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Almost five years ago my husband Rob had major surgery to address advanced cancer. Now, thank God, his oncologist is starting to whisper “cure.”

Yesterday, we visited a friend who had the same procedure two weeks ago. I have revisited the trauma and grief of Rob’s early recovery this week as we prepared food to take along. Late one night I reviewed five years worth of photos, searching for cartoons to send in morning texts to his wife, the ones that have been encouraging life blood for me over the years. And I wept.

As we headed home after the visit, we met the Bird King himself and marveled.

Leaning there, I was flooded with warmth and appreciation for this man, my man, who suffered so and now can be light at the end of a long tunnel for someone else.

One wish

Growing up, I vividly recall those heart-wrenching commercials portraying children in Africa suffering from hunger. It always puzzled me why such dire circumstances existed when we had an abundance of resources. As I matured, my focus shifted to addressing hunger closer to home, particularly within my community, as I pursued my role as a pastor.

Despite the challenges in my immediate surroundings, the memory of those African children lingered, and my heartfelt wish persisted for a solution to alleviate their suffering. Over the years, I yearned for a positive change and, as a pastor, my priorities naturally gravitated towards the immediate needs of my community.

Recently, my long-standing wish seemed to have found a glimmer of fulfillment. A link in my inbox led me to an extraordinary initiative known as the Great Green Wall, transforming the landscape and prospects of several African nations, including Senegal. This innovative project focuses on harvesting rainwater through half-moon trenches, contributing significantly to increased food security.

The Great Green Wall not only addresses the critical issue of water scarcity but also actively engages local communities by creating employment opportunities and fostering sustainable agricultural practices. Witnessing the positive impact on food production and livelihoods, it feels like a realization of the hope I harbored for so many years.

I encourage everyone interested in this remarkable program to explore more about the Great Green Wall through the UN World Food Programme. Could it be that my wish came true?

Un deseo

De niña, recuerdo vívidamente esos desgarradores comerciales que mostraban a niños en África sufriendo de hambre. Siempre me desconcertó por qué existían esas circunstancias tan difíciles cuando teníamos una abundancia de recursos. A medida que maduré, mi enfoque se desplazó hacia abordar el hambre más cerca de casa, especialmente dentro de mi comunidad, mientras seguía mi papel como pastor.

A pesar de los desafíos en mi entorno inmediato, el recuerdo de esos niños africanos persistía, y mi deseo ferviente perduraba por encontrar una solución que aliviara su sufrimiento. A lo largo de los años, anhelé un cambio positivo y, como pastor, naturalmente dirigí mis prioridades hacia las necesidades inmediatas de mi comunidad.

Recientemente, mi deseo de mucho tiempo pareció encontrar un destello de cumplimiento. Un enlace en mi correo electronico me llevó a una iniciativa extraordinaria conocida como el Gran Muro Verde, transformando el paisaje y las perspectivas de varias naciones africanas, incluyendo Senegal. Este proyecto innovador se centra en cosechar el agua de lluvia a través de zanjas en forma de media luna, contribuyendo significativamente a aumentar la seguridad alimenticia.

El Gran Muro Verde no solo aborda el problema crítico de la escasez de agua, sino que también involucra activamente a las comunidades locales al crear oportunidades de empleo y fomentar prácticas agrícolas sostenibles. Al presenciar el impacto positivo en la producción de alimentos y los medios de vida, parece que la realización de la esperanza que albergaba durante tantos años está ocurriendo gradualmente.

Animo a todos los interesados en este programa notable a explorar más sobre el Gran Muro Verde a través del Programa Mundial de Alimentos de la ONU. Creen que de alguna manera, mi deseo se cumplió?

We had a wonderful substitute choir director on Sunday. She told us if we do it musically, we can never go wrong. How’s that for good advice for life?

Yesterday my mother and I went to the movies. Since she’s almost 96, we can count on a few age-related snags on our outings. There were several. Here’s one suitable for public consumption: Someone parked less than a foot from the passenger side of my car so, after the show, Mom had to manage getting into the back seat behind me. Once we were all strapped in and ready for take-off, she exclaimed, “Well, this is different. Different but necessary.”

The most unusual part for me was my quiet mind. I am irritated when inconvenienced, often with her. Could it be that the petition for quiet minds during the benediction on Ash Wednesday, the ask I have been repeating since then, is taking hold?