Dancing in the Rain! Oh my dear ones, I had great ideas of writing each day on our trip and keep you all abreast of what is going on, but life has been a whirlwind and I was just not able to write. So now I will catch you up to date. It's pouring rain today and so on my lunch break I decided to give this a whirl!
We bought a house in Loris, South Carolina which is 25 minutes from the Beach. It is a little west of Myrtle Beach in a new development, out in the country and we just love it! We had to make two trips back East to get it all done but we are pleased to have the keys to our new home. Our little Scion is actually parked in the garage!
That is big news to be sure but I have to tell you that I had the most unusual experiences that have enriched my life. Daryl says I must have a sign on my forehead that say, "Talk to me, I am here for you."
On one of our plane trips, the woman next to me started crying, rather forcibly. "Are you okay?" I asked her. "No I am not," she said. "My father died." "I'm so sad for you," I responded. "Was it sudden?" "No, it's complicated," she answered. She went on to tell me the story. "He lived in California and I live in Virginia and he died two months ago and I didn't know anything about it till last week. My brother lived with him and cleaned out the house and the money and finally told us when we couldn't get an answer from my dad. We didn't talk often because my dad was an alcoholic and it was a broken relationship."
For the next hour and a half she poured her heart out. She kept saying, "I'm so sorry to be crying to you. "It's okay," I assured her. "Tears are healing and you are grieving and I am here for you." We bonded and blessed each other.
My journey is also filled with people, well complete strangers really, who bless me too! While going for an appointment at Stanford recently, just I was about to enter the building a women stopped me. "Wait, she said, "I have something for you!" I looked startled because I did not know her. "Here," she said, "this is for you," and she handed me a stone in the shape of a heart. "I want you to know you are loved!" With that she placed a stone in my hand. "Everyone needs to know they are loved," she proclaimed and then she left and I stood with the amazing gift. I was stunned, amazed and thrilled that an individual would just burst out with love like this. I am so sick of hearing all the angry rhetoric lately and this was like a piece of sweet chocolate after a fast!
Of course I could not keep this stone to myself, so I passed it on to someone at church, who then passed it on to someone, and it is still going. We are spreading the love!
Now one incident like that can carry me for many days, but I had another one! We flew into the airport in Myrtle Beach and they used golf carts to transport us from the parking lot to the terminal. It was almost midnight and so we had to call someone. Sure enough, very promptly a boisterous man arrived with his cart. He acted as if we were VIPS's. "I got the bag," he said, "no lifting for you," he told Daryl and me. We engaged in delightful conversation and he put our bags in the back of our car.
"Oh wait," he said as I handed him a tip. "I have something for YOU. He pulled out a little figurine of Jesus. "Here," he said, "this will bless you!" It was the cutest little thing - about an inch in size and fit in the palm of my hand. "This is great," I said, "I'm a pastor and I will share it with my children at church." "Here you go, have some more and he gave me three more." Daryl and I got in our car and I just burst out laughing! "I got a miniature Jesus in my hand." I said. "I guess I can carry him with me wherever I go. A good reminder of the love of God and others!" The ironic thing is that since we got home and have been getting our house ready to sell, I have misplaced them. My Jesus is lost! Not really, because he is so alive in my heart and apparent in the many people I meet everywhere I go!
So I've decided to find love everywhere I can. I don't want to seem indifferent to the sorrows many are facing and the political dilemma in which we find ourselves and yes I am writing to my senators and representatives who seem to have no backbone at all, but really love is the key.
We change the world with our love, our caring hearts, our joyful gratitude for the earth and its people. This morning I was not grateful for our country's leadership so Jesus and me had a chat. Still not grateful, but I did pray that our leaders will not sleep a wink until they do the right thing by the immigrants and much more! Okay, I know that sounds vindictive but that's where I am. I know - maybe when I find my Jesus, I'll send one to them or a heart of love! I have to do something and I think it's a better option than being mean or afraid.
There are two mottos I have in life - you already know the one - "Joy in the Journey" but the other one is "I choose to live in Faith, not fear." Matthew 6:24-34 is my mantra and Daryl has written a song with them so I sing it alot.
Perhaps you are not able to have faith and that is okay. I love you and will wrap you in my prayers and heart. As I continue to do my chemo maintenance and see the doctors at Stanford, I am grateful for your loving support that holds me up when I am weary. Everything seems to be good at the moment and I feel great! It's a good thing too because I am madly packing!
Ministry with my parish continues to be a delight and we are growing even as I prepare to leave. Our folk are so amazing and incredibly full of compassion so it's a beautiful thing to experience this in my last two months with them.
May your day be full of blessing and hope. YOU ARE LOVED! Pastor Bonnie