I will say goodbye

I will say goodbye
To late nights on the sofa
Throwing Scrabble tiles at each other.
I will say goodbye
To spontaneous, indescribable adventures
Like a trip to the go-kart track.
I will say goodbye
To a table with seven chairs
And the bread we broke together.
I will say goodbye
To the voice of Marky-Mark
And to the sound of Disney movies.
I will say goodbye
To a ridiculous laugh
And the sense of solidarity.
I will say goodbye
To the smell of incense
And the uncertainty of eggshells.
I will say goodbye
To the strangers who became family,
To the home that changed my heart.
I will say goodbye
To the best hugs ever
And the unbridled, unhesitating love.
I will say goodbye
To kisses on the cheek
And tickling fingers on my waist.
I will say goodbye
To catchphrases and stutters,
To fears and frustrations and tears.
I will say goodbye
To the ones who gave me hope,
The ones who might forget me.
I will say goodbye
To the person I was before, so that
I might embrace the person I am now.
I will say goodbye
To the unforgettable moments
And the moments that slipped by too easily.
I will say goodbye
But I will say hello
To a new and wonderful adventure,
To all the possibility that life holds,
And to the person I will become
Thanks to the ones I say goodbye to.

I Find Delight

Like the warmth of the afternoon sun
On a day in the middle of spring,
A moment of delight lights my face
And refreshes the depths of my soul.
I find delight in a rib-cracking hug
That speaks volumes about love.
I find delight in the honesty of a friend
Though the words may be difficult to hear.
I find delight in a fulfilling conversation
With someone who was recently a stranger.
I find delight in feeling useful,
In knowing that I created a smile.
I find delight in a moment of self-reflection
What I am able to see how far I have come.
I find delight in love, in hope, and in joy.
I find delight in a peace that calms my heart,
And I find delight in you.

For Justin

For Justin, my friend who is a founding assistant at L'Arche St. Louis: “The first duty of love is to listen.” -Paul Tillich

Read about Justin's awesome insights and experiences here!

Incarnate

God remains incarnate,
Not just in a Man in sandals
Walking a dusty road to Emmaus,
But in a boy in Air Jordans
Strolling the slum with a smile.
God remains incarnate,
Not just in a Healer
Working miracles through His garments,
But in a nurse who offers warmth
All through the night shift.
God remains incarnate,
Not just in a Child
Speaking wisdom in a temple,
But in a person with Downs Syndrome
Revealing the meaning of life with a hug.
God remains incarnate,
Not just in a Savior
Laying down His life for the hearts of all,
But in the idealist who gives up everything
To offer hope and peace to the world.
God remains incarnate
Both in our Messiah
Who ascended to glory,
And in each of us
In the love we share every day.

For Sheila and Sarah

For Sheila: "It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves." - Edmund Hillary

For Sarah Y: “Don’t try to hold God’s hand; let Him hold yours. Let Him do the holding, and you the trusting.” –Hammer William Webb-Peploe