Buttercups in Bloom

Today millions of Americans will gather to celebrate and remember the presence of God entering the world in flesh and bones.  Tensions will rise as families rush to iron clothes and make their way to church on time.  Wiggles will be had as children sit in the pews. Pictures will be taken so that others believe our lives are full of joy. Our favorite songs will be sung, words of hope and love will be spoken and candles will be lit.  As the candles are extinguished we will return home to tables of abundance and gifts under the tree.  When light dawns tomorrow there will be a rush to unwrap the gifts laid under the Christmas tree.  By nightfall, the joy has decreased, and the world's reality has begun to creep back into our very existence. As people who believe that our Savior came into the world as the light in the darkness, love in the midst of hatred, and the unifier when division pervades the situation.  I wonder when the songs that we sing will permeate our souls year-round.  I w

Green becomes reds and yellows Fullness turns baren Emptiness occurs Buds grow Green returns We have entered the season in which we are reminded that our cycles of life involve the transformation of vibrant greens to muted colors of yellow or red that catch the sun's rays just right and begin to sparkle.  This season of transformation gives a different kind of breath, it is one that whispers to us; it is ok to let go, to be different than you were yesterday or last year.  These whispers gently seep into our souls and we find ourselves asking deeper questions about our purpose and existence.  As we watch trees that are full of life become bare we notice more acutely the ways in which our own lives are bare.   This life of shepherding, being the prophetic voice, casting a vision, and pouring into the lives of others hoping that God will not just equip but empower us and those within our families of faith to become people who are co-creators, driven by hospitality to all and are willi

I've been thinking about divorce a lot this past week. I was a senior in high school when my parent's divorce was final.  The decision to divorce did not occur overnight, my parents did counseling, we participated in family counseling but the crack was simply too deep and wide to repair. When the official papers were finally signed there was deep grief. Grief over the loss of what we had been, the moments of goodness and laughter that had been shared, and the identity of who we were as individuals as well as a family unit.   The first several years were fought with hard decisions and hurt feelings.  Joy was always accompanied by a lingering sadness that we were different, that not everyone was present to celebrate the ordinary accolades.  Relationships were strained as each of us experienced a wide birth of emotions that were never felt at the same time in the same way.  Our perspectives from which we told the stories of our childhood and the divorce were as varied and unique a