Aprilmayjune: A Time for Love
[PART 4]
The date to head south and officially join my ship was creeping up, and I was in a bind.
Shortly before becoming a jet-setting, corporate type (you know, when I couldn’t pay my own rent or keep a job at the homeless shelter), I had volunteered to lead a Lenten Bible study at my church. Now, with multiple sets of plane tickets suddenly booked in my name, I would fail to meet my obligation. I had my friends start praying that God would cover the weeks I’d have to miss.
But the shipbuilding continued to suffer delay… so I was able to serve the group, and see my promise through!
This unlikely turn of fortune meant I was also free -you could say, I was paid- to be at every night of all-church-prayer, and citywide prayer. I got to be there to pray healing over the people within my church, and our many friends without. I anointed, and received anointing with holy oil, joining the pure-hearted in hope-filled prayers.
“This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.”
I was sent briefly to the Sea, with no function other than to “enjoy the cruise”. On those ships, I was astonished to find that there was even a need for me, as a layperson, to host simple worship services onboard. (What?!)
I was able to pray with and for the guests. I was able to pray for the crews. I was able to rest, and take account of all the wild wonder of these past years.
Wow, it sometimes has felt like too much action and awe for one life- my pen can’t keep up! Yet I don’t dare limit God… when I suspect he still wants to show me more.
“But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. For what you have done, I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good. ”
When in late April, one voyage carried me to the Western shores, I was given the priceless gift of quality time with my Godfather, and a soul sister from the East.
Uncle Greg and I indulged in a classic day of San Francisco tourism- swapping travel stories and enjoying all the goofiness of a just-for-fun day.
I wrote Katie to tell her I’d be calling on San Diego’s port. Would she be free to meet up? Could she bring me to church?
She told me with a thrill,
I have been wanting someone to come to church! Wow… God is sending me a friend!
In a chapel bursting with the sun-kissed youth of California, we raised our hands and sang songs of praise at the top of our lungs. Then we spent the whole day, from sunny beach, to twilight garden, telling stories of God’s goodness to us. When we first met, we were fresh-faced, freaky girls, planting egg carton gardens and dancing behind the wheels of unkempt minivans. God had grown us up to the even weirder women we are now.
We have known so much joy.
Back in Boston, after a Friday night time of prayer - past the time when we should have gone home- some women refused to leave, until I let them pray over me- for my roommates, and for my journey ahead.
Mayumi, whose childlike prayers always humble me, pleaded sweetly,
“Loving Father, please, bring Emily back to Boston, and please, bring her back soon, to Park Street Church.”
I thought that prayer was quite strange- considering that my current issue was being so late to leave! Perplexed, but feeling loved, I hurried back to my special family on Webster Street.
We pretended Spring into a series of lazing Summer afternoons: cracking jokes and musing deep, while Roger’s fingers went numb dancing on the guitar. I baked more carrot cakes and gingerbreads and plum confections and pineapple-upside down cakes than you could believe.
Lena and Haley and Kim and I clung hard- making more memories, saying meaningful goodbyes. We were liable to stay up too late, spend too much, and declare our devotion, admiration and undying friendship too many an appropriate number of times.
I think I do big goodbyes more than most. I know as well as anyone that they aren’t forever. Maybe that’s precisely why I love to do them right.
Then, in May, I finally had to tear myself away. It was time for leadership training. I emptied my room, left the key, and shut the door- never to return.
Except…. LOL… 2 days into training, we were told that the boat was still not anywhere near finished. I was sent directly “home”.
Hold on, I need some more space for the laughing
HA
HA HA
HAHAHAHAHAHAH
HA LOL HA HA HA.
HA.
So I went back to the blue house. I rolled up my sleeves, and for days, helped my people to pull off a colossal mansion move-out.
I got to be there to celebrate Tess’ birthday.
I got to help Haley move into a beautiful place of her own.
I got to see a doctor and a dentist…with insurance! Heyyyyyy!
I got to go and celebrate Father’s day with my family in New York- all four of my dad’s children gathered around him.
(That would be the last time.)
I got to spend a carefree day in the city with Dylan, and I got to discover a stupid gorgeous part of America with Lena.
How great is God, to have given all those unexpected moments?
How rich in compassion is he?
“The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; Slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: And his tender mercies are over all his works.”
“Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?”
