Author: alwaysbridging

Now is when I think of the women most. Mary of course. And all the wonderful women in my life.

This morning Facebook flashed a video clip of us rehearsing Dona Nobis Pacem for my father’s memorial service nine years ago. My mother. My sisters. My daughter. So much love and appreciation swelled for these four.

I am grateful for Violeta, Pearl and Seyi—friends who have joined me here over the seasons of Lent—willing to share their insights in prose and poems and photos. Wouldn’t these be beautiful names for the three sisters if I ever wrote a novel?

This year Theresa was alongside too, an accomplished writer who chose to resurrect her blog and post about pilgrimage. Meanwhile we are journeying towards her official welcome into the cathedral family.

In the realm of those who encourage my writing, there are my Jewels. And Ann/e’s. There is Susan far away in Djibouti. And Pat. I don’t think she’s missed a post.

Also, it has been a deep pleasure when one of you has liked me in social media or especially when you have stopped me and said thanks. You know who you are. Believe me, I notice.

The business of writing every day, then exposing a piece of my heart by sharing, felt daunting on Ash Wednesday. Now here we are on this Holy Saturday, Day 40, in the blink of an eye.

Life is easier with a pack of beauties surrounding me.

Last night I washed Hisako’s feet and she washed mine. It was bliss.

Then we sang Mozart’s Ave Verum corpus. Ah sweet payback; I knew the alto part by heart. During the lockdown I’d sung my lines a zillion times for virtual choir, one of the more awkward and difficult things I’ve done. Yesterday I sang this exquisite piece with 50 intergenerational voices in harmony, and in person side-by-side. That was bliss too.

Last night it was as if I spooned with Jesus. Now it is Good Friday. Even so, I will go out into the world, as we said in Morning Prayer, rending my heart and not my garment. There is more bliss.

Collecting

You are invited to join us tonight for Maundy Thursday worship at 7 PM at St Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle. If you come in person you can choose to join in as we wash each other’s feet, like Jesus did. Or you can join via live-stream. Our choir will be singing.

Yesterday when Jewels gathered, we were awed by a live improvisational piano solo. How’s that for a surreal writing prompt?

I found myself listening and drafting this prayer:

Eternal One, who calls us all to dance and settles each of us to peace. We own your wonderfulness. You have held our hands through the dark including mine this morning while they were tight on the steering wheel driving here through rain and endless traffic. You assist us as we release tears and raucous laughter too. Help us go forth through these holy days and nights in steady joy, willing to be luminescent as we weep for all the suffering both inside and around us. In all the Holy Names of the Ineffable. Amen.

One thing I’ve loved about this season of Lent is donning the prayer shawl I picked up on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Click here to read the story.

Normally, I review last year’s journal entry each morning. This year that practice has also included reading my posts from my pilgrimage to the Holy Land during Lent 2023.

I am grateful I put my feet on that blessed stretch of land with its most beautiful people, all people of Abraham. I am glad I left a piece of my heart there. Sometimes I weep as I remember and as I consider them warring now.

I’m sure I’ve alluded to Rob’s propensity to operate thoughtfully and methodically. That’s why I was pleased to hear he’d almost bought a car while I was away last week. First his beloved van conked out again. And he had time without me around to peruse the dealership and get his questions answered. He’d checked Consumer Reports (again!) as well as our finances.

Surprisingly, I’ve quickly released the idea that this new car is primarily mine. Since he was downsizing from his almost 20-year-old vehicle, I thought he’d prefer to pile up our larger, more industrial Crosstrek with his tools and bee paraphernalia.

But no. He found the EUV—Electric Utility Vehicle (ha!)—Chevy Bolt, with it’s 6 cubic feet of additional space. He convinced me late one night over the phone while I was still on the Olympic Peninsula saying simply, “Penny, I want to drive a new car.”

This one’s a good match for him. It’s fun to watch him throw open the skylight and excelerate. Could this be mid-life? I’ve heard him exclaim several times, “I’m an electrical engineer, after all.”

Happy Birthday, Rob Reid.

What a start to Holy Week.