Sunday ramblings...

This morning in Port-Au-Prince 1700 wounded people gathered outside the Roman Catholic cathedral - now in rubble - to hear a message of hope. At Holy Trinity Episcopal Church only the wall showing the baptism of Jesus remained - and people gathered for prayer and Eucharist - and at my small congregation 70 made it to worship.

Afterwards, 10 stayed for new member orientation. We spoke of what it might mean to be a contemporary community of worship, study, compassion and justice. Many of us spoke of the wounds that drew us to worship - tears were a common reality, too - as well as a yearning to be with others who care and share common commitments.

I kept thinking of the story Ann Lamott shares of sitting in the back of a small Bay Area congregation and weeping while the hymns of grace and healing were sung. She always left before she had to interact with the pastor or others because her tears were too strong. Thanks be to God that her small church carved out a place for her just as she was because in time - her's and God's - she started hanging around to talk. Eventually she got sober and deepened her commitment, too. For a while, however, it was all about the hymns and the tears.

I took what was going to be a short nap that ended up lasting over 90 minutes! (An old monk used to say: if you fall asleep while praying then I guess God is answering your prayers: you need to rest!) Then it was out into the woods for some more cross country skiing.

When I was coming inside our phone was ringing... it was a young man telling me about his father's aneurysm this morning. It seems that while on vacation in Florida he wasn't feeling well and now they were taking him off life support. Last week, this young man - and his whole family - were in worship as we baptized his young son. And now we are talking about funerals.

This gift of life is precious and so unpredictable - so hard and simultaneously blessed, too. Rejoice today if you can for who knows what tomorrow will bring: tears, birth, earthquakes or baptisms. I give thanks for this community of faith to share the fullness of life with because I could not keep going without them.

credit: G. Frysinger @ www.travel-images.com/photo-haiti24.html