16 Thoughts of Reconciliation

Today my feet reconciled with my socks. Rain washed over campus in waves inviting me to wear my (slightly more pink than I would care to admit) rain boots or as my favorite South African professor calls them, wellies. This decision warranted the need to pull out my sock draw and pull out a pair of tall warm socks. Of course the pair laying on top was none other than a pair of purple and grey fitted smart wool socks that had made the 155 km pilgrimage with me. In the month since I have moved back to school more than my dirty socks have surfaced from my summer spent in Santiago, Spain.

When I think of Joy, this is what I see.  

I first must ask for grace.  Grace as It has taken me this long to write and grace as I continue to find the words to share. Here are little pieces of stories.

Siesta time is beautiful time of daily rest, I now take the sabbath seriously.

Just because something has healed, does not mean that I do not have scars.

Scars are marks of the stories of life, some are joyful, all are painful - mine and yours.

We need people. Even independent people, like me.

A little bit of home can be found everywhere, Midwest nice can be found anywhere.

This earth is not our forever home, but I must take care of it, public transportation is a blessing.

Trying new things does not mean forgetting the old. I ate amazing food, mint chip gelato.

Rhythm is soothing and brings beauty to the mundane.  My steps were like music.

Being strong and courageous does not mean that I know everything.

We are not running a race, I get to take each step at my own pace.

We often miss what is right outside our windows, I almost forgot about the cathedral some days.

Drama is unnecessary for living, its a cultural choice I can choose not to participate.

Service is a state of living. I can make the choice everyday.

Help can come in many forms, for me it was two walking poles.

Living for God is sacrificial, but nothing that we have was ever ours, my call to ministry is a gift.

We truly are never alone, the wisdom, encouragement, songs, and stories that those who I love speak are forever in me.

As I pulled each sock over my freshly healed feet this morning I whispered prayer and hoped for the best. For the first time when I took off these socks I was not in pain nor greeted by new sores. My feet have the marks of a pilgrim that may last forever, but they have reconciled. I face new challenges each day as I try to integrate my experiences into daily life, reconciling old habits with new thoughts. Everyday I am in the business of reconciliation as God slowly brings heaven to earth through his people-us.

I have lots of stories to share, but there is no greater story than the one God is continuity to write, one of reconciliation. Ask me, seek me, and I will tell and listen to your story as well, over a warm tasteful cup of sweet joy. It's a date. This was just a taste of the stories and I am excited to see where my feet take me next.