With all the storms that have torn through our country, with all the election cycle angst, with all the pressure of the everyday world, we need some unbridled joy.
We keep a friend's dog from time to time. Piper is a year old miniature golden doodle. She is a ball of energy and a source of unbridled joy. She quite literally hops like a baby goat because she gets so excited. She is always up for repeated games of fetch, belly rubs, and snuggles. Piper is just excited to be with her people. We need some of that. In Proverbs we read "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed Spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22). Paul routinely writes to churches about joy. So how about we find ways to seek joy this week, we all could use it!

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Halloween in my childhood was for kids. Trick-or-treating with friends. Getting candy and homemade treats. Wearing plastic costumes. Along the way the candy companies have marketed well, costumes have become more elaborate and some folks have gotten bent out of shape over this holiday.

Halloween has its origins in ancient Celtic practices honoring the dead and the transition from life to death. Christians began to recognize All Hallow's Eve (10/31), All Saints Day (11/1) and All Souls Day (11/2). Then Christians in many places got weird about a kid's holiday. We need to recapture the childlike fun of Halloween and we need to take the opportunity to remind ourselves of the transition from life into death, not in scary ways, but it ways that remind us of those who have gone before us and of our own mortality.

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As I snuggled with one of my kids this week, they asked me who I was voting for in the election and why. As I gave my answer, I realized that much of what sways me as a voter is the character of the leader. I can disagree with people on policy, but if they are a leader who cares about people, I can still follow.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus heals people and in doing so restores them to community. They are no longer cast out because of disease or mental illness. They can be brought back into the community and can be cared for. I wonder what would happen if we elected more leaders who acted that way?

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Life feels overwhelming. Hurricanes Helene and Milton; West Coast Wildfires; Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine; an election cycle; climate change; gun violence; and the list goes on. I was late getting this episode posted because of feeling overwhelmed with family and with career and with all the things.

Kate Bowler, New York Times best selling author co wrote a devotional book and in one devotion she talks about the cost of caring. It costs part of our soul to care for others. To have empathy and compassion means we give a bit of ourselves away. A price but certainly worth the cost.

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Many Bible texts have been used against the LGBTQ+ community and against women. The creation account in Genesis 2 certainly has. But what if it has some different understandings than the way it has been used to subjugate people? What if we look at the Hebrew and seek the fuller understanding of some of the words that we have perhaps mistranslated into English? We find a story where God is acting and where God does not want humans to be alone, but to have a helper as God is our helper.

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With all the damage wrought by Hurricane Helene, it is time to set aside political agendas and lift up our siblings across the Southeastern United States who are in need of help. Organizations such as Presbyterian Disaster Assistance provide aid to local communities. Other organizations such as the Red Cross also can help in times of need.

People are without and will be without safe water, electricity, and will be starting the process of cleaning up and rebuilding. How can we all do something to support our fellow Americans. By donating to organizations, we enable them to purchase the supplies in bulk and dollars go farther. They also have the organizational aspects to help get aid to those who need it. This is a time to love our neighbors as ourselves and to reach out and help those who have been devastated by Hurricane Helene.

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My spouse and a friend have taken a bucket list trip and I have been home with our twin elementary kids, our dog, and our friend's dog. I am exhausted. It is tiring to keep up with all the needs of the household and my job and getting everyone where they need to go. I have had help of friends in our circles. People who can take kids to an activity or pick them up. People who have held space for us and allowed me a bit of space because other adults could watch my kids.

Mine is for 10 days, but there are parents who this is the 24/7/365 reality. So how can we show up for solo parents and for their kids? How can we offer space and be the body of Christ together?

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Grief is a human experience. To love deeply and to have that love change or disappear means we will feel that loss deeply too. It has been a year since my dad died. It has been 3 years since my mom. We all have loved ones die. But grief isn't just about the death of loved ones. Grief comes from job changes and other relationship changes. And a variety of experiences can bring up that which we grieve. Be gentle with yourself and know that your body remembers sometimes better than any other part of your body or soul.

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