http://sevenlastwordsforlent.blogspot.com/
THE THIRD WORD
Woman, behold your son: behold your mother
(John 19:26-27).
The Word of Relationship
 

The nails give me a problem.

The ones in his wrists. Binding hand to wood.

 

Imagining him hanging there looking down upon his mother;

Saying goodbye in his own way.

One last kiss, son to mother to say goodbye not to be.

Doing his duty, the eldest son, giving her to someone else’s son;

care for her into her old age

while his life passes with each breath, struggling.

Mother behold your son: Behold your mother.

What is love except to give love away?

THE THIRD WORD
Woman, behold your son: behold your mother
(John 19:26-27).
The Word of Relationship

Grandpa called me Butch, tussled my hair,
bounced me on his knees until his knees
grew old and lost their spring; taught me the love of things
sown and grown, too soon gone, the generations.
I now past the middle of life,
children growing, nearly grown,
wife and I a quarter century looking back, blinking,
Mom and Dad having seen it all, still seeing,
look upon us and think what, their little boy
with boys no longer little.
I do not know. I do not ask.
Such wisdom is too terrible for me
with fifty years coming not enough, not nearly,
to pause, to take such stock of things,
the deepness and mystery of love, accumulated pains,
hopes, realized and unrealized dreams,
what song their souls sing
when they behold one such as I
that they sacrificed for,
our story yet unexplored, for now.

THE THIRD WORD
Woman, behold your son: behold your mother
(John 19:26-27).
(photo courtesy of Dany Vega)

THE THIRD WORD
Woman, behold your son: behold your mother
(John 19:26-27).
The Word of Relationship


The bond between mother and son,
no greater mystery,
written or read,
we stand on the outside observing the subtlety of fathomless glances,
smiles without names,
measuring, taking photographs, building memories, puzzling,
taking no step closer than where our feet are planted,
for there the road ends;
We, the outsiders to their love.

 

 

THE THIRD WORD
Woman, behold your son: behold your mother
(John 19:26-27).

The Word of Relationship.

Photos? Reflections?
What would you like to share this week?

THE SECOND WORD
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise
(Luke 23:43).
(photo courtesy of Pastor Keith)

 

Keep the sticks and pebbles
but what to leave behind?
The rummage sale of our life, moving day,
the ultimate downsizing, right-sizing, death.
Death, life.
Sifting through the memories,
Tossing some here and there,
The trash can overflowing.
Gentle with some, others confetti upon the floor,
turning the toilet into post-modern art:
The teasing, being small with big feet.
All those mistakes. Playing with matches.
Sneaking coffee. Every lie.
Wondering about the number of bags we get to take for free.
Having loved, loved deeply, loved passionately,
touches and softness ,
Joy, the warmth of hands held,
Long walks and postcard sunsets
Meals, kisses, breaths.
Do they have those baggage carts
In Paradise?

A FIRST WORD PAINTING

FORGIVENESS

"Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

(painting courtesy of Tina Hines)

THE SECOND WORD
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise
(Luke 23:43).
(photo courtesy of Carl Berkey-Abbott)

THE SECOND WORD
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise
(Luke 23:43).
(photo courtesy of Carl Berkey-Abbott)

THE SECOND WORD
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise
(Luke 23:43).
 (photo courtesy of Kristin Berkey-Abbott)

THE SECOND WORD
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise
(Luke 23:43).
If there were nails in my hands
and my feet,
and some guy was mocking me,
some criminal,
like he had some right to talk,
me there bleeding just like him,
counting the hours, in the sun, the breaths,
wondering when the sharp point of the spear might poke or prod,
Me naked.Yes, my clothing the prize in a game of dice.
Even to one act of kindness,
one last act of faith, of trust,
still, to offer
Promise through the pain,
To minister to the end,
to speak of paradise,
that none may fear the journey
that Christ, himself, takes with us,
until we receive in fullness  what we now see only in part.

THE SECOND WORD
"Today you will be with me in Paradise"
Luke 23:43

the 23rd Psalm
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
²He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
³he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name's sake.
⁴Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff —
they comfort me.
⁵You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long.

THE SECOND WORD
"Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise"
Luke 23:43

Every death
births its questions,
in silence,  rage or fear,
what awaits beyond the labors of love,
the fullness of grace;
Peace in its completeness.
The last tear wiped away
by God,
no small thing for those whose cheeks
are no stranger to them.
All shrouded now in mystery, in dream,
to hold a lover's hand and look, look deeply
and wonder what will be
when today becomes today
in paradise.

THE SECOND WORD

"Today, you will be with me in Paradise."
Luke 23:43

“Jesus came to visit,”

I nodded at Grace, hospital covers pulled up

She lost among them

The beeps of machines, measuring heartbeats and breaths,

And wires, wires everywhere and tubes more concerned with urine output.

The things we measure!

Counting them,

Giving them value

To pass the time.

 “Did he now,” I smiling, taking her hand, careful, surprised at its strength.

She sits up giving me a start. Staring, staring deep into my eyes.

“He’s coming to welcome me home.”

Home?

All smiles, Grace.

Nearing death, but not fearing it,

All peace having tasted the vision, the still waters,

her soul restoring,

She, seeing something in my eyes. It’s OK, she says.

A promise is a promise. 

THE SECOND WORD
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise
(Luke 23:43).

On The First Last Word: Forgiveness

"Father forgive them, for they know not what  they do,"
Let Jesus cry we say, we in silence would wear our suffering,
lips pursed thin, tight, fearsome eyes
piercing, none dare look upon, jaw set,
unforgiveness exhaled, every breath reeking of it.
Let Jesus take the hurt, the pain, the pain like death,
forgiveness his business, take it all, Jesus,
we'll none of it,
ours to carve into our souls in bitter memory,
lest we forget, and again,
and again in a moment, weak and warm,
allow. Relent. Accede. No.
No. And so we lose ourselves
our pain, our only wisdom;
lost and yearning for the still waters,
the peace, the peace,
remembering what was, once.
Find us there lamenting, Lord,
forgive us until our our own hearts yield.

FORGIVENESS

“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. 
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. 
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.” 
― Mother Teresa

FORGIVENESS

"Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

Do you have two minutes and nine seconds to watch a video on Forgiveness?

“Worship Together” is our Cross+Generational blend of Worship, Sunday school, and Family Faith formation that focuses on teaching key Bible stories and equipping people to connect the scriptures with their everyday lives by engaging them in a variety of creative ways. The stories are prayed, sung, signed using American Sign Language, shared through dramatic readings and puppet shows, and engaged and expressed through other creative fine arts and media. It has both a large group and small group component in which the “Faith Five” practices of sharing highs and lows, engaging scripture, connecting scripture with what’s going on in one’s life, praying for one another and sharing a word of blessing are used. Holy Communion is always shared and all of the generations are made to feel welcome and equal partners in all that we do. This service takes place in the fellowship hall.

Last fall we read (and signed and sung and prayed) a Bible story about forgiveness and then wrote "Forgiveness Haiku" poems. This is a link to a video meditation on forgiveness that I developed using pictures from that day coupled with a song that helps us enter "into the moment."

http://youtu.be/0QAOiVFDk5s

FORGIVENESS

"Father forgive them, for they know not what they do"

Bound as they were, fearful hearts and dread

Bound and blind. 

Blind, unthinking,

humanity's long banner unfolding, 

unfurling into winds, chill and marrow deep,

the very seam of hope, 

jagged wisps of thread

lost to indifference.

Such are we

in moments of self-awareness.

In forgiving them (us) gifting freedom, 

tearing out the roots, clods of earth

clouds of dust, leaf litter, stone and clay

lost and scattered and gratefully so;

freedom, freedom to breathe, 

to turn one's face towards the kiss

of a morning's sun,

to embrace the sound of a thousand steps

into its arms,

to live in the hope of tomorrow

and its blessing of today,

unbound.

THE SEVEN LAST WORDS

Just so folks are clear - we would LOVE to have you actively participate in this Lenten reflection opportunity. As couples, families or with your friends take the "Word" for the week and use its corresponding scripture in your "Faith Five" time by sharing your highs and lows for the week, reading the scripture, seeking connections between your highs and lows and the text, praying for each other and offering a simple blessing for the coming days. Or individually or with others focus on the "Word" for the week and take a photo that captures the essence of it or journal your thoughts or create a 2D or 3D art project that does the same. Whatever you are willing to share with me, share away. Post it, email it, bring your creations into for us to display. If you are private, use your reflections privately - it is all good!

The Schedule:

SEVEN LAST WORDS SCHEDULE

Week of FEB 11^th Father forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).

Week of FEB 18^th Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43).

Week of FEB 25^th Woman, behold your son: behold your mother (John 19:26-27).

Week of MAR 4^thMy God, My God, why have you forsaken me (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34).

Week of MAR 11^th I thirst (John 19:28).

Week of MAR 18^th It is finished (John 19:30).

Week of MAR 25^th Father, into your hands I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46).

Extra Opportunity:

Maundy Thursday MAR 28^th
Love one another as I have loved you (John 13:34)

Easter MAR 31^st
I have seen the Lord! (John 20:18)

FIRST WORD

"Forgiveness"

Father forgive them, for they know not what they do
(Luke 23:34).

The first of the seven last words is "Forgiveness"
more than flowers, flowers fade
and memory's dull ache remains
and remembrances raw the wound,
the arrogance of not forgetting as if the gulf
between brain and heart, a canyon, not a crevice.
Would you advocate for them?
Pray?
Not for what they've done, deserving nothing. Nothing.
But for God, an act of faith
moving mountains, uprooting trees into the the sea,
the enormity of it all, the power in weakness
transforming us, forgiving them,
until our soul sings the songs of Zion
without remorse?
To see like that
waiting there,  hanging there, not so far to be out of reach?

THE JOURNEY...begins.