the healing of my young friend, Sophie, and prayers for us all, especially T&G.

What is really important?

A man who comes to me for spiritual guidance said he's at a stage in his life where he frequently asks: Is it really important? This prevents him from wasting good energy fuming over things he cannot control. Wise.

But here I am, fuming over something that I believe IS important, but over which I probably have little or no control. Last fall I saved the article below and this morning, in light of today's news, it struck me again.

MIND-BOGGLING: If the $700 billion bailout of Wall Street were paid out in $100 bills, it would amount to a stack 54 miles high. Or if you were to count to 700 billion at the rate of one number per second, it would take 21,000 years. Given the magnitude of the plan, no wonder there is public outrage. But columnist James Carroll noticed another, similar figure: in the fiscal year just begun the Pentagon will spend $607 billion on regular military operations (as well as another $100 billion on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq). He wonders where the outrage is over this comparable figure. "The annual American military budget is at least 10 times larger than the military budgets of Russia and China, " says Carrroll, and "it is 20 times larger than the entire budget of the U.S. State Department." (International Herald Tribune, October 7). Christian Century, Nov. 4, 2008 p. 9 (And bear in mind the billions that have been spent or promised since last November.)

Why isn't there outrage? Maybe because we would so much rather wax self-righteous over, or at least disrespectful of, the marital problems of prominent couples, be they the Sanfords or the Edwards or the Clintons or the Gingriches, than we would to DEMAND accountability and priorities that matter from our governing bodies.

Marriage is hard, especially when you live in a fishbowl. People have affairs. It isn't something to applaud or be proud of, but compared to the actions that oppress, torture, kill, infringe on constitutional freedoms, manipulate populations for the benefit of a wealthy elite, trod on people's life work as though it was nothing,it pales as a moral concern.

Oh, but it's such great fodder for the ever-hungry 24-hour news cycle. The "outrage" voiced is laughable. I wonder how many of the outraged are currently "seeing someone" behind the scenes. I wonder if the "scandal" isn't "getting caught" more than the actual infidelity. And what a juicy distraction from the depressing news that our way of life is disintegrating.

Well, that's my rant on a very hot day in Michigan. Thanks for reading.

For a Father--

THE BEST DAD!

MY DAD







At the risk of embarrassing my dear daughter, I'm remembering a Father's Day many years ago when she wrote this poetic gem:

For a father, for a father, for a father, Norrie Hugh,
For a father, for a father, for a father, that is you!

Well, what more needs be said! She and I had very different fathers, but they both loved us. My father was serious, hard-working, tempestuous, creative, intense, controlling, and had a hearty belly laugh. Her father was serious, hard-working, creative, and intense; also very funny, opinionated, affectionate, protective, tolerant and understanding.

Neither of them always listened very well, but they both loved their families and were passionate about their life work and their commitment to those families. Sometimes I envied her when she experienced such closeness and comfort with her dad--something I rarely experienced with mine. Their relationship was dominated by acceptance and good-will. Ours was dominated by fear. There were good reasons why Dad was the way he was, though that doesn't excuse his tendency toward verbal abuse. As I grew older, I could both cherish his love and forgive him for what he inflicted on all of us. I never had to forgive Norris, other than for adoring his daughter more than anyone in the world. And why shouldn't he?

How very fortunate to have two such good men in my life. When I feel sorry for myself now, it's good to remember them and the blessing they were. I guess they both "took care of me", so now I am learning at last to take care of myself. It's not easy. But I'm grateful for what each of them did to help me grow, mature, be strong and self-sufficient. Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Norris. I love you both always. In the name of the Father!!!

What a lovely day!

Photo by Sue Spaulding


The sky is delicately colored as sunset nears on this day of so much daylight. The days grow longer for almost another week. So we must enjoy them, eh?

One year, on June 19, Norris, Melissa and I rode a beautiful sailing ship in Penobscot Bay off Camden, Maine. The daylight lingered on and on, as we watched seals on tiny rock islands, the sun glowing golden on their brown skins, and white sea birds dip and soar. There was a gentle breeze, the sunset was incredible, even if we were on the East Coast. It was our last vacation with our daughter, who had just finished college. How can that be 20 years ago already? I miss them both on an evening like this one.

Today I preached at First Church of the Brethren, a modest but strong congregation on Lansing's south side. Much joy and caring for one another. Their church is small and simple; their faith and determination are fierce. There was a collective gasp when one man announced that bids on the needed church roof replacement were $17,000. Later, an elderly woman told me, "I don't know how we're going to pay for a new roof. But we'll work something out; we always do."

The authenticity, warmth and commitment to justice and peace among these folks is an inspiration. How fortunate I am to mingle with a variety of church groups, a variety of faith communities. Being among them, including my home parish, gives me hope. I asked them to pray for my friend, Sophie. I didn't mention others who are in trouble, whose names come to my prayer daily. They had enough of their "own" to pray for, but for a young girl who is very ill, I was willing to ask and I know they will pray, not just say they will. Thank You, Holy God, for this day of good life!

Prayer in the Pines

This photo is representative of the "prayer" part of my blog title. Isn't it lovely? Just to witness, without intruding, someone walking through the pines, contemplating who knows what!

I have been blessed in recent weeks with two days of that sort of freedom for contemplation: of nature, of my inner self, of God's movement in my life, of lessons needing to be learned, of hope springing eternal, of the sorrow and joy of letting go. And to remember the many dear ones who are suffering in various ways.These kinds of days are essential if I am to be of support and nurture to others.

And, I've been nurtured by my church--something that doesn't always happen. When I think of the energy I expended in hard work, pain, frustration, anger, hurt, disappointment, disillusionment, as well as inspiration, over more than 40 years, it amazes me that I am now feeling so warmly toward it. I hope it means I have grown. I know it is partly because we, as a community of faith, have grown, deepened, taken some blows, and continued on in faith. We can SEE God's work among us and it is deliciously amazing.

So, I am grateful. However, there is one burning question I need to raise this morning. Why is it that when necklaces are laid carefully in a small drawer, not even touching, that when I want to wear one it is hopelessly knotted up with two or three others? Now THAT is a mystery!

Live, love, laugh, breathe!!

A Sad Day in Michigan

Yes, I know. My blogs have been rather on the sad side recently and I apologize. At least I chose one of my pretty photos! :)

But today's sadness is not so much personal. Today is the day General Motors, long the most powerful corporation in the world, declared bankruptcy. All my life the idea of such a thing happening was about as likely as the drying up of the Great Lakes! This town, this state, was hugely impacted and supported by GM.
How can it be that such power has run itself into the ground? And what happens to the lives of millions upon millions of people, here and abroad, who are directly and indirectly affected?

We'd all like a scapegoat, someone on which to cast our blame and anger. Yet from what I have read and heard, it appears there are no simple, easy answers. Is it the auto workers' and their unions' greed? Is it the executives and their bumbling while making obscene amounts of money? Is it the Obama administration's efforts to save things? Is it Congress, foreign competition, Mickey Mouse? There aren't simple answers; it's all inter-connected. Which makes the whole debacle even more difficult to swallow. Seems like there should be some bad guys here. Instead, like most human tragedies, one thing leads to another to another in a tangled web which can't be undone, except to cut it.

It IS possible that in the midst of all the losses, there will grow a new, more creative, more sustainable, more cooperative way of life. That is my prayer! And meanwhile creation is bursting out all over, just like June!