artwork by He Qi by Erin James-Brown As I endeavor to discover more about the last moments of Christ’s life on earth, I am struck with awe and sensitivity at the raw emotions expressed in scripture.  During a dark and sleepy moment – a very human moment – Jesus asks for God to remove the burden of death from him.  I realize, at that moment, Jesus shows signs of fear: fear of pain, death or abuse.  The emotion is real and one with which I can identify.  Yet he finishes his prayer, “Not what I want but what you want.”  The full surrender of life, even unto death, for the sake of God’s will. My life is not as complex in comparison. I realize I’m &#

by Erin James-Brown “The Journey” by Mary Oliver One day you finally knew what you had to do, and began, though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice – though the whole house began to tremble and you felt the old tug at your ankles. “Mend my life!” each voice cried. But you didn’t stop. You knew what you had to do, though the wind pried with its stiff fingers at the very foundations, though their melancholy was terrible. It was already late enough, and a wild night, and the road full of fallen branches and stones. But little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds, and there was a new

by Erin James-Brown Psalm 130 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem. It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities. There cannot be hope without a little bit of fear.  Fear comes from the unknown.