Emergency Lights

 

I went to Lidl yesterday per my normal Sunday morning routine, 

Only the trip wasn’t normal because 

The lights were out! 

As I rounded the corner to go inside, 

I hesitated,

Wondering if they were even open, 

Until I saw the sign that said,

“Lighting issue. We are aware and working on it.”

And so I went in to shop. 

Only the emergency lights were on,

Not the fluorescent overheads that usually light the store, 

And yet there was just enough light to see. 

 

Life is difficult. 

Real people have real problems that are not easily solved 

And the world seems dark: 

Sickness and disease. 

Divorce and single parenting. 

Eating disorders and mental health issues. 

Economic hardship and job insecurity. 

Political and racial tensions. 

Death and dying. 

Being trapped and feeling resentment. 

The darkness is real. 

But so is the light. 

 

It may not be a fluorescent light that makes everything bright, 

But an emergency light is always shining 

And providing just enough light to see. 

A smile. 

A hug.

A cardinal. 

A rainbow. 

A meal paid for in the drive thru. 

A check received in the mail. 

A text. 

A phone call. 

A letter in the mail. 

A visit from a friend.

 

May we be a people aware of lighting issues 

In the lives of those around us, 

And may we work on them

Through our very presence, 

Grounded in emergency light 

And love. 

 

Amen. 

Do The Work

It’s okay to like 

State more than Carolina. 

It’s okay to like 

Brussels sprouts more than broccoli. 

It’s even okay to not like broccoli at all. 

 

Opinions don’t matter on things that 

Ultimately don’t matter 

But 

Opinions do matter in things that 

Deal with the dignity of human life. 

 

White is not better than black or brown,

Male not better than female,

Straight not better than gay,

American not better than any other nationality,

Neurotypical not better than neurodivergent, and 

Able bodied not better than non able bodied. 

 

Some afford privilege, yes. 

But privilege does not mean 

Better than. 

 

And to stand in harsh judgment of,

Demean, 

Or treat poorly 

Persons fundamentally born different

Is not okay. 

 

It’s not easy overcoming stereotypes. 

It’s not easy examining prejudice and admitting where you are wrong. 

But common humanity challenges us to do the work. 

And it just might be life’s highest call. 

 

Oh God,

Help us to know the difference between

Harmless opinion and 

Harmful belief. 

Help us to examine ourselves 

And to see where we need to grow. 

And then help us to do the work 

Of letting go. 

 

Amen. 

 

May It Be So

 

I had a coupon for $1 off two bags of cat food, 

So I naturally bought two. 

Only one bag fits in our airtight cat food container, though,

So I put the other bag in the garage. 

Mistake. 

A happy cat found it, ate through the bag, and had a feast!

Unlimited cat food is not meant to be left within reach of an endlessly hungry cat.

 

…

 

I recently saw a little puddle of water on the floor at the bottom of the refrigerator. 

Just a few months ago, 

The water hose in the back of the refrigerator cracked and saturated the floor boards,

So I was afraid it had happened again.

I pulled out the fridge. 

Nothing. 

A day later, I opened the fridge and saw water standing on the bottom shelf.

I wiped it up.

Just a few moments later, I opened the fridge again and saw more water standing on the bottom shelf.

This time I decided to investigate.

I pulled out the bottom drawer and

Found a huge sheet of ice,

Half an inch thick,

Sitting there.

Half inch thick ice is not meant to be in the refrigerator.

 

…

 

When I came back to work after Spring Break,

There was a pair of socks on the floor.

Evidently, a kid had taken off his socks during music class

On the Friday before break.

Socks are not meant to be taken off and left on the floor of the music room.

 

…

 

When Mary realized that Jesus was not in the tomb,

She went to tell the other disciples.

They did not believe her and thought her full of nonsense.

Mary had seen with her eyes and felt it in her body

That Jesus was risen.

Yet the men did not trust her experience

And had to see for themselves.

Women are not meant to be doubted and questioned when we speak from experience.

 

…

 

Cat food should be put away.

Ice should be in the freezer.

Socks should stay on feet while at school.

And women should be respected and trusted just as much as men.

 

May it be so.

 

The end.

One Letter

 

A few months ago,

I saw a friend’s Facebook post about an interest meeting for a mission trip to Belize.

Something stirred within me and

I found myself at the meeting the next day.

After listening to the trip leader talk passionately about the work he’s been doing in the area for well over a decade,

And after asking quite a few questions to make sure the trip did not conflict with my theological beliefs,

I found myself agreeing to go on the trip.

 

We will be a team of four,

Traveling in July,

I will be the only female,

And we will be doing construction work,

Which is odd for me,

Because I’m not known for my construction prowess,

Although I have become pretty good with a hammer!

 

For months,

I didn’t hear anything about the trip.

I was becoming anxious knowing so little and wondering so much,

So I finally wrote my friend to check in and ask for information.

“Have you not been getting the team lead’s e-mails?” he asked.

“No.” I responded. “I’ve heard nothing.”

“Ahhhhhh,” he said. “No wonder you haven’t responded.”

 

The team lead had the wrong e-mail address.

 

Instead of dldeaton, he had dideaton.

 

A seemingly minor mistake,

But a huge error when it comes to vital communication.

 

My inbox now has a handful of messages from the team lead.

I know how much I owe ($1500) and I know how to make it through customs.

I have my medical form to fill out and I see which shots I need to take.

Now…

I wait…

And I pray…

And I ask you to pray with me, too.

For a great trip,

A safe trip,

Smooth travels,

Funding,

Safety on the work sight,

Good health,

No sickness or injury,

Good fellowship that transcends language barriers,

Comfortable weather,

Clean water,

Non-infectious mosquitoes,

And God’s love to be seen and felt through word, deed, and action.

 

Amen.

Write!

 

I went to the State Young Authors Celebration on Saturday afternoon. 

Students, teachers, and families from all across NC 

Gathered together

To celebrate the importance of writing.

 

On Saturday night, 

I went to see a friend in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. 

Students, teachers, and families 

Gathered together 

To celebrate the importance of…

Chocolate, yes. 

But also of 

Imagination and 

Writing! 

 

Needless to say,

I was quite surprised when I realized the connection 

Between two seemingly opposite events. 

 

Allan Wolf, the keynote speaker at the Young Authors Event, said that 

When you have an idea, 

Write it down. 

When you have a thought,

Write it down. 

When you are anxious, 

Write it down. 

When you are joyful, 

Write it down! 

He even went so far as to write things on his walls! 

 

Charlie Bucket, the main character in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, demonstrated that

When you have an idea, write it down.

His mother gave him a new notebook,

And he immediately started filling it with his ideas for chocolates and confectionaries.

Willy Wonka also had a notebook in which he wrote down his ideas for chocolates and confectionaries

And made his strange imagination tangible.

 

In between events, 

I was talking to a friend. 

She had a lot on her mind,

Including a lot of medical questions,

And so I said,

“Why don’t you do this?

Write down every single one of your questions and then the next time you’re talking to the doctor,

You can read the list instead of relying on your stressed brain to remember them.

Use the notes feature on your phone or

Bust out the sticky notes or index cards or legal pad or whatever you feel most comfortable with.”

 

Write it down.

Get it out. 

Whatever you’re thinking. 

Whatever you’re feeling. 

It doesn’t have to make sense.

It doesn’t have to rhyme.

You don’t have to share it with anyone

Or you can share it with as many people as you please.

 

The sheer act of writing is

creative

expressive

cathartic 

transformative. 

 

Take it from Allan Wolf,

Whose anxiety was grounded by writing. 

Take it from Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka, 

Whose imaginations came to life through writing. 

Take it from me, 

Whose phone note feature has well over 1000 notes, from lists to quotes to musings like this. 

Take it from therapists, doctors, pastors, and life coaches 

Whose work encourages progress through writing. 

 

Writing is important. 

 

So write. 

 

Right now. 

 

Write. 

 

And if you need something to write, then consider these words from  Allan Wolf: 

 

I am here. 

I exist 

This is who I am. 

Watch me shine. 

 

Amen. 

Sarah

 

I don’t remember her name. 

I think it was Sarah, but I can’t be sure. 

But she made an impact on my life over 20 years ago,

And I will forever be grateful. 

 

I met her at an Episcopal retreat weekend. 

I had signed up for the retreat because I was a big fan of the worship leader.

When I got to the retreat center, though,

I learned that the worship leader wasn’t going to be there. 

The person we will call Sarah was in charge of the weekend.

She gave me the choice to stay or to have my money refunded. 

I chose to stay. 

Why not?

After all, I was already there. 

 

If I were pressed to tell you what the focus of that retreat was, 

Then I wouldn’t be able to do it. 

All I remember is that we shared communion on Saturday night, 

Passed the common cup, 

And drank real wine. 

It was the first time I’d ever had real wine with communion. 

It was disgusting! 

All the Episcopalians laughed with me at my face when I tasted it. 

They also all laughed when I was surprised that they were having beer and wine during their fellowship time. 

Alcohol on a retreat was unheard of for me, 

The lone Baptist. 

 

I don’t know if she felt sorry for me or what, 

But Sarah went out of her way to befriend me that weekend

And to make sure I was as comfortable as possible in unfamiliar territory. 

After the weekend ended,

Sarah and I kept in touch via email, 

Which I suppose is how she told me about Glory Ridge. 

 

Glory Ridge is a retreat center outside Marshall, NC, 

That hosts youth groups during the summer 

And sends them into surrounding areas to do construction work. 

There is a small camp staff each summer 

And they happened to need one more person in 2004.

Did I have any construction experience? 

No. 

Was I at all prepared to sleep on the dirty floor of a little shed with no running water, barely any electricity, and mice?

No. 

But did it matter?

No. 

Sarah believed in me and my gifts,

So I went to serve on staff at Glory Ridge anyway. 

And I had a wonderful summer.

 

That summer,

I learned that a shower is a privilege rather than a necessity. 

I was introduced to the concept of being present and living fully in the moment. 

I became a fan of wind chimes.

And I began an ecumenical journey that would eventually lead me outside the narrow confines of religion

And into the open arms of faith.

 

And it’s all because of a person whose name I don’t even remember,

But whose presence of kindness, generosity, and openness changed my life.

 

May we be a people whose names may not be remembered

But whose legacies are passed down from person to person,

Generation to generation.

 

May we be a people who open doors of faith.

 

Amen.