[From Penny: My friend, Bryan Jackson is ordained in the American Baptist Churches USA, a registered Cherokee descendant, and active in the Cherokee Nation satellite community. While I was in the Holy Land, Bryan submitted a post. I share it with you now, as I re-enter through the haze of jetlag. Thank God for this gift of rare beauty.]
I wonder as I wander on my four legs during the 40 days of this cycle of the Christian year.
I wonder about my friend Penny as she wanders and ponders on her journey in the Holy Land. The Lord be with her. She’s rolling with the big dogs. I saw where she just spent time in the living waters of the Dead Sea. Will she bring back more life for me or will I be gone before the next Lenten season?
Either way is a win because though death feels repeatedly cheated by me, no true death exists because our Lord has promised this
and besides I have
my own Penny (a friend
of Penny too) to look after
me.
I write for the
Little People
of this world and when I’m
on a roll
my heart sings like nobody’s
damn business
because I’m half man/
half dog—or so I’ve
been told—and a dog always
magically appears
in my stories
and
you just know there’s some
celestial connection between
P.D. Eastman’s Go, Dog. Go!
(The I Ching of children’s books
if you must know, and I
think you must) and the homeland of
the Cosmic Christ.
Always Bridging 