Everything is Welcome
A tiny pink purse
and a pink hairbrush
in her hands, the
petite girl looked
up at me, the
greeter, who must
have looked official
with my nametag,
and very seriously
asked “Are
hairbrushes
allowed?” My
answer was yes
although her
mother may have
wished I said no!
But we know everyone
is welcome, whoever
they are and wherever
they are in their faith
journey, so why not a little
girl’s favorite hairbrush?
Sacred Moment
Sometimes we startle the
heron as she stands at the
end of the pond, and she
spreads her mighty wings
and flies away, afraid of
our company. Today I was
not present, not seeing,
but worrying about so
many things. And then,
from a hill above the
water, I saw her framed
between two bare trees,
tall, regal, motionless.
With no camera to record
the perfect photo, I was
disappointed …. but then
again, perhaps that one
sacred moment was only for
the heron, my dog, and me.
.
When I die,
I want to let go
and float away
as serenely
and gracefully
as the falling
leaves in autumn,
uncomplaining
yet curious,
surrendering
to the eternal
circle of life.
untangling the web 