As my family and friends can tell you, I struggle most of the time being patient. I pray that in this beautiful time of deep expectancy in my life, in the lives of my friends and family, in the world, that I and others can be appreciative of the moments along the way. I pray that I can remember to stop and find joy in the green shoots poking their way up out of the ground even though I can't wait to see the flowers.

My friend Julie told me that the snow had just melted that week. We could still see patches of it here and there and I was reminded of the snow banks still waiting for me back home in Boston. I snapped a quick picture of this crocus on my way out, humming to myself the Julian of Norwich song. "All shall be well, I'm telling you, let the winter come and go. All shall be well again, I know."

Monday, Ben and I were on our way to a movie for date night and we came across this picture on the subway. "What's missing?" Ben asked half jokingly. (now, insight in to Ben and my relationship, I'm often totally immune to "half joke" comments) "What do you mean what's missing?" I replied.." Oh, You mean the whole of history between 13,500 B.C. and 1620?"

The other thing that most pilgrims will say that they miss is following the yellow arrows or flechas. While I was on the Camino, I had more then my share of frustrating moments trying to find the arrows through any given town :) but there was always a single goal... a single direction to come back to. Even when I deviated from the path, got stuck in flooding pastures, and had to stare down a rather large cow and some mean dogs to get back to the path, the arrows were there, waiting to show me the way.

I am truly thankful for the heart, spirit and presence of all those present during the Steering Committee Meetings. We wrestled with some difficult issues and it took time for us to come together as a community. I left the meetings still believing in the mission and work of CPT and energized to continue to work with this group of people. My sense of thankfulness is hard to express in words... its deep. On Sunday, I got the chance to preach for CPT at Spring Hill UCC church. As I'm easing into writing these devotionals daily, I thought I'd post a bit of my sermon here.

As a people of faith, being formed by the Word of God, we have a special responsibility to read the signs of the times in order to discern what God is doing in the world today. We also have an equally important responsibility to proclaim that discerned word to the nations. --Tom Cordaro

I meant to post yesterday but the festivities of St. Patrick's day in Boston got the better of me (it was my first Boston St. Patrick's Day!). It was humorous but lovely to see Boston come out in its green and think about Christ partying with the lot.

And Jesus would reply..."Ultimately God will determine whether you can get into heaven, but as I see it, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than a human with any kind of privilege (male, straight, cis-gendered, white, wealthy, etc) to enter the kingdom of heaven. But don't stop trying... you just have a lot of work to do, go, relinquish your pride and come back and follow me."

I pray that I remember to find meaning in the moments before me and the moments behind me. So that I may discover gratefulness and grace--kindness and compassion in each of these possibilities for impermanence. For as Jesus said "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today."

"I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home." And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God" (Mark 2:11-12) Instead of laying on the mat, like the story depicts, paralyzed by my own victimizing head-talk, Jesus calls me to pick up my mat and go home. Jesus says, you have the power, you are empowered to heal, to believe, to walk. "Stand up, take your mat, and go to your home."

Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean." Mark 1:40-42 I like to think that each day, when I wake up, I have a choice to live faithfully or not. If I choose yes, fantastic. If I choose no... God still loves me... but will come again and nudge me that way anyways.

"Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever." (Psalm 73:25-26)

“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.”

(1 Peter 4:10)

Sunday, March 9, 2014 (Daylight Savings)

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Saturday, March 8, 2014

“How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him  whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” (1 John 3:17-20)

Friday, March 7, 2014

“The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)

Thursday, March 6, 2014

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.” (Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10)

Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2014 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:10-13)