Her cat, Marmalade had just given birth to a kitten. I would go into her room and see this little new born kitten, and would stay up for a bit until the next kitten was born. This cute little kitten I watched being birth had orange fir, similar to her mother, and was smaller than the first one. Afterwards I would go to sleep, and another kitten would be born. The oldest and the youngest both had creamish hair, the middle one was the only one with orange hair and she was also the runt of the littler of three. As the days and weeks went on these kittens would open their eyes, would grow and would start to explore. That little orange kitten would travel from my sister’s room and into mine on her first outing, her brother and sister would travel across as well at times. They would climb up my bed and slide down it back to the floor as well. But that orange kitten from day one was special, she and I bonded from the start. I became her person. I can remember the joy in my heart the day I came home and learned my parents had figured out I could keep her rather than have to give her away. I gave her the name Tiger, and with the advice of my sister would give her the middle name of Lilly.

Over the next few years we would have wonderful adventures together,as she hunted, as we moved, as she gave birth to her four kittens… She took care of me, watched out for me as I grew up. I watched as she and our large dog Keisha worked together. I watched her teach other cats about hunting, watched as she became the queen kitty. Watched the dog opening the screen door to let her out when we lived in Casper, WY.  In 6th grade while living at my grandparents house she lived in the garage, and one day I came home to learn she had been sleeping on the garage door and when it had been lowered it pinched her back. The vet was not optimistic that she would ever be able to walk with her rear legs, but it didn’t seem to stop Tiger, at times I would find her on the other side of the house laying in the sunshine. Over time she would heal and walk and jump like normal, and few would have known she once had her spine pinched, the main sign being a sore spot she occasionally would yelp about when petted or combed.

When I went away to collage in 2000, I went with multiple pillows, one of which was her’s and rarely did I ever use it, usually it laid on the bed next to mine, as a reminder of her, and I cherished the times I was home with family, including her. Even though she became mouthy during those times I was away.  How she would yelp my name, yes my name when given a bath by someone. It is the only time she ever makes a vocal sound that starts with a l like sound, it is so different and unique from the rest of her kitty vocabulary.

After college we would be together again, would move to Seattle together, where she would watch for me at times in the window, and she showed signs of being aware of my illness as I got worse and worse. I also remember being a bit scared when she started having seizures during this time in Seattle, not often but occasionally. Back to Oregon, as I healed and then we moved to Ohio together. Still she was vibrant and full of life. However when I moved up to the Kirtland area she and I took a plane trip back to Oregon, where she would stay as my housing would not allow her to be with me. as I’ve visited a few times, it was always a joy to be with her, to see how she got along with my parents  dog that they got after Keisha passed in my freshman year, how she maintained her queen status over all. When talking to my parents, how if she was near and heard my voice would often either speak up or start purring. 

So often I’ve wished I could hold that little 7 to 8 pound bundle of love, to listen to her purr me to sleep. Especially when I am down, or when not feeling well. Friday, my parents called me. She wasn’t doing so well, the vet thought perhaps a stroke. She hasn’t been eating much either of late, partly due to her pickiness.  My dad noticed she looked similar to how she does when she is having a seizure, well after the worse of it is over, the way her eyes were. Her legs, well mainly one of the back not moving well, she could get down off of things but not on. he had taken her to the vet, and they hydrated her.  She still taking some food, but her weight is down, two days later my dad says she’s just laying around, still not able to get up, her eyes never fully returning,  she gets upset as she goes on her self not being able to make it to the box. (She’s always been a very finicky and picky cat regarding her appearance, always kept herself extremely clean. I can just image how hard that must be…) My mom thinks she is getting worse. Though when she heard my voice (they had me on speaker phone) she peaked up and started purring.  It looks though that after an amazing 21 years 4 months and a few days, it is time for us to part paths on this earth. Though she has not yet been put down, we made the decision to let her find that eternal rest she so deserves.

I’ll miss my moma cat, even more than I do now. Most of my life she’s been there watching out for me, and I there for her. At least she’s not in pain they say, but I know it must not be good for her. Just yesterday was the memorial service for a man who was like a grandpa to me that I was unable to attend, and now another loved one, this one with fir rather than hair, will leave me to, neither was I able to give that final personal in person goodbye to while knowing it would be the last time.

I may add some pictures of her tomorrow to this post…  I miss Bob already, and in the coming days shall miss my fury four legged companion  Tiger, as well, and am thankful and grateful for all they have been to me in my lifetime.

UPDATE

I just received news from my dad. Over the night she has made great strides and her eyes are once more responsive to light, and while limping a bit, she is walking again and using the leg she was struggling with before, and she is being more herself. So hopefully this trend of recovery continues and holds off her day of passing. My heart sings out with joy upon hearing the good news in the life of the little bundle of love and joy that has been a part of my life for the past 21 years. 2/8 1:51pm

Peace,

Lyle II

This morning I started one for here about giving and stewardship, however I accidently lost the post, but plan to re-craft it in near future. Also some reflection on what is church, with a primary focus I think upon the local expression is also in the works, and has been for a week or so. If it gets finished I am sure it shall appear at least in part here, as I see it a continuation of the “Building the peaceable community (Zion)” series. In fact it is currently titled “Building the Peaceable Community (Zion): pt4 Church.” I am also starting to work on a couple of sermons, (31 Jan and 21 March) both which are primarily in the “thought and early reflection stage” I doubt I will get further on either until after the webcast on Sunday by Prophet-Present Steve Veazey as he shares words of guidance and inspired council to the church. I am also working on a few things  things about liturgical theology, peace and justice…  Mixed in this as well are things that may come to form as I reflect upon the congregation and work with my fellow pastors in helping to serve with the Kirtland Community of Christ.

So yes there’s a lot on my plate writing wise. the struggle is less with the thoughts, but bringing them together. As often of late the ideas are running through my head, when I’m in the car, spending time with friends, working on 6 in pipes with a friend, watching a child or two run around and play, or in the shower…  where I can’t just write the thoughts down, and when I get to where I can the wonderful metaphors, explorations, and thoughts are not as full and refuse to take shape again. But I’m going to try and set aside time to write. As I try and arrange things I may also end up re-arranging my dwelling place, and perhaps that shall lead to a more productive environment… or is it just a new distraction?

Beyond all this I have also realized I haven’t been reading a lot lately, well not reading a lot of long pieces, you know long journal articles or books… So I’m going to start tackling that as well. I think I’ll start by reading through some of those books on the bookshelves’ that I never finished either as they were not assigned or I just ran out of time…. Or perhaps the one sitting on my bedside table, a book never assigned which I started a while back and then kinda forgot it was there till today when I saw it there along with a roll of electrical tape…. no I have no idea why the tape is there.

Time to reflect on other things,

Peace be with you,

So what are they?

Well in the order we will encounter them this year:

• Organization of Community of Christ – 6 April, 180 years
• Reorganization of Community of Christ – 6 April, 150 Years
• Vote to Change name of denomination to Community of Christ – 7 April, 10 years (name change took place 6 April 2001, thus only  9 years with the name)
• Graduation from High School – June, 10 years
• Baptized – 17 June, 20 Years
• Confirmed – 17 June, 20 Years
• Ordained to the office of Deacon, 23 July, 10 years

Are the others? Probably, but these are the ones that either prompted the writing of this post, or came to mind as I started writing the list. I hope the year is not just filled with memories of the past, but the formation of new memories as I and the communities I serve with  step forward on the path of discipleship and seek to live out what it means to be disciples of the Living Christ through the sharing of the Holy One’s love and peace, recognizing and celebrating the worth of all people, finding ways to be united in the great and wonderful diversity of creation and forming communities of joy, hope, love and peace where all are loved, and seeking to end injustice throughout the globe.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if in 10 years ago we could say “XYZ took place 10 years ago, and today there is less injustice, today no one goes hunger, today the world is slowly recovering from the damage caused by war and greed, now we truly embrace the worth of all and respect and embrace our diversity….”?

Let step forward with that aim, to transform the ourselves and the world in that which the Holy Calls us to. So that in 10, 20 30, 150 years from now we can say “We stepped out in faith knowing that a few vibrant witness can transform the world, and the world was transformed”

Let us go forth this year and seek to be prophetic both in word and deed.

Peace be with you all,

Lyle II

As time drew near for the Prayer and Testimony service and youth classes, I asked one of the pastorate, who teaches one of the classes “Do you know who is leading the Prayer and testimony service?” and she did not know. So I went into the sanctuary, turned on some music and waited for people to arrive. A few came and sat down, but no one came to lead, and thus I stepped up to the role. I felt a bit awkward, having not planed at all ahead of time. However I opened myself up. Listened to what was said and found myself drawn to certain scriptures to help find direction and also to reaffirm, bring comfort, and perhaps push a bit what I was sensing and hearing from those gathered as they shared vocally and silently in community.

A prayer started to form within my mind as we shared together, however as I shared the closing prayer to move us from that service and into the communion service I found the words shifting changing and transforming from that prayer.

During the service I sat  in the rear of the congregation operating the audio, listing to words shared, watching, reflecting praying. Watching the gathered community as they shared in the sacramental bread and wine. Then went and spent time with friends, sharing a simple meal of grilled cheese and soup, after two very young doctors checked me out and said I was okay, though I did receive two or three shots that I was told were strawberry.  Though the older doctor also at one point had taken a chainsaw to me and turned me into food. It was wonderful to see the energy and joy in their faces and to share with them and with their parents. After lunch the older of the doctors, and his dad traveled with me to the store where the tree of us gathered supplies for the church before heading back and retackling the “gigantic pipe.”

We spent some time working on our piping project, which has been an on going process. We learned new skills and gained new insights, but in the end it seems we will have to return at least once more to finalize the project, however it is getting there. Once we concluded and the young doctor, who now had become our assistant, and his dad took off to their home and I went and spent time with another friend. We sat and we talked, we sat and we ate. We stood, ran, jumped and more while attempting to hit yellow balls with rackets over a net… my tennis skills degrading greatly since the last time I had played, and I was a bit loopy by the end… then more time sitting and talking and watching things.

It was a great day. It was a long day. It was a day that went differently in part than planed, but still it was a great day. It was a blessing to find myself open on this day of Resurrection, to be able to see the joy in others and respond. To see the struggles in others and respond. To allow others young, old, and near my age to bless me, to share the peace of Christ with me whether they knew they were doing so or not. It was an amazing day and I realized the need more clearly to be open and allow my friend to truly enter my life and the blessing that transpire when I step out of my shell and allow light to shine in and out of me. May we all be open, and through that openness become healed and more whole, and share the peace of Christ with all whom we encounter.

We were created in community, called into community, by a communal god (the mystery of the trinity, three yet one – “Holy One, Christ, and Spirit”). So let us listen to one another, embrace each others gifts, allow ourselves to be healed as other find healing as well. Let us embrace that sense calling, heal the broken world, and truly live Christ’s peace as Community of Christ…. We are sisters and brothers, we are community, we are many and yet we are one.

Peace be with you all,