Piloting Faith: Life is hard and beautiful...

A Word for the Day...
For the past year and a half, Ann and I have been caring for her 98-year-old mother. We call her Nin, though everyone else calls her Lala. She is one of the best gifts in the world. Nin lived on her own until she was 96 years old. You had to call before visiting because her social calendar was always booked. She drove a Saab sports car, got her hair done every Tuesday, was in church every Sunday and volunteered at the local nursing home during the week. She’s funny and kind and delightful to be with.
At 96, she sensed she needed more help, so she moved in with us. We’ve loved our time together. But at 98 years old (turning 99 next month), her body is starting to fail. She can no longer walk. With that development comes a whole new level of caregiving if which I now confess we are unprepared. We are changing diapers. We can’t leave the house together because someone needs to be home to care for her. We are often up during the middle of the night because she has had a bad dream. We have to help her eat. When I travel, the burden on Ann is unrelenting.
In talking to a friend last week, I said, “These are the hardest days I’ve ever lived. And they are beautiful. They are both, and sometimes even that is hard.”
I find myself thinking about the story in Luke 5:18-25 of the men who lowered the paralyzed man through the ceiling of the house in the hopes that Jesus would heal him. I used to see that story through the eyes of the paralyzed man. I now understand a bit more about how the guys lowering him down felt. Their lives changed as well when their friend was healed.
We are getting a plan in place for this next phase with Nin. We have more hard and beautiful days ahead. I covet your prayers, and I offer my deepest respect to those of you who are caregivers, caring for others by profession or because of your circumstance. Life is hard and beautiful as we accompany each other from life to death and life again.
- Rev. Cameron Trimble, author of Piloting Church: Helping Your Congregation Take Flight

Prayer for the Week
God,
In every season,
In every moment,
May I find Your presence calling me
more fully into myself. Remembering,
I am your beloved child.
You are waiting for me. Always.
Amen.