"Hallelujah"

***

If we only knew
the gravity of grace
that sustains all that is
and all that could be
working in and through us

one word would repeat
in an endless loop
of joy and love
transforming our suffering
into hope and thanksgiving.

***

The Door

"How are you feeling today?"

is the door
through which
the doctor steps.
Some answer, some don't,
some can't, and some won't.
A trickle may come
that is encouraged to flow.
A flood may result
and cover the floor,
two people bobbing
on words and emotions.
He provides an anchor, an oar,
a will to be present.
Whatever happens,
he must never be distant.
Above all else
it must remain open.
But if it is slammed shut,
he will wait patiently
on the other side.

***

Uncle Bob and the Baltimore Ravens

Uncle Bob and the Baltimore Ravens, a photo by []Aaroneous Monk[] on Flickr.

Grabbed my Baltimore Ravens cap as I headed out the door to return my son's books to the library today. I've not worn it out and about before, but today seemed a good time to do so. The trees are in full Fall regalia and the sun is shining down with a cool breeze blowing.

I am not a Ravens fan nor do I know any Ravens fans in the circles I run in here in the Midwest. I've heard that someone on that team had been involved in a stabbing years ago and "got away with it." I don't know much about it, but what I do know is my Great Uncle Bob lived in Baltimore and was a Ravens fan, a mellow man with a sweet spirit.

His sister is my grandma who passed away a few years ago. Their brothers died much earlier in a run of heart attacks due to bad genes and even worse eating habits. I remember those brothers only from foggy childhood memories of a family reunion or two, especially Uncle Charlie who was a real character and had a humdinger of a son named Chuckie whose antics have gone down in family legend.

Several years ago I visited a residency program in Washington DC as a fourth year medical student and Uncle Bob invited me up to Baltimore for breakfast at an old fashioned diner. I remember enjoying pancakes and coffee as well as his quick smile and uncanny resemblance to my grandma who was still alive at that time. When my wife and I moved to DC we visited him and Aunt Stephanie and later brought along our new little boy who was born there.

This past summer we went down to see my family in Southern Indiana. While we were there my Mom remembered that Aunt Stephanie had sent some of Uncle Bob's ball caps for family to have as mementos of his passing this year. My Dad brought down a shoe box full of them from the closet shelf and I went through them one by one. Many had golf themes which was a passion of Uncle Bob's though it is a sport I've never really gotten in to. Somewhere in the middle of the pack I found the Baltimore Ravens hat, a team that had just won the Super Bowl.

So, today I am remembering Uncle Bob in this beautiful twilight time of the year as the days begin to shorten. The leaves are starting to die, but not without an explosion of color to ease their passing in winning fashion.

Sibling Snuggles

***

There are two of them,
a boy and a girl,
six years apart.
There is no comparing,
it's apples and oranges
(I like it that way).

***