Speaking of Spirit

  © Tomas Castelazo, www.tomascastelazo.com / Wikimedia Commons I just finished reading Greta Thunberg's speech to Congress on Climate Change. What an amazing young woman! Then, I heard her speak to those gathered for the UN Summit on Climate Change.  She didn't mince words. What a courageous young woman!  But, wait...she is not a woman, she is all of 16 years old - a child! Yet, she has the poise and determination that many adults lack and wished they had. What she is saying for all the world to hear is that we adults have done nothing but lip service to the issue of climate change, even though we have known for years (at least the last 100, if not more) that this is an issue. I remember learning that scientists back in the 50's and 60's were warning of catastrophic problems from too much CO2. When a child looks at the leaders of the world and says, "How dare you steal my dreams!" it is tough to hear. True there are those who diligently have t

Photo Art: (c) 2019 Rev. Linda M. Rhinehart Neas In the Catholic church there is a prayer said before Communion - "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but say the word and I shall be healed." I don't think I ever really thought about what was being said - what the words meant - until I watched a new series from Britain called, Broken .  The main character in the series is a priest who is struggling with flashbacks from his abusive childhood. He is a good man, dedicated to serving the people of his parish. He is compassionate, thoughtful, respectful, gentle and understanding with them, yet he struggles to be this way with himself.  Not until his mother dies, after he has forgiven her for her part in his painful and traumatic childhood, does he finally understand the words he speaks each time he celebrates the Mass.  The realization for me was that we say words, rote prayers and often do not connect with the words. Like a record that skips, we keep re

(c) 2019 Rev. Linda M. Rhinehart Neas From my window seat Creator paints the seasons Simple sustenance