Gretchen Rehberg

Celebrate 4th of July with deep listening and love. Explore the theme 'Speak, neighbor, we are listening' and deepen your relationship with God and others.

I hate waiting. I have never been good at it. I prefer to plan, organize, implement and get to work. I prefer structured time frames planned well in advance. So I will admit this is a difficult time for me.

“You need a lung transplant, you are very sick,” the pulmonologist said. “But I don’t feel sick,” I said. For over 20 years, I have had a lung disease that slowly progressed over time in such a way that I could ignore the slow progression and attribute the symptoms to other things.

I have had a number of conversations recently with people who have said that they are living in “existential angst” because of climate change. I have found those words striking. 

Over the years I have pondered the fact that Lent is always part of muddy March. It seems appropriate. As the snow melts the trash along the road becomes visible, then we go through a period of noticing and being frustrated by the mud that covers our vehicles and wish we could wash it off and keep it off.

I sit here today wondering what words I can possibly offer, yet again, to the tragedy of children, killed by another youth using guns, at an elementary school.

While the American justice system has both strengthens and weaknesses, it is not the only standard many of us have for justice.