I feel the weight of life...and almost death today.
Dear people in need and others saying, "No."
Violence on the church doorstep.
Anger and verbal abuse outside my door.

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

And yet, I see God's mercy.
Survivors of major health problems and surgery and a wayward daughter's "stepping up to the plate."
Survivors of shootings and the response to a man's appology for getting blood on our church door and interrupting our "church", "What better place for you to come?"
Quite and stillness in my office.