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Aging in Grace friendship Living Loving Serving

The Age of Transition – Remembering Annie

Post author By Maggie Marcum
Post date July 5, 2026
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I’ve reached that age where my friends are transitioning to new phases of their life, and for some to eternal life. We make a lot of fun about the boomer generation, but the generation has begun to transition out of our stories. These are real people who lived full lives, who fought for their country on many battlegrounds, and opened the world up to new possibilities never before imagined. And we had fun doing it.

Earlier this year, I had the realization for myself that I had finally hit the – “I’m Old” point in my life. I am walking with friends whose bodies are declining. Their minds and their hearts are still the same active people they were when they were young, it’s just their bodies aren’t letting them do the things they want to do. I have a sweet friend who loves the Lord and loves people, but unfortunately, her legs aren’t giving her the strength she needs to do the walking about that she wants. But it doesn’t deter her. She has friends and family over and continues to be a bright light in the lives of everyone she meets. Thank goodness social media allows those homebound to stay connected.

My oldest sweetest friend, has gone to be with the Lord. Annie suffered many cruelties in her life, physically, mentally, and emotionally, and yet there was a spirit in her that I can’t even begin to explain. She loved life. She loved her family and would’ve done anything for them. I have known her longer than anyone, other than my family members, and even though we have been away from each other, there is now a huge gap in my heart for my little sis. I regret not making time to be with her, and yet she would be the first one to tell me I was doing what I needed to do and she was OK because she knew I loved her and she loved me. We really did have that soul sister connection.

A young Annie at my brother’s wedding blessing.

So how do we help our friends who aren’t the people they used to be physically and maybe even mentally, and yet they are the same people we know and love. I think if we can be there on some level to encourage and to continue to remind them of their value and worth, then we are doing God‘s work in their lives. If we can set aside a little bit of time to listen to your stories, to listen to their heartaches, and to listen to the person who they really are, we are showing tenderness from Jesus. And we can pray for them, uniting through the Holy Spirit to them in a way that is beyond the physical realm.

Life With Annie

So today I am remembering my life with Annie. Our mothers were best friends, Sis and Peg. Those two could get in some kind of trouble and they passed that on to their daughters. They passed on their faith and their commitment to loving others. Our fathers worked for the same government “company,” so we knew what it was like, growing up with secrets. In our late teens we got ourselves in all kinds of trouble. We didn’t think it was trouble, but apparently our parents did.

I got in so much trouble for letting her ride that! And then I road it too!!

We grew up in Germany and that meant easy access to alcohol, especially beer. One of the traditions was during big parades to make sure you ate lots of Brochen (German rolls) and pretzels—to absorb the beer! One night she showed up at my apartment tapping on the window after having had more than a few beers. My solution was to go to the kitchen and grab a loaf of bread and feed her bread from my window to try to sober her up. We laughed about that for years and years. She eventually gave me my Emergency Piece of Bread so I would always have something to help me sober up, but mostly it has sat proudly in my living room as a reminder of our love for each other. It was the first thing my daughter remembered when I told her of Annie’s passing- she too would have Annie’s bread! I will miss sharing those memories of our childhood together. I will miss my little sis.

She was adopted into her family of two older brothers. There was a significant age gap between them, like me and my siblings. They didn’t always see eye-to-eye but they took their big brother roles seriously, loving and supporting her through some dark times in her life. They were there when she became ill with dementia and they did what they could to create lasting memories with her and her daughter. She never had anything bad to say about them, only how great and successful they were. She was so very, very proud of them and their families. It was always her way to shift to the positive.

Family was everything to her. She would’ve laid her life down for either of her children and her grandchildren. Every conversation we had always included her talking about how proud she was of her daughter and son and how excited she was to see how smart and fun her grandchildren were. She had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with her grandkids, which she always took as a blessing for her. There were a lot of rocky times between mother and daughter, as is typical in those relationships, and yet it was her sweet daughter who is there by her side in the final hours, holding her hand and loving her. Her son was able to be there and I know she found peace in his visit.

It would’ve been the most important thing for my sweet Annie to know that her daughter loved her the way that she loved her daughter.

Mother and daughter- a bond that lasts forever.

There are many things that were hard in her life, and I won’t share them here because they were private for her. She fought hard to get what was hers in the courts of law and in the court of society. She suffered with some physical disabilities as a result of the emotional stress in her life. We would talk about those hard times, always ending with how good God had been to her, bringing her through those times and providing for her. There were days when I couldn’t understand how she was still alive. In her middle-ages, she and I took steps to educate ourselves. We laughed that we were both older adults when we finally returned to school to get degrees. She was the good student, though it took everything she had to concentrate on whatever the subject was she was studying, but man that girl was smart. She wanted to show the world that despite making some bad choices early in her life and being knocked down a few times, she could still get up and do the things she and I were meant to do. Nothing would deter her once she put her mind to it.

St. Sebastians in Frankfurt that helped facilitate her adoption and where we attended church.

We shared a Faith together that came from our mothers. We grew up in the same church hanging out with our moms in the women’s church group. We learned from our mother, Sis and Peg, how to be supportive friends of one another. Because Sis and Peg had some stories of their own, and yet these were strong women too, who got through it with grace and dignity. I still have the Michelangelo statue that Sis made for my mom. We all tried our hand at pottery, but only Sis had talent to create beautiful things. It’s right there next to the slice of bread that Annie gave me. My wish for our daughters is that they too have lasting friendships like this in their lives. Few things matter as much as a soul-friend who carries your story and loves you through it.

As kids we both transited the Atlantic on the SS United States on separate journeys to Germany. Years later we would reconnect over it’s mothballing. We talked about the excitement and terror of sailing that amazing vessel. We had so many incredible adventures because of our fathers and their careers and our parents’ desire for us to experience life to its fullest. And we did. We kept that shared desire to see beyond our own walls and it also left us always ready for change and a new adventure. Always on the move. In someways that is how she approached her dementia. It was just another journey for her and we laughed that now she would have an excuse to forget things.

As life would have it, we drew apart as we moved to different parts of the country and the world. We married and had kids. We married and had trouble in our marriages. We were there for each other through those dark times. She moved around a lot, trying to always find her special place to belong. Her daughter was incredible taking care of her and loving her through some of those darkest days, right through to the end. She never wanted to be a burden to anyone and her daughter was able to give her some of that sense of independence, right to the end. Annie was the kind of person who just lit up your life by being in it, and even though we were miles and miles away and didn’t talk for years, I could look at that little piece of bread she gave me and laugh about our life together and know we were in each other’s hearts and memories. She will always be there even though I will miss hearing that raspy voice of hers as she inhaled her cigarette.

If you have someone like that in your life, try and make a little time for them. Keep building those memories so that when one of you is no longer part of this planet, they will remain part of each others soul. Don’t let little things keep you apart. I’m so thankful for the people who have passed through my life and left footprints on my heart. I cherish them and our memories, and hope they too have fond memories of me. Some have moved on and some remain, all of whom I believe God brought together for the seasons of our lives, to learn and grow.

I love you Little Sis. Be at peace now. I’ll see you one day soon.

Tags beaties, connection, death, dementia, faith, friendship, grief, love, mother daughter, sisters, sober, soul friends, soul sisters

Transformation Stories

Building New Connections

Life is full of changes. Having lived a few decades now, I have traveled many pathways. Some that were forced on me and others I chose. Some were easy and others not so easy. Each took time to find a way to settle into new patterns.

These changes can take a toll on us mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and even physically. We may need to shut down for a little while and sit in the midst of what was, what is, and what is to come. There is a period of grieving the connections that no longer exist. There may be a period of sitting and wondering and praying about the lessons learned. These are the building blocks of our lives and how we strengthen the foundation of who we are for the next step.

And then there is deliberately stepping out of our comfort zone into something new and perhaps a little uncomfortable. It is hearing that mystical voice that says “Go.” It is faith to trust that in following the Divine, it somehow works out.

Even when we find ourselves settling into a new community, there may be a period of timidness as we wonder if this is where we will fit next. If we have been wounded by a community, especially a spiritual community, it may take longer to trust what feels right. Do we dare make new connections? What if trust is broken again? We wait anxiously for signs of pending betrayal.

What about those relationships that we have left behind? Will any of them continue? Or will people forget us and just move on because we’re no longer a part of whatever that program or life was? Will we forget?

Will friendships that we thought were lasting, simply dissolve away? These are the seasons of our life which we flow in and out of. And it is a natural part of living. What do we do when the things we did are no longer what we do?

Being connected and being part of community is central for us of humans to thrive. God saw that in the creation story as humans developed relationship with their creator.

“Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out… spurring each other on.” Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭24-25 MSG‬‬

Tags change, community, friendship, relationships, seasons

Living Loving Serving The Lighter Walk

More Learning From Loving our Four-legged Friends

Post author By Maggie Marcum
Post date June 20, 2026
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Part Two

I wrote last time about how a little long-haired Chihuahua came into my life and changed it. He’s a little traumatized from his past, which I know nothing about. The only thing I know is he’s been abandoned three times and he can become a little attached to me and fearful that someone will take him away again. That’s OK because I have become attached to him too.

Pets bring a special joy to our lives. If we step back in to the creation story, we see that the Creator asked the created human to care for all the animals; and we are still doing it. The mystic Meister Eckhardt wrote:

Apprehend God in all things,

For God is in all things.

Every single creature is full of God

And is a book about God.

Every creature is a word of God.

If I spent enough time with the tiniest creature- even a caterpillar-

I would never have to prepare a sermon.

So full of God is every creature.

Butterflies at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

For our family, we’ve always had animals that at one point or another needed special care. Our little cat Junior developed high blood pressure which led to a swelling around his eye. In order to save his life, he had to lose an eye. It was a horrible thing to go through with him, especially since there was no way his little brain could comprehend why it happened. He went through the surgery, like a trooper, and came home for us to help him mend. I have to admit the first night bringing him home, I just wanted to cry seeing what happened to him and feeling responsible. All he wanted was to snuggle with us as he healed.

The incredible thing we can learn from our pets is they are so resilient. They take these things with stride while we humans stress over what it means to no longer have a part of our body or lack full capability- be it physical or mental. We instantly feel like we are less worthy, and we often treat others that way too. However, we may just be more lovable, like our pets. We may just need to know from others that we still matter. Junior healed completely, and went on to live a full and bouncy life until his kidneys finally gave out on him years later. Watching him suffer, lose weight, and making that decision to let him go was among the hardest things my daughter and I have ever had to go through. Through it we learned to set aside ourselves and our time to spend those final days being with him.

We had already lost a husband and a father. My daughter lost an aunt and an uncle. We had to give up other pets because of our living situations, thankfully to good homes. But death, whether it’s of a human family member that you love or a furry friend that you adore, is never fun for us. We had two other cats at the time and all they did was roam around looking for Junior. We had no way to explain to them where he was—he was gone and they would learn soon enough to carry on. Just like we learn in our loss. And yes, we still look around in our minds and hearts for those no longer with us.

When we brought home Rufus, a.k.a. Rukus, we knew there would be some challenges with him because his back legs didn’t work and they said he probably would never walk again. So we set out to make him comfortable and to feel as much like a loved dog as possible. The little Chiweenie soon put on weight and we found that he was a bouncy happy dog. He may have lost use of his legs, but he had not lost his desire to be outside or his desire to bark at other dogs and people. There were daily accidents because he couldn’t control his body, and we learned how to care for him in the way you care for an older family member whose body is failing them. I learned how to be encouraging to a little puppy who probably didn’t understand any of the words we were saying. I think of friends with Alzheimer’s or dementia who we visit, knowing that they will forget that we came, and knowing that they may not fully understand who we are and why we are there. But still we come to love on them to somehow hope that our few brief moments with them will bring them joy and bring us peace.

Rufus and his brother Olie out for a walk.

We worked with Rufus in the water moving his legs. We found out that he loved to chase after his Dino and play just like a regular dog. Eventually, we got him outside and discovered he still liked to do his business outside, if given the opportunity. And then one day he just stood up on his own and walked across the room. We were stunned. That’s how we discovered to never underestimate what God can do. Somehow, our love and encouragement had given him strength to stand up and little by little he did that. He never fully regained all his strength but we realized that when he could, qhe would stand and play and run around.

I think of people who have been injured maybe through a stroke or an accident and have lost use of their legs. How hard they have to work to come back from it. How much encouragement it takes from the people around them to spur them on. I think of the courage it takes to say, I’ll try again and again and again, hoping things get better. People look at Rufus in his wheels or as he bounces along on his back legs like a bunny, and think how sweet he is and how great it is that he is trying. And yet we can look at someone in a wheelchair almost with distain because their body has failed them. However, they are the same people that we are. They have worth and value that we can so easily disregard.

I am thankful for the advances we have made in adapting our culture to meet the needs of those with physical disabilities. How is it that we today can take care of our pets and ensure that they had the best care and the best advantage, but we have begun to roll back programs to help humans improve and have a better life. How is it that we have come to think that they are a drain on our system, when they have something to offer that is beyond our imagination.

We had a sweet little Cockerpoo, a cocker spaniel and poodle combo. Spencer had epilepsy, which meant seizures at unexpected times. Medication helped but wasn’t always affordable. And also meant lots of accidents. We learned how to help him stay calm during a seizure and how to help him recover from a seizure. We learned when they were serious enough to go to the doctor and when we could just help him through it. One of the sweetest things though was that our little cat Junior, the one who would eventually lose his eye, was the one that always came to soothe him. He would walk around him in circles when he had a seizure, and then when it was done, he would come lay beside him to comfort him.

Isn’t that what God wants us to do for each other? Come along side and just be there and bring comfort. We don’t always have to say anything, sometimes we can hold a hand and other times we just need to sit quietly until someone is ready to speak. Being present and bringing the spirit of the Divine with us is the best thing we can do for one another.

So if you have a pet at home, be at a dog, a cat, even a little guinea pig, I hope you will look at them as a gift. I hope we can learn as Humans to be responsible for loving and caring for them, and in that, learn to love and care for each other.

Make a space for those who need our love.

I hope you will learn from them how to love other humans in our lives. Everything in creation is connected. So when you see a human struggling, pray that you see them through the eyes of the Creator with love and compassion. When you see a friend in need, I pray you will let them know that you are there for them and with them. And I do hope if you don’t already have one of God‘s creations living in your home, other than a human, that you will look to a local shelter, Humane Society, or rescue organization to see who is waiting to rescue you.

Godspeed.

Tags cats, chihuahua, chiweenie, cockerpoo, disabilities, dog, eckhardt, humane society, pets, seizures

The Lighter Walk

Learning Love from our Four-legged Friends

Post author By Maggie Marcum
Post date June 7, 2026
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I swore I would never have another dog. I have been spoiled by too many sweet pets in the past. I used to say that the perfect dog would have to find me because I wasn’t going looking. I just couldn’t imagine any new animal finding a way into my heart again like the previous ones had.

And then along came Buddy.

All of my dogs have been rescues. Buddy was a special kind of rescue. He had been abandoned and stood barking on a dock, waiting for someone to hear him. We did, and when he jumped up into the car and onto my lap, I knew he was a keeper. We would find out later that this was the third time he had been abandoned, and so leaving him in the shelter was a tough thing to do. As I waited out the 10 days for him to be legally free to come home, I questioned whether I was making the right decision.

And then it became clear that God had indeed “dropped him in my lap” to love and care for him.

Bringing home a new dog with a history can be a little bit of a challenge. He is what we call a “reactive” dog. He’s a Chihuahua so that makes it even more complicated. I’ve come to understand that a reactive dog is kind of like a human who is anxious and may be suffering a little PTSD. The problem is our four-legged friends can’t really tell us what’s wrong and so unlike humans they bark and they growl and they jump around, hoping we will help them. At first it made me a little crazy, but now I understand that it’s his way of telling me: “Get me out of here- I don’t feel safe.” and it is my job to make sure he does feel safe.

Back from the groomer where he was an angel!

I’ve learned a lot about patience with him as we try different ways for him to be less reactive. He’s doing better now with other people—sometimes it’s just a slight “grrrr,” other times he loses his mind until I can snap him out of it or remove him from the situation. He’s helped me to recognize those signs in the humans around me too, and to be more patient and kind with them. Sometimes we humans need a safe space too!

The thing with Rescue Dogs is you never really know what their situation was before they came into our lives. They may have been hurt and not loved by their owners. They may have been neglected or ignored in their homes. They may have had someone who was unkind and intimidated and yelled at them. The same is true for humans. We never really know what’s going on in someone’s past until we take time get to know them. So we tend to judge based on what we think we are seeing without knowing the backstory. We become impatient and judgmental and dismissive of others while the model of Jesus calls us to be patient, understanding, and kind. We so easily forget when people don’t measure up to our “standards.”

The apostle Peter talked about kindness coming from the Lord and how we learned to be kind because of the way Jesus taught us. Jesus taught us to be patient, and to be humble around those who need our love the most. It isn’t always easy, especially when someone is reactive to a situation. But love them we must, because after all, we are loved and should be compelled to pass that love and care to others. I wonder what it would look like if we applied the same patience, kindness, and even forgiveness we show our pets to our humans?

So we added Buddy to the family of an unorthodox beagle, Olie, who is the opposite of Buddy. He was rescued from a farm where beagles were raised and mistreated. It took him a while too to trust us, and then to be able to trust others around him. In learning to trust us, he has learned to trust others. I think that’s what Jesus does right? We learned to trust God through him and then we learn to share that love and trust with others so that they can have that peace.

And then there is Rufus. We found Rufus in a shelter, emaciated and sad. His previous owner had accidentally closed the door on him and damaged his spine, so he wasn’t able to completely walk. It also meant he had a lot of accidents inside the house because he couldn’t go out or control his bladder. He was one unhappy little Chiweenie and also the most loving little fella- with a mighty bark! In Rufus we learned how to love and care for those in need. To forgive accidents or things beyond control. To be patient and kind as we care for those who can’t care for themselves. Now he is one happy puppy beginning the decline of old age. Love him we do.

There is a saying about rescues. We think we are rescuing them, when in fact they rescue us. I didn’t know I needed to have someone to come home to every night, who needed attention and who needed to get outside in God‘s creation. But God did. He knew I needed a buddy in my life as much as Buddy needed me. So here he is in his fourth home, and I hope his last. I’ve had so many fun little journeys already and I look forward to the years with him, and with Olie and Rufus, who live with their “other” parents now. Each day I learn a little bit more about myself because of them.

So if you think you need a little extra love in your life, I encourage you to seek out the Humane Society, a local shelter, or a dog or cat rescue organization. They will work to help you find just the right friend who needs you as much as you need them. I pray you will bring that joy into your home and increase your family’s love for one of God‘s little creations. I think what an honor it is to be able to look after one of God‘s creations. It’s just that simple.

Tags dog, God's plan, Jesus, kindness, love, pets, purpose, relationships, rescue

Living Loving Serving Transformation Stories

What We Learn From Hearing Others

Post author By Maggie Marcum
Post date May 30, 2026
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For many years I sat on the fence between conservativism and progressivism. I tend to be much more of a centerist because I want to bring people together. I’m not a peacemaker by nature, but I am a connectedness person and I love connecting people in ways they didn’t think was possible.

I have lived the life of ultra conservatism, purity culture, and probably a version of what is today called Christian nationalism. And my heart has lived in the liberal world of same-sex relationships, loving the transgender, even supporting Roe v Wade, although my heart believes in the sanctity of life. I have moved from so many of the firm positions I was taught to uphold, because I was willing to listen.

There was a period in my church life when we were told to never look at anything outside of what that sect was teaching. To even consider reading anything like that was to crack the heart open and allow the devil to take a stronghold. Harry Potter was off the table for sure. But so were books that explored different versions of the Bible, different understandings of the Bible, and different ways of living a Christ-centered life.

Heaven forbid we read anything about any other form of spirituality, especially those mystics!

And so I closed my eyes and my ears to what might be different. I refused to even entertain that what I was hearing might not be fully correct. Because if we don’t read something different, if we don’t listen to it, if we only feed ourselves were the same firmly bound beliefs; we might just be missing the enormous pieces of wisdom, grace, and love the Divine Teacher has for us.

We might actually see that God intended more for us. At the end of the day, it really is about understanding God‘s intent for us, Jesus as the story and model for our lives, and then allowing the Holy Spirit to bring those words and stories to life in a new way every day. It’s funny that we were taught that the Bible is a living word, and yet we weren’t allowed to think or imagine with the Holy Spirit. We could only accept what the leaders of the church told us to be truth.

I read 2 Corinthians “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you,” and what I hear is God’s love is big enough for us to hear each other with respect and find our common ground in ONE God and creator.

It may feel as if you have put a target on your back if you are brave enough to step away from the pulpit truth of your brand of religion. I remember the first time I heard about deconstruction and I was appalled that anyone would question what we knew to be true. What we were told was true- end of story- there was no exploring other translations or theologies. How dare anyone think differently? How dare they challenge the beliefs held to be the only real truth about Godly-living.

What if truth is broader then we were taught and what if our lives are changed? What if the Divine Creator isn’t finished creating new things in our lives?

Years later, I had to apologize to those seeking Divine Wisdom, for my lack of understanding. I have apologized to others for my blind obedience to a hurtful teaching. I have had to acknowledge that God‘s world is wide and deep and welcomes all who follow him. He welcomes all who have a heart and a desire to be transformed into the loving image in which we were created. ALL There is so much space in this world for us to experience God, and then to live out the message of Jesus. It is God’s choice—not mine.

I don’t want to be the obstacle to someone experiencing the whole of the Infinite Spirit.

But we have to be willing to listen, to ponder, and to consider that on our path of curious discovery, we might need to adjust our course and change our thinking. We might need to consider that there is another way to love one another as God has so loved us. We might have to consider that Jesus was not a political leader, he did not come to change the political landscape of the world, and we should not be using him to enforce a Pharisee-type living of rules enforced to protect ourselves. Only the Living Spirit of the Divine can do that, and we need to connect more with that power, not an earthly power. We can’t force or coerce the heart of God on others my creating more laws to “protect ourselves” from perceived evil. We must put our faith in the words of Jesus and confess when we do something harmful to others and change our course to align with the Holy One, not the elected one.

For Jesus left us with a helper to navigate the rivers of love ahead of us. He showed us to love and care for people differently. He showed us it wasn’t about legislating to get our way; it was about loving to show HIS way. Just like Nicodemus and the Centurion and the many many more who came to change their lives because of the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, we must be willing to consider that there is a better way to love one another and to care for one another.

So yes, it was me digging my heals in that kept me from seeing the overwhelming love and power of the Godhead. It was me that built a wall between myself and others. It was me who missed out on joy because I was too worried about breaking rules. It was me who thought we needed laws to protect our brand of faith.

It was me who was taught and came to believe that nothing good could come from trusting God to actually lead the way.

And it is me who today loves all boldly and proudly. It is me who opened my mind and heart to be changed. And it is the wonderful loving gracious God who invites you to do the same. May your journey take you places you never imagined!

Tags change, christian nationalism, faith, forgiveness, God, God's will, Holy Spirit, Jesus, LGBTQ, purity culture, truth

The Lighter Walk Transformation Stories

Out of the Shadows

Mystic and trappist monk Thomas Merton often wrote about the true self versus the false self. In simple terms, the false self is the humanistic side of our personality and spiritual nature. It is the superficial nature of our being that glides through life unengaged with the Divine Creator and a life of compassion. The true self moves us from the posture of separateness from others and toward seeing others as through “the secret beauty of their hearts, the depths of their hearts where neither sin nor desire nor self-knowledge can reach, the core of their reality, the person that each one is in God’s eyes.”

The false self leads us to follow our own ways of self preservation and people pleasing to fit it. The false self are the masks we wear when we refuse to consider another way or perspective in our thinking of self and others. It is the place where pride or position block us from acknowledging when our decisions harm another. It can be a shadowing life of self existence which is earth-bound and with little spiritual connection to God. It is a picking and choosing of scripture that we use as a means to justify our inaction/action rather than using scripture to form and reshape us.

The past few months, I have been discovering my true self all over again. I lean toward the mystic side of things, meaning I love spending time in prayer and listening for the Holy Spirit to speak. I love moments of solitude when the divine imagination takes me places that seem unworldly. While I love a good liturgical service, it has always been the prayer time, and that special period leading up to the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the wine when I feel most connected to God.

For many years I wasn’t able to attend services because of my job. Over a period of time, I even became too exhausted to rest with the Lord. I stopped feeding my soul, and my soul began to grow shallow and empty. I became a shadow of who I really am as I struggled to survive on my own strength.

Beyond the spiritual life, I also set aside my heart of compassion and standing up for people different from me, especially those living in need of help to survive in these difficult times. I connected with people at different groups, but because of the conservative church that I attended, I kept quiet and in the shadows. I quietly supported the LGBTQ+ community, but never let it be known, except to a few friends. I quietly supported families with children/grandchildren who are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, who were also afraid of letting people know about their family. I watched the heartbreak and walked with them, in the shadows.

My heart ached for the immigrants and the way that they are being treated in our country today. I saw the hungry becoming more hungry in the economic upheaval in our country. I saw families who once had good government jobs shrink with embarrassment of their unemployment, and cried silently with them. But I did little more than pray and it grieves me as I reflect back on those times.

Mostly, I stayed silent out of fear of losing my own job, and losing connection with the people in my conservative community that I have come to love. I put me before God and before others and failed to serve in the ways I have been gifted. I left my true self out for self preservation. I went dark in my lead to support others as I waited on others to lead. And I waited too long to be a part of the solution and change.

I got it wrong.

We studied Matthew 9 recently, and I was overwhelmed with the stories of love and compassion that Jesus had for the most despicable of people in his time, and the weakest of people in the community. Not only did he sit with the despised tax collectors, he invited one to become a follower. He met “across the aisle“ with people whose views were quite different from his, and that wanted to destroy his ministry and life. He listened to them and asked them questions so he could understand them, and hopefully they would understand him. He brought healing to the blind, the leper, the shunned woman, and many who were discarded by society.

That’s the Jesus I want to follow. That’s the Jesus with whom I connect. That is the Jesus who changed the law, and said it was simple. Just love the Divine and love others as we would be loved.

It is such a simple and basic formula, one that doesn’t require legislation to bash and destroy people who are different from us. The current administration, and Christians who support it, are moving towards belittling any person of color, any person with a different “lifestyle”, or who has a different belief—Christian or otherwise. That isn’t what I would consider an America modeled after our Lord Jesus Christ, which many claim we need.

So I ask you, have you read Matthew 9? Have you read Matthew 25? Have you read the stories of Jesus and his love and compassion for the least among us? Have you sat with those words and asked “Lord what does that mean for me and my heart and life?”

I invite you to come out of the shadows and take a stand, just like Jesus did, for the weak, for the abused, for the different than us. Take a stand, even if it means you may no longer worship in a church where you are worshiping. Take a stand, even if it means people who are close to you will disagree. Come out of the shadows and find your true self, find the heart of Jesus that resides deep in your soul, and then act according to his commands.

References:

Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander (Doubleday: 1966), 140-142.

Adapted from Matthew Fox, A Way To God: Thomas Merton’s Creation Spirituality Journey, p. 185.

The Lighter Walk

Living in the Presence of the Divine

Post author By Maggie Marcum
Post date May 19, 2026
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This past week we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus as told by John. Diana Butler Bass describes this season between the Ascension and Pentacost as “readings emphasize our oneness with God, creation, and each other.” I felt that in my spirit as I reflected on the reading from John 17.

“So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.”

Resting in the presence of your glorious being this day, we bask in the revelation of you the Creator; flesh in this world and Holy Spirit in our minds and bodies today. Surrounded by the angels and souls of your making, millions upon millions gaze upon your splendor.

You are the center of the heart of our life. You are everything. Soul of our soul. Created in your image we bear fruits of your spirit. Here among the created world, we live to share who you are, to love others in your way, and to be still with you.

Grant us peace this day in this world of chaos. Shine upon us. We see the radiation of your love and our heart is changed.

May the intolerant become tolerant. May the heartless have heart to love and care for others. May the strong be made weak in your sight and in your presence our lives be made wholly reliant upon your guidance.

Lead us as we follow you, the Divine, the magnificent, our all and all. In you and with you we find rest and peace this day and pray we reflect the image of your presence in us.

Tags Ascension, Holy Spirit, image of God, Jesus, John 17, light, lighter walk, love

Living Loving Serving Transformation Stories

Do We Care to Change?

This Ash Wednesday I began a soaking in the writings of a diverse group of wisdom sharers. I sat with my own faults and remembrances of harsh words, judgments, and pride that I still cling to. I have found that I repeat the same negative behaviors toward myself and others, and I am saddened that my heart has not changed as much as my mind thinks it has. It is time to again reflect on the walking the walk of repentance and forgiveness.

“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22

I feel that about the world as I look out on it today. We have learned so much and come so far; and yet we seem to continue to stumble and slide backwards.

Unrepentant.

Repentance requires more than saying I am sorry. Repentance requires repair. Repentance requires a lasting change.

What are we willing to give of ourselves to move the needle forward toward repairing injustices in our world? Are we willing to repent of our own thinking patterns and actions and make lasting changes in our own lives?

Change begins with a self examination before change can happen in the world around us.

I recognize that:

Racism hasn’t gone away.
Sexual harassment hasn’t gone away.
Patriarchy hasn’t gone away.
Demeaning and devaluing women hasn’t gone away.
Prejudice hasn’t gone away.
Cruelty for the sake of making ourselves feel better hasn’t gone away.

Denial is alive and well, in me and in these times. There have been times when I was part of that denial. If I am honest, I still see some of those patterns crop up today. Old tapes of prejudice and racism still sneak into my thoughts- uncontrollably- and I must make a conscious effort to force them out. I need to repent for those thoughts. I still find my brain asking if stories of sexual harassment and abuse could be true or was there “just a misunderstanding.” Those are words I grew up with in spite of my own experiences telling me to believe what women say. I must repent of my judgment and disbelief of the painful stories the brave share. The old patterns of working in a male-dominated field often caused me to defer to men in leadership over fully qualified and highly capable women. I must repent of my disregard and inflicted pain on my fellow women leaders, especially women called into ministry as clergy.

Why do we demonize those speaking truth about their painful experiences of abuse, of harassment, of racial profiling, or dehumanizing actions against them. Why are we willing to ignore the stories of those who still suffer because of these old beliefs of power and superiority? Why is it so hard for us to repent of our own roles and refuse to turn in a new direction?

Revolutionary change is our responsibility. It starts with the people. It starts with crossing the road and building relationships and diverse inclusive community. Are we willing to take a Jesus posture and move beyond self and to stand and care for fellow humans?

Are we willing to take time this Lent to repent of our own roles in holding others down?

If we honestly want to see change, we cannot sit by and wait for someone else to do the work. Maybe you are able to start by asking God these questions of yourself. Perhaps take an honest assessment of your own belief systems and trappings of what you have been taught? How do we enter into a posture of respect and carrying forward the reminder that we are ALL Created in God’s image. All of us.

For me, I find these answers and change by spending quiet time with God. I find it reading words of wisdom from others ahead of me on the path of repentance and forgiveness. I find transformation and calling in the words of Jesus and inspiration by hearing and moving with the Holy Spirit. Find your way and let this be your time of breaking chains and freedom to move forward.

Peace be with you on this journey.

Tags Ash Wednesday, change, community, forgiveness, prejudice, pride, repentance, sexual harrassment, social injustice

Transformation Stories

When Love and Hope are Distant

Post author By Maggie Marcum
Post date January 25, 2026
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When Love and Hope are Distant, I cry out to God to restore me.

It is hard this morning to find words of love and hope. It is hard to wake to the beauty of a snow-filled day that is also filled with such anguish over yet another murder in our city streets. It is hard to feel love and hope when things seem so evil and hopeless right now.

But there is still hope, and there is still love in the midst of deep pain. We saw that in the outpouring of people in the streets across America following the death of Alex Pretti. People were compelled to come together in community across our nation in pain and dismay over the unthinkable that has become the norm in our country. Churches in Minnesota filled with people from all denominations and all faces to pray in love and hope.

I want to repeat that they came together to pray in love for love, and for hope. Even in the darkest of our hours, God does not abandon us even in the midst the most horrendous tragedy. We can still see the face of our loving Jesus who died on a cross for us that lives could be changed.

This morning I was drawn to The Beatitudes. These are the words of hope that Jesus left us with. These are words of encouragement. These are words he gave us on how to live our lives. These are the words we must choose in our actions going forward. We must not give into the violence ; we must give into love and hope.

“And he began to speak and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬-‭11‬ ‭NRSVUE‬‬

In Martin Luther King Junior’s 1967 address to the antiwar group Clergy and Laity Concerned, he said: “When I speak of love I am not speaking of some sentimental and weak response. I am speaking of that force which all of the great religions have seen as the supreme unifying principle of life. Love is somehow the key that unlocks the door which leads to ultimate reality. This Hindu-Moslem-Christian-Jewish-Buddhist belief about ultimate reality is beautifully summed up in the first epistle of Saint John: “Let us love one another; for love is God and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God.” (Strength to Love)

As we continue to process what has happened, and consider what could happen, I implore you to spend time in the good words of Jesus. Spend time reading and listening to faith leaders of nonviolence. Seek out those who would encourage us to fight injustice in the power of the loving God we follow, continue to pray for all those involved and all those who will take to the streets in the days ahead.

From Rev. Esau McCaulley ‘God’s Colorful Kingdom’ Art by Rogerio Coelho

May this be the turning point back towards a nation who respects and loves every single person living in this nation built for refugees and immigrants. May we abide together in love and peace.

Tags Alex Pretti, Esau McCaulley, hope, immigration, Jesus, love, mlk, nonviolence, peace, The Beatitudes

Living Loving Serving

I Choose Love Today

Like many of you, my heart is breaking over the events of the past two weeks of this new year. I can scarcely believe the harm that has been done to America in such a brief time. I grew up in Germany, hearing the stories and living with the ruins of an evil war as a backdrop to the destruction in their homeland. I grew up believing this could never happen again. I grew up believing that we would never dehumanize and attack people like that again.

We didn’t know we were wrong.

I was just a child during the civil rights movement, and yet I remember ever so clearly the day Martin Luther King was assassinated. The country was turned upside down, but it was in the direction of positive change. We became a country committed to moving beyond the sins of our past, and the sins of war. We moved toward inclusion and unity as a nation.

Or did we?

To be honest, it took most of my life before I realized that much of the hate felt in the past remained below the surface. It was like an evil slime waiting to erupt with just the right catalyst. It seems the catalyst has arrived and darkness and evil has been unleashed against one another in our country.

I refuse to go toe-to-toe with an agenda of hate. THAT is not the message of the Jesus I follow.

As a follower of Jesus, I struggle to understand how other followers of Jesus could enter into such evil and vindictive behavior. It isn’t the Jesus I came to know as a little girl. This is the Jesus that transformed my life by his perfect immeasurable love. A love we should be compelled to extend to others.

If we believe as Henri Nowen wrote, it is pretty simple…’”When we see our neighbor as created in the image of God, we discover that love is not a feeling but a way of seeing.” (Henri Nouwen, Reaching Out) That doesn’t mean we don’t enforce laws, it means we treat human beings from ALL walks of life, with the respect a loving God calls on us to treat one another.

This past Sunday we remembered the baptism of Jesus. In my church tradition we say this part of the baptismal covenant:

“Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

I will, with God’s help.”

Now is the time for us to be united again. It is time for us to take a stand for that which is right. It is time for us to once again stand for and with those who are losing their identity, their safety, and their right to live in dignity.

“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalms‬ ‭133‬:‭1‬ ‭

May we seek to follow the commitment made to love and serve a good and loving God in the way we treat ALL humans who are ALL made in HIS image. Lord help us to see the value and worth in every person of every nation, every color, and every belief system, as you so love them.

Tags Christian, human rights, immigrants, Jesus, love one another, mlk, motivate, psalm 133, stand