We Pray for an End to Violence

As I walked in the darkness last evening around St. James Cathedral in Seattle, WA, I reflected on the scripture that was posted as a prayer within the building.

We Pray for an End to Violence

If I walk out into the field,
look! Those slain by the sword;
If I enter the city,
look! victims of violence...
Why have you struck us a blow
that cannot be healed?
We wait for peace, to no avail;
for a time of healing, but terror comes instead.
Do not reject us, for your name's sake,
do not disgrace your glorious throne.
Remember your covenant with us,
and break it not.

Jeremiah 14:18-21

All Lives Matter. Stop The Violence.

Hold onto hope for our world. We have that promise.

With gratitude to my friend, Tim McCrea for sharing this photo he took in my hometown. 

It speaks volumes.

A Dreary Day and the Sun Shone from Behind the Clouds

I was having a hankering for duck. So I stopped by an Asian restaurant. I was delighted to see a number of immigrants sporting the red, white and blue. (I reflected on how most of us are immigrants. I am Swiss and German.) I was delighted to witness the pride.

Two men, Dennis and Tony invited me to sit at their table. I shared about Living Stones and how seniors and others are making hats for those in need. We also donate new tube socks. Dennis gave me a considerable amount of money for the project. I said, "Oh, I cannot accept that. It's too much."

Dennis wanted me to accept it. I said “Thank-you” through my tear filled eyes and choked up voice. Dennis' son Tony works as a case manager for Downtown Emergency Service (DESC). I asked Tony for his contact info. Tony and his DESC residents will receive our first donation of hats and tube socks for Living Stones' Christmas in July program.

God bless them and the folks these two men are helping.

I played John Cougar Mellencamp’s “Scarecrow” cassette on my drive home, and I sang to “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. The United States rocks, and I am proud to be an American and from Indiana!

Live the American Dream this Fourth of July.

More Than Fire Works: Celebrating Our Freedom

I am reminiscent about my past, leading to this present moment, and my future freedoms on this Independence Day.

As I reflect on this photo of me with my classmates in Miss Hammer’s 3rd Grade Class, saying the “Pledge of Allegiance” as we stood up from our desk, placed our hands over our hearts and faced the American Flag and recited the words every school day morning:

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." (1954)

I did not understand the above words as a child. The words give meaning to my life today.

I give gratitude to my Uncle Roger and my Aunt Judy for Fourth of July evening, leading into my senior year of high school. My uncle had is station wagon filled with my mother, sister, brother, their two children, who are my cousins: Greg and Amy, and me with a full length plaster cast on my right leg. My Uncle parked his car in the parking lot in front of the Northcrest Bowling alley and to the side of the Burger Chef. We watched the fireworks light up the humid Indiana, night skies.

 A couple of years ago, I offered an Independence Day service for my residents, who have dementia and health concerns. They were not mobile and seated in wheelchairs or used walkers. My residents served our country. When the pianist began playing the “Star Spangled Banner” as the opening music, the residents, who were cognitively and physically challenged stood up, placed their right hands over their hearts and sang without printed words. All of the words were from long-term memory.

The words with the lyrics did not come out of my mouth; instead, tears flowed down my cheeks as I looked around the room. When the song concluded, one resident’s very young great grandson, who held onto his grandpa's  walker yelled, “Play ball!” 

 The last song in the service was “This Land is Your Land.” Unannounced to me, one resident, who had been a professional musician, had his trumpet handed to him by his son and “Taps” filled the room.

I encourage you to reflect upon today by reading and sitting with the the second statement from the Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

 We are blessed by learning from our past and living in the present and looking towards the future.

There is no Place Like Home or a Nest

The adult family home setting is wonderful for residents – especially my residents, who are developmentally disabled. Besides the environment being homey, it is filled with love, caring and joy.

During the rainy days of spring, the Lincoln Park residents enjoyed hearing me act out the “Wizard of Oz” – especially the voice of the munchkins and the Wicked Witch of the West. Was that Toto that barked?

The residents then participated in a “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” sing-a- long: “Oh, somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly…”

With the sun shining and a warm breeze of summer, the Lincoln Park residents listened for birds flying across the blue sky. They looked through the binoculars, searching for birds in the trees at Lincoln Park.

Volunteers from Living Stones Ministries Rock On! cut the remaining yarn from their 500-knitted and loomed hats for the homeless last winter in downtown Seattle for the Lincoln Park residents to spread among areas around the park for the birds to build their nest.

The residents and team members had so much fun spreading the yarn that a family asked if they could join us. Then the family sat down with the residents and visited.

Please contact me if you are interested working in my adult family home. I have a couple of openings for CNAs and HCAs. Share the joy!

Simple yet a Good Reminder

Start your day off right and share the message.

I loved the reminder on my morning drive to work: "Love More" and "Jesus didn't reject people." Two simple yet powerful messages to start the day.

Gratitude for Giving New Life

Charlie's on Broadway had been opened for years. It closed last June and reopened with new owners, who reopened with the same name with a refurbished establishment while keeping some of the original history intact giving it new life.

The old maintained in a Seattle neighborhood establishment with a new staff.

An example of the level of customer service: I do not have cable television, and the staff would 

allow me to eat my dinner at a table in the billiards room so I could watch the Indiana Pacers play. 

I highly recommend Charlie's.

It was "warm" in my apartment with no air conditioning. So I walked to Charlie’s to enjoy a veggie wrap with water for hydration and to cool off as I read my book at the bar.

The unexpected happened: an elderly woman had a medical emergency, requiring CPR, IV, etc. She was taken to the hospital where she hopefully was given new life like this long-time establishment.

I give gratitude for the first responders but mostly for the staff and patrons. One of the first responders asked this woman's elderly friend and neighbor if she would like a chaplain. I said that I was a chaplain, and I sat with her. Charlie's allowed me to make her a cup of tea and provide a listening ear. Patrons came by and hugged this elderly woman.

As I left, a young woman, who sat at the end of the bar shared a story with expletives before this unexpected happening. (I liked her animated personality.) She stopped me and shared how she looked at me and began to pray, and she does not believe in prayer. She grabbed and hugged me.

I exited Charlie’s and almost walked directly into a man on the sidewalk. His t-shirt read, "Pray well with others." I smiled at him.

I had not scheduled my calendar correctly for the weekend. I believed I was suppose to meet my friends at the Greekfest on Saturday night, and it was on Friday evening. I was in the unexpected yet right place due to my blunder.

The below photos were from my previous visits to Charlie’s.

One of the chefs and his fiancée 

A selfie in motion with one of the great servers.