Author Archives: Pastor Catharine

April 18, 2021 Children are my favorite humans.  Children see the world through the lens of endless possibilities. They see no reason why the things they dream cannot become reality.  For a child, the world of pretend isn’t a figment of her imagination to grow out of; it is the world as he knows it canContinue reading “Uncle Walt, Stone Soup, Loaves and Fishes”

April 11, 2021 Don’t know about you, but of all Jesus’ disciples, I think Peter is my favorite.   As one of the three disciples Jesus chose as His apparent inner circle (the other two being James and John), Peter was always present with the Lord in His most profound and intimate moments.  At one point, dependingContinue reading “Peter’s Lesson in the Midst of Messiness”

So often during this past year, I have heard people angst over feelings of abandonment: abandonment by friends and family, by their employers and co-workers, by political leaders, by the world at large. What is already overwhelming abandonment, despair, and loss is often compounded by a devastating sense of abandonment by God….if there even isContinue reading “Reflections of an April Fool”

March 21, 2021 With all the recent upset over some of Dr. Seuss’ books, I decided to look at some of the Seuss books I own and see what I thought.   I happened across The Cat in the Hat – not one of my favorites, but a ‘have to have’ for children and grandchildren, so…I have it.  Continue reading “Lent: The Holy Spirit and the Chaos of the Cat”

March 14, 2021 The greatest commandments are: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength – and love your neighbor as yourself.  (Mark 12:29-31) Love God.  Love everyone.  Sounds simple, doesn’t it?   But what happens when things don’t go according to our carefully laid out plans?  How do we continue to love God when the Almighty goesContinue reading “Lent: The Holy Spirit and Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood”

March 7, 2021 Recently, I watched The Wizard of Oz for the millionth time and found myself totally relating to Dorothy Gale when she landed in Oz – we are definitely not in Kansas anymore!   The last year has upended so many things – revealed many things about who we are as individuals, as a people,Continue reading “Lent: Holy Spirit and Glinda the Good”

February 28, 2021 I love the 1964 version of Mary Poppins (MP); you know, the one with Julie Andrews and Dick VanDyke.   Andrews is the perfect Mary Poppins – the mischievous twinkle in her eye belying the no nonsense veneer expected of a proper English nanny. As I re-watched the film recently, I was amazed at how easilyContinue reading “Lent: The Holy Spirit and Mary Poppins”

February 21, 2021 A couple of years ago, while I was visiting one of my children, we watched the Netflix show, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.”  It was all about people living in chaotic conditions with absolutely no idea how to bring order to their lives.   Folks had closets full of shoes and clothes, some ofContinue reading “Lent: The Holy Spirit and Marie Kondo”

February 14, 2021 Life, for the most part, is a constant pursuit of being ‘the favorite:’  Daddy’s little girl, Momma’s boy, teacher’s pet, best friends. There’s so little contentment in being loved and valued as ‘one of;’ only being ‘the favorite’ will do!   Such favoritism results in bitter competition, hatred, and the death of relationships andContinue reading “The Consequence of Playing Favorites”

February 7, 2021 In his meditation, Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Christian Life, Henri Nouwen offered a powerful thought:  what seems a hindrance becomes a way;  what seems an obstacle becomes a door;  what seems a misfit becomes a cornerstone.   Jesus changes our history  from a random series of sad incidents and accidents  intoContinue reading “When Obstacles Become Doors”