ann kiemel

noise.

trucks. cars. sanitation vehicles.

everywhere there is a little, hole-in-the-wall

restaurant.  vietnamese.  japanese.  sandwiches.

pastries (my terrible weakness).  bikes whizzing by

and engines honking for everyone to please take

notice. and move or get hit.

 

i look for people to catch my eye so i can smile.

you know. NOT flirt.  just put a little warmth in their

eyes. warm their hearts. feel a sliver of goodness

seep inside their souls where there is so much pain.

 

so much pain.  but hidden. at all costs.

covered.  but hearts are limping. shuffleling.

chilled and torn up inside and an ache that

can take any of us to the very lip of catastrophy.

 

this is a busy city.

sacramento. and i am sitting in a

coffee shop. facing the windows.

i've lived long enough to know all

our pain and defeat and victories and joys

are shared. 

 

"...He grew like a tender shoot.

   holding on to a dirt root...

  despised by others. rejected by all..."

 

just the physicallity of where and how Jesus

grew up.  plain and unnoticed. scoffed. ( Isaiah)

 

i don't know how anyone..especially i..could be

so courageous.  so bruised and pushed around.spit

at. rocks hurling.  forget the carrying of a huge, rugged

Cross.  a crown of thorns.  nailed.  talk about His

road.  the dust and heat,  trying to just to do His Father's

business.

 

for all the people walking by this window.

for you. for me.  think of His journey.

"in our lives, Lord, be glorified.

be glorified..."

 

glory. glory. glory.

  

p.s. i'm going to chuck colson's memorial

service in wash. d.c..all because he lived

a glorified life for Jesus.