This morning, the New York Times printed the final essay that civil rights leader and congressman John Lewis asked to be published on the day of his funeral. Here is the link. It is well worth the time to read. Rep. Lewis died on July 17, 2020, of pancreatic cancer. He wrote this essay shortly before he died. They are hisContinue reading “A Life Lived In The Wind”
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Finding Beauty
“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful for beauty is God’s handwriting.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson I was walking the dogs one morning when I noticed something sparkling out of the corner of my eye. Sap had collected in drops overnight, hanging from the pine needles like sparkling crystals. Hundreds of them. Refracting the morning lightContinue reading “Finding Beauty”
IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY
One morning I woke up In a country Willing to torture children, To take them From their parents and Lock them in cages With a mylar blanket On a concrete floor. Other than that, Everything else Seemed the same. The car was still in the driveway Where I left it the night before TheContinue reading “IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY”
Fireworks with Dogs
Last night, I sat on the floor with our trembling dogs. Neighborhood “Einsteins” were out with their fireworks. Yes, it’s Buy One Get One Free, at the seedy FIREWORKS tent, set up in the empty parking lots of strip malls all over America. The news is written on a hand scrawled sign heldContinue reading “Fireworks with Dogs”
Justice Starts By Showing Up
There were over 100 people in the New Holland Memorial Park last Sunday, for the ELANCO Ministerium Prayer Vigil against racism. I was pleased to see so many come out and lend their support to healing the racial wounds among us. Joining hearts to pray that God’s will be done, on earth as it is inContinue reading “Justice Starts By Showing Up”
To Mask or Not To Mask
It’s hard not to get despondent some days. Really hard. Even though my faith is strong. Maybe because it is strong. Faith is a double-edged sword sometimes. It can open our eyes to God’s will for our world and, in doing so, faith shows us how we fall short. In faith, we see how God is presentContinue reading “To Mask or Not To Mask”
Accidental Gardening
Last year, I put in a couple of raised beds and tried my hand at gardening for the first time…with mixed results. I planted vegetables and flowers. Whatever captured my interest. Phlox, Holly Hock, Clematis vines and ornamental grasses. I did a pepper plant, tomatoes and cantaloupe. And some herbs. Mint, oregano and basil. IContinue reading “Accidental Gardening”
Milestones Of Grieving Unite Us All
In the shadow of this Memorial Day weekend, we passed a terrible milestone. More than 100,000 coronavirus deaths in the US. A staggering figure. More so when you consider that the first US coronavirus death only occurred in mid-February. That’s just a little more than three months ago. The heart strains under the weight of these lives lost inContinue reading “Milestones Of Grieving Unite Us All”
ENLIGHTENMENT IS A WET NOSE
(I wrote this in mid-March. It was part of my Gratitude Journal, when I was conducting 40 Days of Gratitude during Lent for our congregation. Then the Covid-19 lock down hit. I never got around to publishing this because there were too many other pressing matters that needed to be addressed. Now, it offers a startling glimpse of howContinue reading “ENLIGHTENMENT IS A WET NOSE”
SHELTERED IN PLACE MAKING SPAGHETTI
The wind is howling outside Rattling the windows Of this old house Where I live Overturning empty chairs In the yard, The neighbor’s trash cans Roll back and forth in agony The cherry blossoms I planted in memory of my sister A blizzard of pink petals now, Torn and tossed Into Spring’s Verdant oblivion. Continue reading “SHELTERED IN PLACE MAKING SPAGHETTI”
Charles Oberkehr 