After my weeklong absence from the prairie, a great diversity of new wildflowers waved as I drove down the driveway. New faces, new colors, smiling and singing. I’d come from another kind of diversity—almost a thousand people from the four corners of the earth gathered to do the work of the universal church under the banner: “unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.” As I walk today my mind’s ear hears voices speaking English with unique accents or melodious sounds of other languages, sweet as the songs of birds. Seeing colorful flowers brings back memories of saris and African dress that dotted every gathering this week.
I’m happy to be in my home place once more, but so thankful to have been among such amazing people—drawn together in the family of God. Just like the flowers I walk through, each is different, each precious and a thing of beauty. But, sadly, the countries from which we have come remain marred by poverty, strip mining, oil-spills, pollution and oppression. We shared our joys and sorrows freely and vowed to pray as we work together toward a more just and peaceful world. Just hours after many said good-bye we were call to grieve together at the tragic death of one of our own. http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/Visiting-musician-loved-to-teach
As always, my prairie walk near Flat Iron Lake offers a time of reflection. The field crowded with white fleabane and alyssum reminds me of “great multitudes…from every nation, tribe, people and language…wearing white robes,” being led by the shepherd “to springs of living water…where God will wipe away every tear.” (Revelation 7:9, 17)
I’m happy to be in my home place once more, but so thankful to have been among such amazing people—drawn together in the family of God. Just like the flowers I walk through, each is different, each precious and a thing of beauty. But, sadly, the countries from which we have come remain marred by poverty, strip mining, oil-spills, pollution and oppression. We shared our joys and sorrows freely and vowed to pray as we work together toward a more just and peaceful world. Just hours after many said good-bye we were call to grieve together at the tragic death of one of our own. http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/Visiting-musician-loved-to-teach
As always, my prairie walk near Flat Iron Lake offers a time of reflection. The field crowded with white fleabane and alyssum reminds me of “great multitudes…from every nation, tribe, people and language…wearing white robes,” being led by the shepherd “to springs of living water…where God will wipe away every tear.” (Revelation 7:9, 17)
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