Why?  Because God does not have a mind to tolerate bullies, especially bullies who attack those who are less powerful than them. That was no consolation to her, though.  She managed to gather herself only to have the tears return.  I stayed silent.  Sometimes the ministry of presence is the most loving. 

“I swear to you it was all lies.  I did not do what they said.  I swear I didn’t.”  The words came out as if squeezed out of a balloon held by a clown.  The sound grated on her own ears, so she bit her lip.  I could see the tears falling on the backs of her hands.  I understood completely. I said nothing.  Rather, I got up and entered her pain.

Finding ways to help people grieve, release hurt and anger, let go of the dream that came crashing down on them and find a new journey is never an easy thing.  Letting go of what was for what is and is coming is like wrenching a fifty-pound stone out of a muddy rock quarry.  It’s messy. It’s resistant.  It takes every ounce of determination and strength one has.   

I have helped people recover from the abuses of pseudo ‘God focused ministry’ for nearly 35 years.

That sound stopped me dead.  It snatched all my thoughts and focused them in one single direction.

Unexpected discovery. Humbling, yes, but also funny.  It’s creative.  Who knew this cottage would be so perfect for helping people. . .

It sits there, in it's place, torturing me. I know I need to write. I know I need to confess. I leave it there with its accusing black sc

I have to work at not being frustrated these days.  All that we have been doing and want to do is in flux.  I am also in flux. 

This group of people who have come together—these people who did not know, just 45 days ago, that we would be headed, in just a few days...

It hit me just as I was about to click on Google. Girl! Your faith is at its limit. You know it is.

I tried not to gawk.  I’m not at all sure I succeeded.  I hope I did not look as astounded as I felt.  This.  This is, well, more.

I stood there in the rain for a while, letting it wash the emotions (and what was left of my makeup) from my face. 

The questions are many and answers are few. People don’t understand stuff like this.  Mostly, I don’t either.