Loving Choices (03/29/2026)

Yesterday, we celebrated the life of a beloved member of the community. We can’t always control the path in life, but we can control the way we walk it. Yesterday, I was blessed to witness up close the loving choices made by family, friends, and community as they came together for the sole purpose of loving well by walking with the grieving family.

I watched as individuals came to help with the preparations, brought food to share, stood and visited with the family and friends, prayed together and shared their stories. When we needed additional help and additional seating, volunteers were drafted and additional volunteers materialized. The openness that comes with love in moments of need is so real it is almost tangible; it is so real that no one with eyes can miss it.

There were tears but no grumps. There were hugs and there were hopes. There was generosity; there was grace. And I called myself blessed to be in a place where I could witness it all. And it lasted the whole time, even through the clean-up.

Throughout our lives we will find ourselves on paths that we do not choose for ourselves. Today, as we commemorate Palm Sunday and Jesus’ crucifixion and death, we recall His own prayer, knowing what lay ahead, but with love, walking the path according to the will of His Father and the needs of all of humanity. We do not desire the paths we sometimes find ourselves on, but we do control the way we walk them.

As we journey through this integral part of our Lenten journey, through Holy Week, let us recall with loving openness and awe the love of the Father and the Son and the Spirit that combined brought us not just Good Friday but Easter Sunday, not just suffering for others, but life in abundance through loving well and loving long even when the loving brings suffering along the way.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.