Journey Home

For Nelle Morton

snow covered woods,
move seamlessly past my window
as the whistle blows,
warning those driving through fields
of unharvested corn we are coming,

bringing memories of the
train that killed Ervin and Ronnie and ...
in the farmlands of my youth,

like these farmlands, yet different,
less treed, further south,  painted red barns,
and cows in fields,    

unmarked crossings less frequent now,
from daughter to daughter I
travel, a spa day of pleasure, conversation...

wishing their were more
to complete the circuit of  grandchild's
delight       running into my arms,
kicking snow banks, and ice pellets
on the way.

gkn Novemeber 2018

Calling forth hope

dedicated to daughters  

My eldest daughter Lora called this morning, excited about the women doing theology conference she was attending.  At AMBS ( Anabaptist Mennonite  Biblical Seminary),  she said I am wearing a Mennonite Church USA badge.  

She knew this was movement,  I know this is movement.

She said this conference is sanctioned supported even by Mennonite Church USA.  She was excited that she could be there, that it was happening.

She said she was happy for me ( she knows my history well)  and she wished I could be there,  and so the worm turns round and round ...

I am delighted for my daughter that she has found a place, and a home to share her spiritual gifts.

I trust my daughter,
and I marvel at her faith, and the faith of the Lydia's and the Svinda's  and the Marilyn's, who are there, who are  working, faithful to their calls, to the work of their souls within the institutional church.

AND I pray that they and others will be saved from pain and hurt by power brokers lacking faith, living in fear rather than love,

and today again I celebrate the hope carriers in the world.

Those who face principalities and powers and speak out and listen to the call on there lives.

Those who  honour their call,
who honour  another's  call.

Who dare to say this is my call, this is my hope, this is my vision.
I will move forward.

They are hope bearers for us all, whether it be in the church, or in the gov't, in the home or in the academic institution, or the non profit sector or in the medical world

where ever they find themselves

I give thanks for the hope gifted to the world by presence and action.

gkn  November 2018

Almost Everything

with thanks to Anne Lamont


a dog coming into a life,
a baby being born, the garden being tended,
an election, a war,

told and retold,
sorrow, or hatred, or love,

begins with a story

 poets, and sages,
and painters and novelist,
and you or me

passed on by readers, and writers
and collaborators, interpreting,

imagining

almost every story can be designed,
to bring hope.

gkn November 2018