Grace

"At this point I think it is too late to try and convert mamma to Catholicism. We'll just take our chances that God understands she was a faithful church goer of some kind. So, if you don't mind praying with her that would be good."

Actual quote from a patient's daughter. Most of the time I hear it from the other side...convert mamma from Catholicism. So this was a shock to the system. 

I wasn't sure God would even hear my prayers according to her. 

But I went and sat with mamma. We talked about her life in the Church of Christ. How she loved to sing "the good songs". She loves the creation story the most and asked me to read it next time I'm there. She seems like a very nice woman. Even a faithful church goer. 

Im not sure when I stopped caring about who goes to heaven and who ends up in hell. Both places matter, but I'm satisfied to let other people debate who is in and who is out. I just don't have time to keep up with a scorecard. 

Jay Bakker says "I want to hold on to my views lightly, to keep an open mind, and not feel like I've arrived at the end of theology. I want to put people first and live my life. I'm not out to save anyone from hell or win people to Jesus. I'm just trying to follow Jesus myself, and help people find grace and peace and acceptance in their lives."

I agree. 

Sent from my iPhone

Till death do us part...

A week ago I did a wedding. It was a beautifully normal wedding. Bride in white, sun shining, crying moms, and plenty of good eats. Vows, prayers, and limos. It was a wedding. 

A week later I watched a wife say goodbye to her husband of 54yrs. I imagined their wedding looked a lot like the wedding I had just done. Filled with smiles, laughs, and forever. They made their promises and rode off into the sunset.

Here they are...at the beginning. An entire life of adventures together right in front of them. Newness. Unknownness. Unbridled excitement.  Unable to stop smiling as they dance their first dance. Swept up in the emotions of forever. They have a million moments left...hand in hand they start the journey. 

And here they are...at the end. An entire life of adventures together behind them. They know each other totally. They've forgotten what life is without the other. They are swept up in the emotions of the end. They are dancing their last dance. Only a few moments remain...hand in hand one slips away. 

I stand in the middle. Trying bridge life and death with the people I live with. Praying for forever in one moment and the mercy of death the next. Makes waking up everyday all the more real. 

It's painfully beautiful at times...