Hope Victorious

  Corn on the Cob, Peach Pie, Cherry Tomatoes, Sour Cherry Pie, Apricots, Green Beans… For me, these are the tastes of summer! Eating these things reminds me of being a kid, growing up with a big garden and orchard. My grandparents had a farm, with animals, a vegetable garden, a field of corn and an orchard of fruit and nut trees. Growing food takes a lot of work, planning and energy. Harvesting it is both a reward and a lot of work! I remember the extremes of summer harvest. The easiest harvest: From as early as I can remember, I loved to wander in the garden and look for any ripe cherry tomatoes. I would pick them off the bush and pop them in my mouth. I loved how they tasted fresh of the plant, warm from the sun. I liked the classic red cherry tomatoes, but another favorite was the yellow pear-shaped ones. I often hid a small salt shaker in the rock wall near our garden. I would use it to season larger tomatoes that I would rinse off with the garden hose. Of course, I also...

  Trust is like falling Will you catch me? Will you hold me?   Love is like sinking Deeper and deeper Being covered in warmth and gentle weight   Trust is like flying Taking off and feeling the strength & power New heights - the thrill of new perspective   Love is momentum A driving force within me like a rising tide And yet it is on its way to me in waves   Trust is an invitation     –     Love is an invitation   Trust calls me deeper into love     –     Love calls me deeper into trust   I am gaining and soaring I must let go of fears and thoughts of what is not possible   Trust makes a demand Love is the movement towards me and within me Love is the invitation and yet  –  Love is my response   Trust is required And yet it too grows with time  –   better and better still  ...

  Last Sunday I woke up tired and discouraged. I had woken suddenly twice earlier in the early morning hours from violent and dark dreams. I was tired from a busy holiday weekend of travel and time in the sun. The fear and oppression of my two bad dreams was occupying my mind as I started my day.  I began thinking of what I needed to do that day and about some of the issues and decisions that are yet unresolved within my family of 6. I felt overwhelmed. Sundays are full, exciting and rewarding days for a pastor. This particular Sunday I was hosting the service, but not preaching. I wanted to arrive early, but wasn’t leading the pre-service prayer time. I do not allow myself to consider the question, “do I feel like going to church today”. I have already decided that I want to be there. While I also have a responsibility and role, I don’t want to go out of obligation or duty. I want to be joyful and expectant, fully present and engaged. If I don’t have hope while there, I hav...

  My favorite dreams are flying dreams Sometimes I find wings have grown out from my arms -         While they are beautiful and painted with shades of vibrant color They are more impressive in strength and ability I soar The winds The heights Perspective and Power   Other times I am as I am -         But my mere arms have discovered new potential My body buoyed and propelled My arms guide my flight I slice through the air Navigating speeds and direction My favorite dreams are when I fly I have flown fast and I have flown slowly I have reached high heights                Looking far down at my home in miniature forms I have flown low Skimming just above the ground or treetops I have flown great distances When I’ve had to rest in the current of wind The force of air holding me up from beneath On...