May 23, 2025
I love sharing small snippets of life with you—those quiet, everyday stories where I’ve caught a glimpse of God during the week. A neighbor’s lost cat showing up on the porch. A brief conversation with a stranger in the grocery store parking lot. The sound of rain against the window when there’s time to sit and listen. I have to rein myself in from talking about my dogs too much! But whatever the story is, knowing I’ll be sharing something with you keeps me attuned to those soft, sacred moments of the week. It’s a practice I’ve come to cherish. We really do find what we’re looking for.
This week, my heart’s in a different place. I can’t stop thinking about how the House voted to cut Medicare and SNAP benefits. I keep seeing the faces of people I know—real people, not statistics—who rely on those programs to get their medications, buy groceries, or just stay afloat. Week after week, we hear about loving our neighbors, caring for the sick, feeding the hungry, tending to those in need. We work toward that kind of world. And yet here we are, watching safety nets pulled apart in the name of a political game where no one will win. It’s hard to write something gentle when my heart feels heavy with sorrow. Hard to get past the thought that we seem to be moving farther away from the Kingdom of God.
These aren't just bad policies that don't even balance our national budget. It's also cruel. And anti-Christian, in the most literal sense. Jesus didn’t draw lines around who deserved help, he erased them. He didn’t ask people to prove their worth, he proved it for them by showing up where they needed him. He healed and fed and loved without abundance. And without checking IDs.
So this week, I’ve been feeling the heaviness. And yet. And yet, as I sit down to write to you—with no light story coming easily to mind—what does come to mind is you. This community. The ways you keep showing up with compassion and courage.
We had our most successful Blood Drive to date just a week ago. Our youth led us in worship with joy last Sunday and boy did Spirit show up! Your Vestry gathered for a vulnerable and important conversation about how we can be visible about loving boldly in the world. Members of your Peace & Justice team are organizing our June 1st Snack Pack for elementary-aged kids who might otherwise go hungry. The current Being Withgroup continues to meet and share stories of connection and faith. Summer Stretch is just around the corner. The Solar Team is back at it. And we’re planning for parades and PRIDE—ways we can let our neighbors know who we are.
Even when words are hard to find, you remind me what compassion looks like. You remind me that hope is something we practice. We’re just a small corner of the world, but we’re here—the quiet persistence of people who still believe we’re meant to care for one another. People who are doing our best to follow Jesus, with one foot in front of the other. For that, for you, I’m deeply grateful.
So no little story today. Just these thoughts, and a hope that what feels broken now might be healed by that steady, stubborn love we show up with, especially when it’s hard. My prayer for you this week is that you know how clearly I see the love of Christ in each of you. Thank you for shining so brightly, the world needs your light.