For decades, I have cared what people thought. Really cared. Wanted to be liked. Wanted to be included. Wanted to be wanted. Very much so. A common human desire, I know, but not a helpful driving force in life, nonetheless. I pursued the elusive concept of cool to my own detriment, avoiding activities along the … More Filled
We wake this morning to a brand-new world. In the depths of the night, amid toil and travail, blood, sweat and tears, Christ has been born. The biggest move God ever made. Setting aside glory and magnitude and certainty, voluntarily becoming less and less until starting afresh with us, taking in that first cold breath … More Christmas
God, we are your people, made in your holy image. We come before you this day joined in prayer for peace. Our sin, both individual and institutional, as well as the adept way we turn a blind eye to it, has caught up with us. Our world seems to be imploding, and we are … More Peace: A Prayer for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Children sing I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart! and I agree with that sentiment. There is a lot of joy available, worthy of being mentioned four times, but the down part is true, too. Very often, the joy is buried deep below the surface, hidden under layers of information and … More Joy: A Poem for the Third Sunday of Advent
When I was small, love was small, too. Not small as in limited, but small as in contained, tidy, not far-flung. I knew exactly whom I loved and who loved me, and it felt a certain way without variation – safe, warm, pleasant. I could draw love – crayon hearts around my family, my friends, … More Love: A Poem for the Second Sunday in Advent
On the way to new birth, there is labor. And in the midst of labor, there is waiting. Much waiting. Agonizing, painful, teeth-gritting waiting. For the one who waits, words slip away, time dissolves, and expansive existence is reduced to this moment, this experience, this pain, breath by ragged breath. Direction, purpose, goal . . … More Hope: A Poem for the First Sunday in Advent
I want a different dance partner. I’ve been dancing with me for a long time, and I’m tired of it. I’m tired of my self as dance partner. My soul self longs to move easily, run in wide circles with arms outstretched, be swung with hair flying, skip, laugh, dance. She is bursting to be … More Dance Partner
The preacher spoke of God’s deep love for me, how cherished I am and that God can be completely trusted with my life. Sitting still, listening, I could feel my spirit begin to stir, to push against my unmoving body, compelling a response. Silently, I began to trace letters with my finger on my resting … More Trust
Last Tuesday, I watched the live stream of the speech that President Obama gave at the memorial for the Dallas police officers. I found his comments addressing the need for us all to have open hearts to be very meaningful, and the next day I wrote this song. It was put to music by Mark … More Show Us How to Love
Your sanctuary is where your sanctuary is. I have several. My house, filled with the people I love. My yard – sky ceiling, changing cloud patterns, grass carpet, clover, bare patches, toys. My church – o sweet refuge, my church. My church, my place of love, of smiles, of work, of learning, of burning, of … More Sanctuary
Lindy Thompson 