The IRS Ring

It smiled at me today from my bedside table -
a little diamond ring placed there before I fell asleep.
In the dim light and through my unfocused eyes
it could have been an insect
or a tiny wad of paper
but then its form grew clearer and drew a smile from me -
14 tiny diamonds forming a flower
that sparkles and shimmers in the light.

Long ago a young pretty woman wore it,
thinking she would marry the man who gave it to her,
the man of her dreams.
Something happened within her
that told her she was making a mistake.
I don't know what it was or who she was.
Her fiancee never understood.
She returned it without a word and they never spoke again.

Years later he gave it to his best friend for her birthday.
She chose it from an assortment of gold rings
and other jewelry that belonged to his mother.
I don't know if she ever wore it.
When the relationship soured, she gave it back.

Now it belongs to me along with all the other jewelry that was his.
I was his final friend.
He died before I rejected him like all those
who had gone before.
I don't think I would have.
I made a promise
to walk with him until the end.
I thought it would be within six months or a year.
Instead it was nine years.

His estate is nearly settled now.
I've turned his taxes into the accountant
and written the checks for estimated taxes due.
He always gave me jewelry when I did that.
So this year I had the ring re-sized
to fit my chubby fingers.
Good Job, Pat!! You've worked hard!!

It sparkles whenever I see it -
a little like the twinkle in his eyes
whenever he saw me.

I miss my friend.
I'm lonelier without him
but grateful for the gifts he brought and taught me
patience
listening
an appreciation for beauty
gentleness
an awareness of suffering people and their issues
and how small acts of kindness
make an enormous difference to people who are hidden away.

I am deeply grateful for the gift of friendship and its legacy
that still sparkles
whenever I place the ring on my finger.

The Aftermath

Easter lingers this morning
the loveliness of it all.
Three days of intense services
Last year it peaked on Maundy Thursday.
This year it was Easter Sunday itself
for me anyway
Surprise flowers garnishing the entryway outside!
I noticed it right away -
the white petunias blooming in an old palm tree stump
lilies trumpeting the news of the resurrection
colorful annuals planted in fresh mulch.

Inside there were roses
extravagant, full gorgeous red roses
to fill the cross.
We sang five great Easter hymns
as people streamed forward
and added their flowers to the chorus
Alleluia!!

I had awakened Easter morning
still in the lingering darkness of Good Friday
but (and this is shocking to me!!)
reading the sermon I labored 12 hours to prepare
encouraged my heart
and I felt new life coming into me.
From then on it was all Easter joy.

Tyler, amazing Tyler, sang yesterday
two songs back to back.
By the time he finished You'll Never Walk Alone
there may not have been a dry eye in the sanctuary.
I was glad my speaking parts were over!

We had worship yesterday at St. Stephen
or I did anyway -
glorious, magical, anointed, Spirit led worship
a fitting climax to a most extraordinary week.

Thank you, God
for your great gift of the resurrection
and for turning my stony heart to flesh
in such wondrous ways.