UnPacking

Some relationships are keepers. They go deep and last long. And then, for one reason or another the relationship changes. Someone moves, retires, or passes. And right there we are heartbroken. We are split wide open. We can hardly contain our sorrow. But… imagine… remember.. hold onto the thought that these kinds of relationships go much deeper than proximity. In these relationships souls continue to connect throught time and eternity. What joy that! What delight! 

It’s hard to speak from the heart…

When your heart might break apart.

And so instead I’ll say why not – hold it together…

Pack it in with memories of all the things that one holds dear

Friends …. No.. family you want to keep near 

Times when words were spoken true 

When curiosity,  courage, and compassion enlightened you…

Those meetings we all came to know and  endure

Where getting to the truth of the matter was sure….ly

The reason we kept saying yes

So all of the issues could be addressed

Or… was it more about living in covenant 

Speaking our truth and knowing what love meant

When shared in bits and pieces and shards

Questions unanswered, issues unresolved

It’s hard to speak from the heart…

When your heart might break apart.

And so instead I’ll say why not – hold it together…

Committees meant work and commitment and time

And checkins – First yours and then maybe mine

Lighting the candle and openings words

Every opinion held substance every voice must be heard

It takes a village to feed a church 

It means saying yes to all of the work

Ideas without feet are whispers in the dark

Where are the lessons – who holds the spark?

We tried really hard to just let you shine

So you could take credit ALL of the time 

But darn if you made us do all of the work

And you right beside us digging that dirt….

It’s hard to speak from the heart…

When your heart might break apart.

And so instead I’ll say why not – hold it together…

And so the years passed with blood sweat and tears

And we became family facing our fears 

Did we solve all the issues with resolutions in tow?

Not quite – lots more work up ahead as we all well know.

But what makes a church alive – what gives it depth?

Standing our principles with every last breath

Saying no to injustice at every last turn 

We say your names the chalice light burns.

If we say goodbye… well that’s the plan

And continue the work as best as we can

What do they say about cutting apron strings?

Wait, it’s something about loving and giving love wings. 

It’s hard to speak from the heart…

When your heart might break apart.

But when it breaks it might be OK

When love spills over and out at the end of the day…

~Lydia Patrick

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3 Responses to UnPacking

  1. Barbara Stahnke says:

    Beeaaaautiful

  2. katrina yurko says:

    There is so much being said here. Years of focused ideals, work and maturation. Words do not come easy nor do they encompass the magnitude and depth of our relationship with one another both inside and out of our local gathering place. I think Lydia has so eloquently captured the “cup that runneth over”, the content of our faith and our community, the fullness of the effects. Let’s raise the brim now, let’s make room for the next brew and make the cup a wellspring of our future.

  3. Rita Romero says:

    Love it

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