A Tough Day

"Brothers and sisters: ...now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the Blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, he made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one Body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." - Ephesians 2

Just what I needed after a tough day yesterday.

I think I may need to stop telling Katie's story to groups for a while.
Speaking to the physical therapy students was inspiring for me, but a lot of them cried at the end of my presentation.

I don't go out to groups with the intention of making them cry; I prefer to inspire and share hope. Often, I get to talk about the Guild or the Endowment that we've started in Katie's memory. But this was a group that wanted to hear about family-centered care, and although in that story there is great goodness and gratitude, the patient died. I wish I had spent more time telling them about the family-centered care that has continued for us since Katie's passing; how the staff at the hospital has not dropped nor forgotten us, but has lovingly and professionally welcomed my relationship with them to continue, and even to grow. I guess I was too thrown off by their grief to gather my thoughts, at that point. The ones I spoke with afterward said it was very helpful, but I don't feel it was my best effort. So maybe a break in speaking is indicated.

To the sweet kitten that Gregg found on the beach: may your passing have been gentle, and surrounded by love. I pray that you are in the arms of angels now, and playing and cavorting in cat heaven.

To the woman we encounted on the beach on Bainbridge last night: I don't know why you accosted us. My family has lived on the beach for over 50 years on that very island, and we have never spoken to walkers as you did to us. We know that your property is private. We were not ON your property, not using it, not digging clams, not building a fire, not even pausing. What could possibly have been bothering you? Perhaps it wasn't us, admiring the sunset and the light over the water as we walked as quickly as we could in the dusk. We were passing by a road block that was created by the fire department and power company, due to a fallen tree and power lines. We used the legal, appointed beach access to get to the beach. We were near your bulkhead because of the tideline. We know that the mean low-tide line is the actual legal limit of your property. We made no trouble for you nor anyone; YOU made trouble. We would have passed you by quickly, if you had not spoken to us. You have a territorial mentality, and I am deeply sorry that people who behave as you do are waterfront dwellers. It makes me very, very sad to hear such talk from an Islander. If you truly loved the beach itself, you would want to share its joys. You would want others who love it to enjoy it respectfully, too. It is only "yours" temporarily; it never "belongs" to us for more than a lifetime.
And since you are so concerned with the law, I hope you had a legal permit for building that fire you were stoking on your lawn. Peace be with you.