Past Love Remembered
Looking backwards I see through the shadow of my memory
Veiled faces of a person I used to know.
Listening I hear through the fog of the past
Voices of a person I used to know.
Perhaps love once hidden in my heart will bring back light to drive away
shadows and clear out the fog
So I will clearly know the past love remembered.
I am reading the novel The Shadow of the Wind. In this novel, the main character talks about the day he could no longer remember the face and voice of his mother. This poem came to mind as I try to remember those who now wait on the other side of eternity.
Meeting Others
The last three days have been interesting. Once again I found myself at Simpsonwood. I believe this place might be the purgatory of the Conference. I don't necessarily enjoy going to Simpsonwood, and I really don't like having to stay overnight at the place; but much like purgatory you are happy when you can finally leave.
These past three days at Simpsonwood weren't terrible. It was nice to meet fellow ministers who are going through a journey similar to mine. There is something refreshing and healing in the words of another who is honest enough to share their frustration at a system that doesn't always work in an efficent, thoughtful, and grace-filled manner. There is a newfound assurance hidden behind the stories of another sharing their doubts and fears similar to your own.
At one time I was niave and now I hesitate. I thought following the call to God would be easy. I know God is with me, but knowing God is with you doesnt make the journey any easier. A trip in the desert is still a trip in the desert. A climb up a mountain is still a climb up a mountain. Those trips are still difficult to journey, even if God has led you to them.
However, when you are following a call and traveling on a journey to God only knows where, meeting others is a pleasant surprise. A trip in the desert is still a trip in the desert and a climb up a mountain is still a climb up the mountain, but with others it just isnt quite so bad. So I am glad I was at Simpsonwood during the past three days. I had a rare moment to meet others as they too go through the desert and climb up the mountain.
