Love in the Park

Today I did a beautiful wedding ceremony in a park in downtown Albuquerque for two women in our community.  It was simple yet one of the most moving ceremonies I have officiated. 

The wind was blowing the leaves in the trees, sun shining, the young couple full of hope and promise with their love. 

Love is the greatest gift of all.  To love a partner, friend, faith community, stranger, God, and yes even our so called enemy is what we have been created for.  Why is it so easy for folks to say "they love you" yet actions speak otherwise.  Why is it so hard for us to abandon ourselves into our lovers arms with all the love, trust and passion that is in our soul?   And when we do give ourselves to another how often is that love dismissed?

How easy it is to throw away friends, lovers, and family members who hurt and disappoint us.  We live in a disposable society so it must be easy just to toss out our loved one when they disappoint us, hurt us, or have a flaw or two. 

Here is a story - a true one at that. 

The man and woman grew up in the mid west - simple farmers who toiled their land, raised their children and loved one another through the good and not so good.  When they were in  their eighties the woman got sick and died. 

The children and grandchildren returned to the simple farm for the funeral and burial, all which took place on the sacred land that the man and woman had toiled and lived on.  After the burial they went back to the farmhouse for a meal. 

Later that night the oldest daughter went to check on the father.  He was not in the bed.  She searched the house.  No where to be found.  She happened to look out the kitchen window and there she saw in the distance her father holding a lantern by his wife's grave.

The daughter runs to the dad, certain he has lost his mind with overwhelming grief.  He stands there at the grave, tears running down his face, onto his shirt.  He  looks at his daughter with love in his eyes and says:

"I am so thankful that your mother did not have to know this deep pain of loss."

And that my friends, is true love.  May we all have it, if not today, in the future. 

Blessings and love to all of you who take time to read this blog.

Pastor Judy

Looking Ahead

It has been a few weeks since I have taken the time to sit and write.  Have been busy at church with planning toward the end of the year.  It seems like the church cycle echos the rhythm of life, birth, death, changes.  New people come into our lives and others leave them - either by choice or death.  Seasons and celebrations come and go.  Religious observations such as Easter and Christmas are certain every year. 

I  must confess that I have a hard time saying good-bye to people and letting them go.  When people move away from the area I always give them my blessings, but there is a part of me that longs for them to stay.  When people leave church for one reason or the other I feel the loss deeply and pray that the person is well.  Sometimes people come back and that is always a great joy to me. 

Life does not stay the same and we can accept the changes with grace or we can resist.  I find that resisting is a waste of time and energy and I must learn to accept those things over which I have no control. 

There are people in my faith community who have lost life partners of thirty years or more.  The passing of their loved one leaves them with a sense of loss and longing and yet the memories of what they shared bring them some comfort. 

As I look back on my own life I want to be able to say that I did what God had called me to do - maybe not on some grand scale, but in some small way I touched the lives of people and what I did made a difference.  It will be some comfort to me as I look back on my years. 

Today's blog is a bit rambling, but this is where I find my thoughts at the moment.

Blessings and peace and until next time

Rev Judith