Blog
My Work in the World
Messenger by Mary Oliver My work is loving the world. Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird- Equal seekers of sweetness. Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums. Here the clam deep in the speckled sand. Are my boots old? Is my coat torn? Am I no longer...
The God Of New Beginnings (a sermon)
Genesis 1: 1-5 & Mark 1: 4-11 Roger Lynn August 28, 2022 Chaos! A formless void! Darkness! Since the very beginning, God has been remolding and shaping such material into something new. In one way or another, new beginnings are the gifts which God offers to the...
Ephemeral Beauty
Each moment is ephemeral. Each moment is unique. Each moment is a gift. Paying attention and keeping my heart open are tools that help me to receive and unwrap the gift. Tonight's sunset lasted but a few minutes, and even as it lit up the sky it was changing from...
Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary
Life, like hiking, is not about getting from Point A to Point B. It is about learning to notice & appreciate each of the infinite points along the way. Click Here to view a set of four photos from a hike I took this morning in the Iller Creek Conservation Area...
Please Don’t Try to Understand
“Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love.” - Claude Monet I really like this quote. I do not pretend to be Claude Monet, because I am not. But I am me, and I have my own art....
Stepping Into the Mystery (a sermon)
I have stepped out of retirement (temporarily) to serve as the Interim Pastor for Veradale United Church of Christ in Spokane Valley, Washington for three months while their pastor is on sabbatical. I served this congregation as their Transitional Pastor for about...
Exploring Spokane
I'm back in Spokane for three months, and today I spent some time reacquainting myself with two of my favorite spots - Riverfront Park (former site of Expo '74) and the Japanese Garden in Manito Park. Here are some photos of those two lovely places: Riverfront Park...
Learning To Be Me
On Meditating, Sort Of by Mary Oliver Meditation, so I’ve heard, is best accomplished if you entertain a certain strict posture. Frankly, I prefer just to lounge under a tree. So why should I think I could ever be successful? Some days I fall asleep, or land in...
Polishing My Heart
A couple of nights ago I went to a potluck where several old friends were gathered. I haven’t seen them in several years, and most of them didn’t know I would be there. Every one of them was surprised and delighted to see me. And I was startled by their response. I...