point of view

In the inky darkness a star appeared piercing, proclaiming "born to die" and when the hour came, the sun could not bear to watch darkness reigned hell seemed to prevail while the eyes of the angels were glued to the middle cross "Is this really happening?" but the earth knew something big was hidden shrouded in horror and it trembled in fear and anticipation and let go some of it's dead oh, fitting precursor And while Satan partied the priests scratched their heads what to do about this veil so strangely, so violently torn can't ignore it three days time we wait in four Lazarus had begun to smell this is no legend-exaggerated coma truly dead, and Mary is overwhelmed broken-hearted despair "Mary." His gentle call wild hope greatest joy she's ever tasted this is so much bigger than we dreamed "I have power to lay it down and to take it up again" death works backward This is God! The King of Kings! Oh death, where is your victory? Grave...

today the sun shone a little spot of robin-red popped up from brown-green grass six-year-old voices repeated the meaning of the Easter symbols: "New life! new life!" We sang of assurance with a dying man I looked in your eyes I saw your soul shining bright though your bones were too visible and you talked of your body starving itself the doctors say there is no healing but you and Jenny have joy on your faces and peace is in the air as she looks love at you and talks of how little time you have left but there is content because you put your trust in a healing the doctors don't know about because it isn't here on this earth she will go through dark days but she will still rejoice in that healing it is promised her too. And for now I thank you for the gift of your love the glow of hope in your frail embrace I feel a strength I want and I marvel at the beauty of the two of you a little envious of your sweet communion but mostly, I thank you for the gift you gave - my spi...

Working with kids also gives you reason to smile. I am not good at telling jokes but here are a few moments that made me smile this week: The kids were playing outside the other day and I see the most extroverted and rather bossy girl in the SK class trying to teach the quietest, shyest boy how to twirl around standing on a hula hoop. She shows him to hold the hoop with both hands, letting it touch the ground, and is telling him repeatedly "Put your right foot on the hoop, put your right foot on the hoop - put your RIGHT foot on the hoop!" while he patiently (confusedly?) stands with his right foot on the hoop, watching her demonstrate with her left foot in the hoop. Christopher has the most charming smile in SK. He runs up to me with his irresistible grin and tells me, "Daniella has gymnastics so Andre is coming to my house and we are going to Old Macdonalds!" Judah is a handful, an adorable handful with a lot of energy and very interesting theories on life. In...

Love, take me by surprise let the river of healing overflow it's banks let the music of Life shatter my windows like a little child disconsolate I am crying with my whole self, with all my might runaway droplets like shimmery butterflies take me by the hand be my Comforter tug my hand I will run, like a child, to Your arms oh I need You how I need You wash over me with glory awaken my awe oh Love, take me by surprise There are things about working with little children that teach me about myself. I am always amazed or amused at the way kindergartners cry. Some of them cry loudly, and you can't hear anything the other children are telling you about why they are crying, and others cry silently, shaking and shedding tears profusely. All of them cry with every fibre of their body. When I was helping out with the JK the other day one of the little boys, one with a temper, hit another very hard and vehemently, the result being the naughty little boy promptly taken out of the room ...

I can feel the trembling in the ground under my feet. This world is uncertain and unsteady. On the radio I hear of radiation and evacuation and it reminds me of a story I read about Chernobyl - mutations and a toxic deserted fairground. I see a Japanese five-year-old being tested for radiation by big masked people on Reuters. And I hear of wars and rumors thereof - Libyan rebels desperate for power, pleading for an air strike, and I sigh as I feed my ever-thirsty gas tank, wishing for integrity in power, and the stability it would bring. I think of The Economy and wonder if any of these well-known names really care, if any names printed on the ballots for May second truly desire the heavy responsibility of the office they all lie for... Like I said, unsteady ground. I think about my own plans. Sometimes I don't bother to make plans because it seems God is always changing them. Then I remember, hey, this is a good thing. Maybe I'd better make some more plans for God to work ...