Category: March 2024

How wide is our range?

I have grown to appreciate Henri Nouwen during my adult years. It’s hard to imagine. I have been an adult for so many years already! 🙂 As I read his reflection, it resonated with me as we journey through Lent and anticipate Easter Sunday. If we live in a culture that does not allow our full expression of feeling, how do we even grasp the reality of Good Friday and Easter?

I often consider children’s wide range of emotions in one day. Just imagine if we allowed our adult selves to do the same. What if we expressed the ache of our sorrow or grief and also celebrated the goodness felt in connection with those we love? What if, at the end of each day, we could confidently say I have expressed all the emotions I felt today, including fear, anger, and anxiety?

I am not saying every emotion felt should be expressed, but perhaps Henri Nouwen is onto something. If we expand our range, we will experience perhaps more mourning and sadness, but we will also experience more genuine dancing, delight, and joy! May it be so! ❤️trish

 

Caring for those who cared for us….

I attended a seminar this morning. It was good for many reasons. I appreciate that my Church hosts conversations and education about aging. We must recognize that everyone has a unique story and allow that to be how we approach “problem-solving.” in issues surrounding aging.

As someone who has worked in the field of serving an aging population for the last twenty years, may we never let the uncertainty, fear, and dynamics overshadow the fact that there are many good elements to be grateful for in getting older. Tonight, I want to name one: To care for those who once cared for us is one of Life’s highest honors. This does not always mean physical care. This may mean companionship or creating spaces for quality of life to be shared and enjoyed. It doesn’t always mean it is simple or without complications, but when we can reflect, it often brings us to a space of gratitude.

I hope that part of your story, whether caring for, anticipating, caring for, or having cared for, will provoke your heart to grow and strengthen in good ways. If this provokes pain and struggles, I trust you will find someone who can be present with you to process that.

Life is a gift, often with its own complications along the way, but may we always take the time to honor those who have invested in us and helped to shape the people we are today! ❤️trish

 

Celebrating Ellie Grace…

It’s hard to imagine that we learned of Ellie’s arrival 24 years ago. When we wrapped up our birthday Facetime call with her, my Mom said it so well: Ellie is delightful!

Ellie has a strong spirit and a sparkle in her eyes that provokes questions of curiosity. She often explores some adventure or paves some kind of pathway. Ellie moved to Colorado and established herself there, not with a temporary status but with a sense of permanence until she feels called away. She will call this home!

Ellie is the youngest of five, one of a big cousin group, and an aunt to four; she is also a granddaughter, daughter, niece, and friend. In these varied roles, she has learned to use her voice, listen well, struggle through disappointments, process anger, grow in faith, and always maintain a sense of humor.

I am so proud of you, Ellie, for continuing to grow and mature. You have demonstrated you know how to love others without losing yourself. You have practiced self-care and honor the journey you are on. I am so proud of you and grateful to be your Aunt and friend. I love you forever and always…❤️aunt trish

 

 

Extending invitation…

I appreciate Lent and the weeks before Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. However, as these four services approach, my heart transitions to the days ahead.

I know that COVID changed many people’s rhythms, including church participation. During the last year of my multiple surgeries, I have come to appreciate live streaming, but I have recognized that worship with people differs from worship via live stream.

In the coming weeks, I want to invite people to join me for Worship during the various upcoming services. If you are able and looking for a place to worship, please come and be present with us. There is always room in my row. ❤️ There is something special about being in Church, especially in the coming weeks! I also think entering or reentering is easier with an invitation and knowing someone would be delighted to see you!

I hope you will also make a point to invite others to your faith community for this particular season.

May we grow in our ability to simply invite without agenda, expectation, or demand. Invite with an open heart and a desire to create a space for relationships to grow! ❤️ trish

You Are Invited Images – Browse 37,797 Stock Photos, Vectors, and Video | Adobe Stock

  • Palm Sunday, March 24 – Worship services at 9:30 am (English) and 11:00 am (bilingual English/Spanish) 514 Eastern Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI,  49503
  • Maundy Thursday, March 28 – Soup, Bread, and Cup, 6 pm. Join us for an informal meal and worship experience commemorating Jesus’ last supper with his disciples. We will gather around tables in the Fellowship Hall to share a simple meal and receive the Lord’s Super together. Our time will include worship through scripture, prayer, and choral singing. Please indicate if you plan to attend and if you can help contribute to the meal.  Sign up to join us! www.signupgenius.com/go/20F054EA4A82CA75-48515427-soup
  • Good Friday Tenebrae Service, March 29 – Hosted by Sherman St. Church (1000 Sherman St. SE), 8 pm
  • Easter Sunday, March 31 – Worship services at 9:30 am (English) and 11:00 am (bilingual English/Spanish) 514 Eastern Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI,  49503

 

 

Great courage and profound peace…

peace

(This blog was written May 29, 2018, 8 days after my Dad died. He had a seven-week journey from his diagnosis of brain cancer to his death. Now, almost six years later, we still miss him, and my Mom and the rest of us still live in peace. For that, we are grateful! I came across it tonight and wanted to repost it. May we all live at peace, in our living and dying!)

During the last eight weeks, I have been honored to witness how peace prevails amid illness.  There are so many spaces that my parents could have lacked peace. Yet from the day of my Dad’s seizure to his unexpected death, through the diagnosis of cancer and in difficult conversations about whether to seek treatment, the presence of peace was undeniable.

I remember my Dad telling a Doctor who came into his room before his biopsy was even done that he doesn’t like to discuss all the “what if” conversations. He wanted to wait until the biopsy came back and then consider what we know to be true. He had a way of setting the tone and ensuring that my Mom and Dad did not clutter their minds and hearts with unneeded thoughts.

As my parents processed that my Dad had a life-ending diagnosis, it was clear to so many that peace prevailed. In their conversations, their communications, their presence, and their hearts, their words carried peace.

Here are a few snippets from a variety of their communications:

one of the things that has surprised me some is the calmness with which (so far, at least) we have been able to accept the reality of what is.

We find ourselves in a new space and discover that there are unexpected blessings in these moments. 

We are mostly at peace with the realities thus far, though still in some shock about how quickly and silently this has developed. 
We are walking a path where many others have been. We pray for grace to go on, and we do have peace in our hearts.
We also continue to be blessed by being surrounded by encouragers, family members, friends and helpful advisors. Most of all we rest in the providence of the Living God who holds in the hollow of His hand.

My prognosis will have to await further information, but we wanted you all to know that we are doing well, are grateful for each day, and rest in the assurance that all of our days are in God’s hands. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

IMG_2410I share this and record this so we never forget that my Dad did not fear the end of his life. He was committed to living one day at a time and trusting God to care for him, my Mom, and us!

I am so grateful to be reminded that living in peace does not mean life is without trouble. There are questions, sorrow, uncertainty, and hardship, but none of that can entirely erode our peace.

My parents lived with great courage and profound peace in living and dying.

Sundays words for monday, tuesday, wednesday and so on…

Christian Symbols of Life and What They MeanToday at Church, we talked about Love. It was one of those messages I want to listen to again. There were words of invitation and words that felt like God was speaking them as a gentle reminder of his Word. Those are reassuring moments in my heart.

Today, our Pastor referenced a book I now have on order. Stranger God: Meeting Jesus in Disguise sounds like a book that will not only stretch our thinking but also our actions and invite us to change our beliefs and hearts. This book invites us to the importance of widening the circle of our affection. 

A partial description of the book is as follows: Psychological experiments show how we are predisposed to appreciate those who are similar to us and avoid those who are unlike us. The call of the gospel, however, is to override those impulses with compassion, to “widen the circle of our affection.” 

I love the words: widen the circle of our affection. It is easy to offer affection within our circles, but how to intentionally widen the circle to those different from us? Today, I have been considering where those who are different are. They are not as far as I first thought. I am starting with the spaces where I feel my body, mind, or heart pull away.

I also invite you to consider what it means to widen your circle of affection to those different from you. Let’s grow in this way together! ❤️ trish

If you want to listen to a great message, listen here!

 

 

Have you seen the face of God?

Today I saw

It is a powerful story: “Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les MisĂ©rables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, and redemption—a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. This epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.”

The description above, taken from the website, describes how packed the story is. But there are a few things I hold close to my heart tonight:

To love another person is to see the face of God. I believe we are called to love others with a sacrificial love, as opposed to a self-serving love. I think we all have the opportunity to experience and see the face of God in a tiny way on this side of heaven in loving others. 

I am grateful for a community of faith that deeply believes in loving one another. I hope that you have experienced the sacred space of seeing God’s face. 

And, of course, there is so much more in this story about war, dying, grief, and grace. I will never grow weary of this powerful story! ❤️ trish

 

living with hope in a broken world

I am often aware of a conflict in my heart. I sincerely believe that His mercies are new every morning, and it is a gift to wake up and live each new day!

How much longer can we continue to live in such darkness and brokenness? Trust between people is eroding, and our ability to engage in conversations and respect differing views is breaking up families and destroying relationships. We watch war kill innocent people, and we are silent amid injustice.

And so Mary Oliver brings us powerful words…

It is a serious thing

just to be alive

on this fresh morning

in this broken world.

Go and live every fresh morning and bring hope to this broken world!

❤️ trish

Perfection

How old is the game Perfection?Perfection (board game) - Wikipedia

History. The original Perfection game was patented by the Harmonic Reed Company (later Reed Toys) in 1973.

Do you ever have body memories? Perhaps this video provokes that sense of a ticking timer and the race against the clock of needing to fill in the pieces before they all pop up.

When I saw this, I had to smile. Anxiety. It is real and comes as a result of many things, but surely this “fun” game of perfection didn’t help any of us! 🙂

I hope you have found games that bring out a sense of inner peace as you have grown up since 1973. This blog is just for fun. I hope it brought a smile!

❤️ Trish

 

Thought provoking…i will not deny

I read this, and I am provoked…where do I deny myself of myself?

I know of times I denied my heart sorrow and my eyes their tears. Therapy was so helpful for me in identifying, naming, embracing, and feeling the places I have denied grief and tears.

Covid did beautiful things for some of us to show our wildness of age in our hair. I have never been happier since I went natural gray! 🙂

I wonder where you have denied some part of yourself? Can you feel it, or can you name it? Do you have a story of reclaiming a piece of your denied being?

I believe that the selfishness spoken of here is permissible. I will deny me nothing of my God-given self. May I live fully alive and attuned to the mind, body, heart, and spirit I have been given!  Will you join me in living fully alive and attuned to the mind, body, heart, and spirit YOU have been given? ❤️ trish