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| Don and I at the "Hands Off" Rally in Olympia yesterday |
Weather: Yesterday was glorious -- temperatures in the low 70s, sunny and clear. We could see the Olympic Mountain range with its peaks covered in snow, which is a rarity because this range is usually covered by clouds. Today it is raining and the temperatures are not supposed to get out of the 50s. Big change.
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| A view from the state capitol in Olympia, Washington of Capitol Lake and the Olympic Mountain range in the background |
A Day of Action: Yesterday Don and I drove to Olympia to join over 10,000 people for a 'Hands Off' rally at the capitol in protest against the Trump Administration's actions. The speeches weren't as inspiring as I'd hoped but the signs were. It felt good to finally be doing something. I understand there were over 1400 such rallies around the country. Did you attend one? I think the largest in our state was in Seattle. But I am enjoying looking at photos from Washington, DC, Chicago, Boston, New York City which had really huge rallies. share your photos!
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| Resist Fascism: Our Lives Begin to End the Day We Become Silent About Things that Matter |
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| A Moral Moment |
My sister, Kathy, at 'Hands Off' event in Eugene:
2000+ verses in the Bible -- The Bible contains over 2,000 verses that address poverty, justice, and the need to care for the poor and marginalized, emphasizing compassion, fairness, and a collective responsibility to help those in need: So many of Trump's actions take resources away from poor people -- getting rid of Medicaid, Headstart, Title 1 funding for schools, vaccines and medicines for impoverished areas of the world (USAID), etc. -- Christians must take care of those who are in need and we can draw closer to God and his kingdom if we do so. It breaks my heart to think that some "Christians" are advising Trump to cut off aid to the poor. It reminds me of the Mahatma Gandhi quote: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” I'm thinking that is how this sign-waver feels too:
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| "Jesus, save us from your followers." Ouch. |
Poetry to the rescue: This has been another hard week with so much terrible stuff brewing in our government. Thank goodness for poetry.
When the country fell apart,I fell into poetry,which cost nothingbut care.And there,in the empty pocket of the day,found so many ways, again and again,to think, to live, to be.(excerpt from "We Never Knew" by Naomi Shihab Nye)
Unique sermon: The guest pastor painted this tree while she talked about the story of Zacchaeus climbing a tree to see Jesus and how that action brought him into a relationship with God. Very unique and visual. I think I will remember this sermon longer than usual.
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| Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Archer-Klein, painting of the Sycamore-fig tree Zacchaeus may have climbed to see Jesus. (Luke 19:1-10). View from the ground looking up. |
Another parable about a fig tree, a portion of a poem by a friend, was inspired by Luke 13:6-9:
Like the fig tree in Luke,Unproductive and using up the soil,Don't we all need,At times,The loving care of the grace-filled and Merciful gardener?
(excerpt from "Living Like Luke's Fig Tree" by Marianne H. Bastin)
Delightful trees (catch the theme?) Blossom time of year:
Books completed this week:
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| Memoirs and poetry |
Currently reading:
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| Audiobooks and poetry |
Blog posts from past week:
Tomorrow we're off on a troll hunt.
