Oahu, January 13

Unhurried morning stepping out our door coffee warming surf pounding eyes trained on the horizon anticipating surprise of spout breach delight whales tasting air reminding themselves that they dwell in the deeps Unearthly noise breaks the mood MISSILE INBOUND TAKE SHELTER Disbelief Confusion Disturbance breaking the surface Malevolence invading questioning the balance reaching its dark finger to strum the cord between human and human Unexpectedly … Continue reading Oahu, January 13

Deb MechlerJanuary 17, 2018October 10, 20221 Comment

Advent, Christmas

The Last–and First–Word

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and … Continue reading The Last–and First–Word

Deb MechlerDecember 22, 2017October 10, 20222 Comments

Death, Life in Faith, Poetry

For Terry

My friend Terry was a farmer, a man who embodied faith and joy. Rising early first thoughts of tasks toil contained in a vessel of trust and praise and thanks Pulling on worn jeans familiar as the breakfast and markets soft voices going over the day’s schedule flexible as farming requires prayer intention a joke or two a wry acceptance of what is here … Continue reading For Terry

Deb MechlerNovember 22, 2017October 10, 20223 Comments

Life in Faith, Ministry, Prayer

Sunday Morning Confession

Folks will come at the appointed hour dutifully, happily visit a bit, then settle into their familiar pews expectant, ready for a song, a prayer, a word or two of inspiration to nourish their steady faith for a few more days. Where are the words? They are tangled up, bound, uneasy, resistant to casual exploitation. Feeble, not equal to the task nor strong enough to … Continue reading Sunday Morning Confession

Deb MechlerOctober 22, 2017October 10, 20221 Comment

Poetry

Over the Mountain

Sometimes, while writing the weekly sermon, other ideas swirl and prod, but editing is critical, and they don’t make it into the final draft. Some of them linger. This is one idea that persisted and emerged in a poem, having pondered Philippians 3:13–“forgetting what lies behind, reaching out for what lies ahead…” I rescued one teacup to honor Grandmother hid it among the quilts I … Continue reading Over the Mountain

Deb MechlerOctober 9, 2017October 10, 20221 Comment

Life in Faith, Nature

Beauty Eclipses the Tension

Eclipse fever cast its own eclipse over the United States this month. It was cloudy and rainy locally, so the untimely darkness was our only indication of the phenomenon. Listening to the recordings of people as they experienced the veiling of the sun was enough to bring tears to my eyes. Their cries of astonishment and delight had me almost as captivated as they … Continue reading Beauty Eclipses the Tension

Deb MechlerAugust 29, 2017October 10, 2022Leave a comment

Death, Family

About “The Gate”

My thoughts on Marie Howe’s poem “The Gate” “I had no idea that the gate I would step through to finally enter this world would be the space my brother’s body made.” I feel sometimes as though the gate I step through to see the world is my mother’s smile. I feel my lips forming her smile and feel my eyes turning into hers, twinkling … Continue reading About “The Gate”

Deb MechlerAugust 7, 2017October 10, 2022Leave a comment

Life in Faith, Nature

Snatches

This month I enjoyed hiking with friends in the Rocky Mountains near Estes Park. As hiking “veterans,” sometimes we devise ways to entertain ourselves on the long hikes back to the trail head. For example, once we challenged each other to name movies or books beginning with every letter of the alphabet. During one hike this year, we overheard some young women talking about mathematics … Continue reading Snatches

Deb MechlerAugust 2, 2017October 10, 20221 Comment

Life in Faith, Uncategorized

Succeeding at Civility

Here in northwest Iowa we have been conducting an experiment for the past few months. A colleague and I started a dialogue group to create a space for gracious conversation about issues that affect everyone, so we mostly talk about politics. Almost everybody I know felt beat up after the presidential election of 2016. It didn’t matter whether your candidate of choice won or not. … Continue reading Succeeding at Civility

Deb MechlerJune 22, 2017October 10, 20224 Comments

Life in Faith, Ministry

Atonement Reconsidered

Texts: Leviticus 16: 3, 5-11, 15-16, 20-22; Matthew 27:50-51 “The Old Rugged Cross” is a hymn I sang at many bedsides while I was a nursing home chaplain. It might seem like just another dusty old hymn to teenagers, but it is a beloved classic for me and for many of you who were born long before me. The familiar refrain says, … Continue reading Atonement Reconsidered

Deb MechlerMarch 7, 2017October 10, 2022Leave a comment

saint sinner seeker

Essays, poetry, sermons and images to spark your own creativity.

Author: Deb Mechler