Love is...

Please enjoy these poems by Daniel Ladinsky. You can read some of his work here.


In My Soul 

In
my soul
there is a temple, a shrine, a mosque, a church
where I kneel.

Prayer should bring us to an altar where no walls or names exist.

Is there not a region of love where the sovereignty is
illumined nothing,

where ecstasy gets poured into itself
and becomes
lost,

where the wing is fully alive
but has no mind or
body?

In
my soul
there is a temple, a shrine, a mosque,
a church

that dissolve, that
dissolve in

God.



Laughter Came From Every Brick

Just these two words He spoke
changed my life,

“Enjoy Me.”

What a burden I thought I was to carry -
a crucifix, as did He.

Love once said to me, “I know a song,
would you like to hear it?”

And laughter came from every brick in the street
and from every pore
in the sky.

After a night of prayer, He
changed my life when
He sang,

“Enjoy Me.”


The Hope of Loving

What keeps us alive, what allows us to endure?
I think it is the hope of loving,
or being loved.
I heard a fable once about the sun going on a journey
to find its source, and how the moon wept
without her lover’s
warm gaze.
We weep when light does not reach our hearts. We wither
like fields if someone close
does not rain their
kindness
upon
us.

Advent Is...Love (Part 4)

Matthew 1:18-25

There are passages within the bible which show to me the true meaning of love. I have my favorites, such as when Abraham asks the Hittites for a small cave to bury his recently deceased wife and they give him all the land surrounding it (Genesis 23). Also, when Naomi tells the wives of her recently deceased sons to return home because there is nothing she can offer them, her own husband also deceased, and Ruth refuses her request, deciding to remain with Naomi instead (Ruth 1).

Then there's today's passage. Joseph, having found out that Mary is pregnant, decides to release his future wife quietly so as not to bring attention to her situation. You see, in those days as long as the woman wasn't accused of adultery, there was no sin. What Joseph had decided to do was meant to save her life. The story goes on to tell us that an angel changes Joseph's heart, choosing instead to take Mary as his wife, further ensuring that no harm would come to her as well as providing a family for the soon-to-be-born Christ-child.

Each of these stories has one thing in common - sacrifice. It took every bit of Abraham's being to ask for something that he had no right to ask for, according to the laws of his day. It took even more for the owner of that cave, and the people of that land, to give Abraham a place to bury his wife. Ruth agreed to live a life of poverty and shame, because that's what the laws of her day would have provided her, in order for her mother-in-law to not go through that same shame alone.

My guess is that it took the release of every ounce of pride for Joseph to agree to take Mary as his wife, knowing that the people of his village and the surrounding towns would shy away from them the rest of their lives.

Self-sacrifice is the thing love is made of. Christians believe that God gave the world God's son; a sacrifice. Moses knew that he wasn't going to enter into the promised land and lead the people there anyway; another sacrifice. Jesus goes to the cross, not once complaining about the mistreatment he's receiving and instead praying for those around him; more sacrifice.

Love is just that - a willingness to give of yourself for no other reason than to make another's life better. When we sit with a homeless family and take interest in their children, even though we have a lot of work to do, that is love. When we reach into our pockets and place the loose change into a donation kettle, knowing the balance of our bank account is reaching zero, that's love. When we take the coat off our back to give to someone sitting at the bus stop because it's obvious they don't have a place to live or warm clothes in their bags, that is love.

Love takes sacrifice, the same sacrifice that is modeled for us time and time again in the stories of the bible. I guess the only question left is, what can I sacrifice in this Advent time?

Advent Is...Love (Part 3)

Romans 1:1-7

I am almost speechless after reading this morning's passage. Once again, after reading verses in the bible I've read hundreds of times, my heart is opened to something new. It's in these moments I can only sit quietly and feel the power of God's love overwhelm me to the brink of tears.

Those of you who know me will agree that I am as nonjudgmental as they come. It honestly doesn't matter to me who or what you are as I welcome the privilege of sharing a part of life's journey with you. I had such a sharing last night.

I attended the funeral of a high school classmate's father. He was 88 years old at passing and had lived a good, long life. His last few years were marred with the mental and physical effects of Alzheimer's, but his family never stopped loving him.

It was my friend's responsibility to take care of his father for those years, and he did so as well as he could. There were times when it wasn't easy, and there were times when he wanted to just give up, but he pulled through those times with the help of friends and family and came through on the other side with renewed energy.

What I wanted to highlight this morning was last night's family gathering. I can't really call it a funeral, it had no feel whatsoever of one. I would like to call it a celebration of life, except the life that was being celebrated wasn't so much that of the passed. I honestly can call what i attended last night a family gathering where the patriarch of that family was being recognized for all the love he shared and all the accomplishments he achieved. But it was the fullness of life which the living shared that was celebrated.

This family gathering began with a recognition of immediate family members, then moved on through their families, extended families, friends of families, and so on, asking each group to stand as they were recognized, and until all people present were standing.

Until all people present were standing.

It seemed to me that they made sure all people felt included. It felt to me that the love this family had for their father wasn't going to stop with their father; it was going to go through each and every person present that night and from there into the world.

Such is the love of God, and the Apostle Paul recognized this as he addressed the Romans by saying to them in the very beginning of his epistle to them, "To all God’s beloved in Rome." not some, not most, not the special ones...All.

Inclusive love is the message of Jesus. This is the love that God wanted the world to know through Jesus Christ. Inclusive love is what the world waits and watches for. All we need to do is share that love with all those who are still waiting.

Advent brings into our lives all that we wish for. Advent is the hope that through God's love we can find peace and joy. Welcome Advent into our lives and when Christmas happens share that gift with everyone you meet.

Advent Is...Love (Part 2)

Isaiah 7:10-16

There are times in our lives when we feel as though there's nothing we can do to make things better. Finances get tight, families argue, friends abandon us. We feel as though the world around us is falling apart. As we approach what we consider "the bottom" we feel more and more alone. 

If Advent teaches us one thing it's that nothing is further from the truth.

Today's passage reminds me that there is a God who is asking, if not begging, to be in our lives. King Ahaz is standing at the precipice of the destruction of his city. His people are about to be defeated and dispersed, his kingdom to be taken over by opposing forces. He sees this coming and doesn't know what to do.

God says to Ahaz to ask for a sign, and make it as varied as the distance between the depths and heights of this world. Ahaz refuses, either out of stubbornness or respect. So Isaiah makes a statement; a day will come when an unexpected child from his kingdom will be born who will be able to choose between evil and good, but that will not happen until every memory of Judah passes.

My only question is why didn't Ahaz just allow God to come into his life to help make things better?

Advent is the time Christians wait for the coming of Christ. We watch for the signs that Christ is entering our lives. Our only duty during this time is to open ourselves - our hearts, minds, and souls - to the belief that the child Isaiah spoke of is alive and well in our lives today.

You see, God had enough love to say to Ahaz that there is still a chance, all he had to do was ask. It was Ahaz's stubbornness to open himself to the idea that God still loves him, which may have been the beginning of the end for him, his people, and his land. 

God stands on the precipice of our lives, asking to be let in. God's never-ending presence serves as a constant reminder of God's love. For Christians it's through the Christ-child we come to understand the all-enduring, always-present, never-ending love of God. All you have to do is let him in. 

Advent Is...Love (Part 1)

Psalm 80

It's that time of year when young adults begin returning from college to spend the holidays with their families. These men and women come from all corners, as well as the middle, of the United States to the warmer weather of their Hawaiian homes. They also return to a family who hasn't stopped thinking about them since the day they left.

Some of these students have been gone for only a few months, some have been away for a few years, but none of them have been gone a single day from our hearts. Of course, we have many young adults who stay in Hawaii for their college education as well. For these students this is finals week, a week normally filled with more stress than usual. Not only are they trying their best to get good grades, they're also holding down jobs at which the days are becoming busier and busier.

Although many, if not all, of our college-aged youth are very close, having known each other in our church for most of their lives, there can be a feeling of separation from being away, being busy, or being otherwise engaged. So, nothing is more warming to my heart than when they can all come together at this time of year and catch up with the events in their lives. The hugs, the smiles, the heartfelt "I've missed you", all help me to realize that the power of love cannot be withheld.

As Christmas approaches let's do our best to remember those in our lives from whom we've become separated. I've always found it disheartening when family members refuse to talk to each other. I understand that the deep hurt which caused the separation in the first place can linger for very long, sometimes for life. What I don't understand is the pride which allows one another to begin the restoration of their lives.

This week, as we celebrate the love God gives us in Jesus, let us find a way to repair our relationships and restore our lives so that once again we can live in the love which we all long for.

Joy is...

Joy – Dr John Celes

Joy is in heart and mind

Joy is for eyes to find

Joy is found everywhere

Joy is when you soul-care!

Joy is when you well seek

Joy is for mild and meek

Joy is Nature divine

Joy is rain and sunshine

Joy is in each good thought

Joy is in success wrought

Joy is God’s love for man

Joy is in God’s life-span

Joy is in bud and frond

Joy is in brooks and pond

Joy is in things God made

Joy’s beauty cannot fade

Joy Arrives – Michael Hopkins

Joy arrives

Joy dances and swirls

Joy given freely to those whom will accept this gift

The joy of living ones' life within the realm of freedom

A childs' joy untampered with and left to be experienced honestly

Yes, an honest joy

Free of hinderences

Free of doctrines

Free of definitions

Free to be expressed and experienced by all willing

Yes, joy born in freedom

Joy born in love

Joy given and taken freely

A joy that comes to visit

A joy that arrives to you this day, this moment

A joy to be shared

A joy in living and a living paid in the currency of joy

Be joyful this day

Be joyful this moment

Come to the joy of this moment

Arrive and depart in joy

Let joy make a home within your heart.

Allow joy this day

Now

Now, have we joy

We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. – Buddha

Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible - it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment, and offer you more joy than any material possession could. – Barbara de Angelis

We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion. – Max de Pree

I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy. – Rabindranath Tagore 

Advent Is...Joy (Part 4)

Matthew 11:2-11

Whenever we read a good book or see a good show we more than likely let others know. We go on about how the characters touched us as their stories unfold. Within the story-telling others can hear our emotions as they come alive through our words. The more we are impressed by the story we were witness to, the more animated our story-telling becomes. By the time we're done the people we're telling our stories to often feel as though they know the story just as good, maybe even better, than we do.

The story-telling becomes more animated if we tell it with others who have also been witness to it. Whenever people have shared the same book or watched the same show the emotions double or triple, depending on how much the story was received by those telling it. Such is the story Christians share about Jesus.

Today's passage has Jesus telling John the Baptizer's followers to just tell the story. Talk about how peace and joy are being spread through the hope that God's love is with them and has never left. Jesus wants them to talk about the joy that's being spread and how the physical healing is becoming a spiritual healing.

Advent is the expectation of that same joy. If you've ever been in a place where God's love has brought you out of a dark place, share the story. If you've ever seen God's love change the life of others, share the story. If you've ever felt lost and was brought back into a loving community, share the story.

Sharing the story is spreading joy. Spreading joy is what Christ does.

Advent Is...Joy (Part 3)

James 5:7-10

Like the song says, it's starting to look a lot like Christmas. Not for the reasons given in the song - 5 and 10's glistening again with candy canes and silver lanes aglow. It's starting to look a lot like a modern-day Christmas with 5 and 10's actually costing hundreds and the only lanes we see are the overcrowded ones on our freeways.

As we move closer to Christmas in this Advent season we will find ourselves waiting a lot. Just the other day I waited almost 20 minutes just to use the ATM, which is better than the 2 hours it took me to get home last week after an already full day. It would seem as though that during Advent it can become easy for us to forget what it is we are waiting for.

Advent is the time when we await the coming of Christ into our lives. It's a time when we faithfully look towards the journey ahead with the knowledge that Christ will be there. it's through Christ's guidance along our path that we can find the joy we are searching for. All we really need is patience.

I read a story of a young man who had turned away from Christianity because he didn't hear Jesus speak to him. His church family and friends all told him Jesus will talk to him to let him know what to do. His youth pastor told him that Jesus always talks to us when we need guidance. This young man never heard Jesus say anything, so he felt as though he wasn't worthy and instead became an atheist, dedicating his life to doing good for other people just because he felt that was the right thing to do, not because Jesus told him to do it.

What his church should have told him is that the path towards God takes as long as it does, and no matter where he was on that journey he was surrounded by people who would accept him for who he was. Patience, it would seem, is the one thing we as Christians should allow for in the formation of a relationship with God through Christ. It will happen in its own time, our "job" is not to make it happen, but to simply be there as it does, or doesn't.

My wife and I have decided to do our Christmas shopping this week. The malls will be crowded, the parking lots filled with stressful people all trying to get that stall closest to the door, the lines will take a long time, and the roadways will be a hair short of rage. Somehow I know that with my wife at my side, and the joy I get from being with Christ during Advent, I know my patience will overcome all of that.

Advent Is...Joy (Part 2)

Isaiah 35:1-10

One of the earliest memories I have about my parents is that of my mom walking my brother and I to a bus stop so we could catch the bus home. In retrospect I think she may have taken a wrong turn somewhere as I clearly recall walking alongside a very busy road, without a sidewalk. I remember being very scared as I felt the cars race by, clutching to my mom as she did her best to carry my brother in one arm while holding me close to her with the other.

Although I remember being afraid, I also remember being comforted. I felt very safe in my mother's arms and somehow knew she would get us home. I have to say I don't recall more about that day, but what I do remember is believing that as a 3 year old child I had parents who would protect me forever.

Most of my childhood memories are filled with good times and great fun spent with family. Sunday gatherings at aunty's house, playing with cousins, and quiet nights in my pajamas sitting on the floor watching TV while mom and dad sat on the couch are what most of my childhood memories are. I'm not saying our family was without fault, what I am saying is that our family found a way to get through those trying times and come out on the other side with a stronger bond.

Advent was always a special time in our home. Dad would climb a ladder to place garland on the ceiling, we would put Santa and reindeer stickers on the windows, when we got our tree mom would lead the whole family in tossing tinsel in a seemingly haphazard way onto it. As busy as my parents were in my childhood they somehow found ways to be together as a family to build the memories which would create a joyful time every year.

Sometimes I wonder how different it would have been if my mom hadn't been there to keep my brother and I safe alongside that road. I guess as a 3 year old we put our trust in those who hold us closest. As an adult I still hold my parents close to my heart and know they will do what they can to protect me, in the same way I will do what I can to protect them.

The same relationship I have with my family, as well as others, I also have with my God. There are many times in life we walk alongside roads which seem dangerous to us. However dangerous that road may seem, though, we have a God who walks with us, either carrying us in God's arm or holding us close to God. When we put our trust in God we find a way to eventually get to a place where happiness and joy are waiting for us.

The road to joy is not always easy, but when we travel it with God we somehow have less to worry about.

Advent Is...Joy (Part 1)

Psalm 146:5-10

In my early 30's there was a show called "Ren and Stimpy" which featured what I think was a dog and a cat. I'm not sure if the show still exists, but I used to watch it almost religiously. The show always made me laugh in how it portrayed the usual messages of kindness towards others, good health, successful teamwork, and the like; albeit in an unusual way.

I remember one episode where a young boy who was very sick and probably in his death bed sent Ren and Stimpy a fan letter stating that nothing would make him happier than a visit from his 2 favorite TV stars. Because Ren and Stimpy's motto was to spread happiness and joy to everyone they could, they decided to visit this young boy.

They put on their Ren and Stimpy costumes (which in itself makes me smile as I think about it) and traveled to see the boy. If I remember correctly the boy was from outside the USA, maybe the UK, so they had to cross the ocean. They felt they didn't have the money to travel by ship or plane, so they walked (yes, walked) along the ocean floor to see their fan.

When they arrived at the boy's side he was very sick, barely holding on to life (and if you could see me now I write this with a big smile because of how exaggeratedly funny the animators are in this show). Holding back their tears, Ren and Stimpy say hello to the boy and with one glance in their direction he is cured of whatever it was that pushed him close to death.

I can't explain why, but today's Psalm brought this memory back to me. Maybe because Ren and Stimpy honestly brought a smile to my face and made me feel happy. Maybe because moments of happiness are what good memories are about. Maybe because, I don't know. It just did.

The Psalmist reminds us that happiness and joy come from helping those who are in need. Ren and Stimpy may not have always been about helping others, but in the moments they shared with me they sure brought me much-needed "happy happy joy joy" when it was needed.

Peace is...

Amazing Peace –  by Maya Angelou
In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.
At first it is too soft.   Then only half heard.
We listen carefully as it gathers strength.
We hear a sweetness.
The word is Peace.
It is loud now.
Louder than the explosion of bombs.

We tremble at the sound.
We are thrilled by its presence.
It is what we have hungered for.
Not just the absence of war.   But true Peace.
A harmony of spirit, and comfort of courtesies.
Security for our beloveds and their beloveds.

We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers,
Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.
Peace.  We look at each other, then into ourselves,
And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation:

Peace, My Brother.
Peace, My Sister.
Peace, My Soul.

Making Peace – By Denise Levertov
A voice from the dark called out,
“The poets must give us
imagination of peace, to oust the intense, familiar
imagination of disaster. Peace, not only
the absence of war.”

But peace, like a poem,
is not there ahead of itself,
can’t be imagined before it is made,
can’t be known except
in the words of its making,
grammar of justice,
syntax of mutual aid.

A feeling towards it,
dimly sensing a rhythm, is all we have
until we begin to utter its metaphors,
learning them as we speak.

A line of peace might appear
if we restructured the sentence our lives are making,
revoked its reaffirmation of profit and power,
questioned our needs, allowed
long pauses. . . .

A cadence of peace might balance its weight
on that different fulcrum; peace, a presence,
an energy field more intense than war,
might pulse then,
stanza by stanza into the world,
each act of living
one of its words, each word
a vibration of light—facets
of the forming crystal.

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace. – Jimi Hendrix

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us, and the world will be as one. – John Lennon

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. – Mother Teresa

Advent Is...Peace (Part 4)

Matthew 3:1-12

If you've never seen Godspell I invite you to find it and watch it. The messages in that movie come right out of the Gospel of Matthew, arranged in a slightly different order, and told in such a way as to help us understand that the lives of Jesus and his closest disciples were filled with love; not just of one another or of God, but of life itself.

The opening song, "Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord", shows John the Baptist calling out those words as 8 others hear his voice ringing through the air. They don't understand why they can hear this voice, what they do understand is they have to find it. They feel a need deep within their soul to seek the origination of the voice because they know, somehow, that the voice will show them a way to free themselves from the trappings of living a life without purpose.

As they get closer to the voice they free themselves of the things which hold them back - briefcases, heeled shoes, suit coats, hair pins. They continue to transform until finally they become completely different in appearance, wearing colorful clothes, headbands, flowers, and other symbols of cultural freedoms from the 1970's.

Finally, in the presence of one another and John the Baptist they are introduced to Jesus, himself a character full of love and life. Together they travel the city, sharing the stories we know so well with one another in a way that brings us comfort through laughter and familiarity. It's in the sharing of one another they find the ultimate message of the movie, and of the Gospel of Matthew: a life filled with the love of God will bring you inner peace through all things and in all times.

In our passage today, John the Baptist calls out in the wilderness for the way of Jesus to be prepared. As Christians we are asked to do just that. Through our lives, our words, and our actions we show and share with those around us what a life lived in the peace of God's love is like. This Advent season you are invited to shed that which holds you back - bad relationships, negative surroundings, personal grudges - and reach out to those around you to share the love of God through the Christ that wants to come into your life. A Christ who wants to live within and through you.

Advent Is...Peace (Part 3)

Romans 15:4-13

Often while in conversation about the problems in our world - poverty, religious ideological extremes, political disagreement, the decay of global resources such as air, water, and earth - the point is made that these things are nothing new to our societies. Almost as soon as that point is made someone will ask, "Why don't we ever learn from our mistakes?"

Why don't we?

War over ideologies and domination over other nations, wide gaps between rich and poor, more opportunities for one group of people over another, taking more than is needed for human consumption, and other such things have been around for as long as history has been recorded. Why, then, do we not learn from the stories of our past and find a way to live in unity with one another and with creation?

Today's passage has Paul asking the same question, sort of. He makes the point that humankind has been taught from the beginning of written communication that unity under one love brings peace. As a Christian, I firmly believe violence or punishment is not the answer. If people need a hand up to make ends meet and put food on the table, as a community we should help. If a nation's people are not being treated fairly we should not take over their government but rather encourage the people and the government of that nation to find a way to make a better way of life for all. If science shows that the earth is undergoing drastic climate changes which will intensely alter our way of life and survival, maybe we need to start changing our way of life now in order to try and reverse the damage.

I remember hearing in high school social studies that we study history in order not to make the same mistakes over and over. Yet, we continue to make the same mistakes over and over. Peace comes through the understanding that we are all one people; different in many ways, but the same in one love. When poverty, war, and earthly destruction are a thing of the past we will know peace. Until then, we can do our part to share the peace we have within, the peace in the knowledge that our words and actions are truly Christ-like: sharing the one love of the one Creator.

Advent Is...Peace (Part 2)

Isaiah 11:1-10

There seemed to be a tear in the seam of peace yesterday. I kept sitting with people who were going through some kind of crisis in their life. Some of these were more apparent, like the youth who sat sadly and explained that his parents are getting a divorce and is unsure of how it will affect his college hopes. Some were not so obvious, like the girl whose first words to me were, "I can't wait until this day is over." then didn't say another word all day long. Everywhere I turned or sat or otherwise shared space with people there was some kind of disturbance happening in their life.

I was reminded that not everything in this world is happy-happy-joy-joy. Maybe it's just this time of year - a time when people want to know peace on earth and goodwill towards humanity - that those of us who do not live in ideal situations feel and sense just how un-peaceful our lives are. This is also the time of year when things feel at their most stressful with pressures to fall into the advertised world of consumerism or the perceived need to outdo those who do for you.

Isaiah was speaking to a people who were under similar stresses. Their lives were about to be thrown into complete and total chaos. Isaiah's message to these people was not to feel bad or go into depression, instead his message was that God watches over us and for those who passionately understand that, life will once again be peaceful.

In today's passage Isaiah paints a scene of peace at its highest level. The poor and the meek are treated with fairness and equity, farmlands and livestock are safe from predators, children young and old are able to play freely on the land, and most importantly there is a place where destruction and pain live no more.

The days of Advent are meant to help open our hearts to receive that which Christ brings. It's not meant to be a time when we look for the forgiveness of our sins so that we may live better lives - that's Lent. Advent is when we prepare our hearts, minds, and souls for the coming of a child into our lives. A child so pure and innocent we can feel nothing but peace whenever we're around him.

It would be a long time between the time Isaiah wrote those words and the birth of the Christ-child, and those years were not easy for the people of Israel in any way, neither are they easy now. I won't be so naive as to say that life is easy anywhere. What I will say is that when Christ is born into our lives the world around us does seem a little more peaceful. It's in our peace that others can begin to understand how the love of God is unconditional and is there to help make their lives a bit more peaceful as well.

As this week moves forward I ask each one of you to sit with someone who may not know what peace is and to simply let them know they're okay. Let them know it might not seem so at the moment, but there are people who care and love them and are there to carry them through this difficult time in their life. This is the week to share peace.

Advent Is...Peace (Part 1)

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

A few years ago, while I was working as a language-learning program salesperson, I met a young man who brought new light into my life. I was opening the kiosk at which I worked as he sat on the wall watching. I smiled at him and bid him a good morning. He smiled back and said good morning.

We engaged in small talk; how is your day, it was cold last night, what time does the mall open. Then he said to me, seemingly out of nowhere, "Do you believe in God?" I smiled at him, hoping on one hand he wasn't going to engage me in deep religious conversation and on the other hand very happy he didn't ask me if I was saved, and replied with a yes.

His entire demeanor changed. He sat straighter, smiled widely, and spoke with more confidence. The questions soon turned into what church I go to and what does our church think about this or that. Since my kiosk was open by this time I decided to sit next to him and have a conversation until a customer came by. I began to ask about his church and listened as his eyes beamed with pride while he told me of how he met his minister and how he was led to God through the unconditional acceptance of Christ.

Then he looked at me, eyes still beaming with pride, his smile still wide with true happiness, and he said, "You know what, too, I never thought I could feel this way about myself or others, and certainly not about God, as long as I was still homeless."

I must have gotten a look of concern on my face because he quickly replied, "Don't feel sorry for me, I'm at peace."

This week we celebrate the peace which comes from Christ. It's a peace which comes from and through the understanding of what Jesus' message on earth was, and still is.

Today's Psalm cries out for the hope that all people are treated fairly, especially the poor. As Christians we are asked to do just that - treat everyone with unabashed equality. It shouldn't matter who they are, what they do, who they believe in, what they practice, where they live, or where in life they find themselves. All people deserve a chance at finding peace, and the peace they search for is the one which allows them to be loved just for being the person they are.

I never saw that young man again, nor do I ever worry about his well-being whenever I think about him. Somehow I know that because he's been given the chance to live his life as the person God made him he will always be okay.