“John 14 finds Jesus talking to his disciples about connection. He’s been closely connected to them for three years, a pretty long gestation period. But soon he’ll leave them: death, resurrection, and then—well, we’re still living in the then.” –Phil Baisley, Fruit of the Vine

Query: How have you felt (or been surprised by) your connection to God this week?

The day Grandma died

something quickened in the atmosphere.

A breeze sashayed

through the cherry orchard.

Unseen stars kicked up their heels

in the day-blind sky.

****

Cancer ward. My friend Sandi

fights nausea. Hope hides

its bright face but refuses

to disappear altogether.

Outside in the evening

pond frogs croak,

“Kyrie eleison.

Kyrie eleison.”

–Nancy Thomas, from “Improvisations” in Close to the Ground