without ceasing

and this is how we pray
backs nestled into the hammock
faces turned toward the stars
the warm air lifts against us
and we are quiet, quiet
as you, god, speak to us
about how big you are

and this is how we pray
sitting on the leaf strewn ground
peering across the pattern of sun and shade
the clear pool under the giant fig
where the monitor lizard slips through the water
and we whisper our worshipful thanks
again and again

and this is how we pray
standing in the kitchen
speaking out the worries in our minds
telling this perfect parent god
just how small our faith feels
conscious of how sweetly ludicrous
our doubts must appear

and this is how we pray
curled into our duvets
safely tucked in on this wind blown night
thoughts far from here
with our friends who sit in vigil
waiting for a precious life to pass
maybe even tonight

and this is how we pray
with longing
and with hope
with stress
and with joy
with daring
and with simple words

Church Happens

We were round at Per and Mirjam's tonight.

Let's see... I guess we were 8 adults and 8 kids. Accidentally, of course. No one planned it that way. That's who turned up. And the adults were aged mid 20's to mid 40's. The kids were 8-17.

We ate food and hung out. Then 2 guitars, 2 harmonicas, 2 saxophones and 3 djembes came out.

Not sure how to explain what happened next. I remember that we were goofing around and singing "What's love got to do, got to do with it?" And "I'll never fall in love a-g-a-i-n. Oh I'll never fall in love again!"

But it went from that kind of thing into songs that focused us on God. We worshipped.

All the while, everyone was very free. I liked seeing Colin (13) showing Sarah (9) how to play the djembe. I liked that Chase (15) was trying to follow Per on the sax.

I liked that Mirjam had her dog across her lap.

I liked that I lost my voice in the middle of everything because the dogs in the house set off my allergies and I got congested and clogged up.

For some years now, I have been accustomed to church being a family gathering with believers of all ages together to celebrate, most often in a living room or around someone's table. There is a simple focus on Jesus and on hearing from God.

Tonight was the closest thing to what my heart calls church that I have experienced in a long time here in Tanzania.

It put me in such a jolly mood that I sang all the way home in the car with my croaky lost voice just because I sounded so ridiculous. I sang the theme song to the Pippi Longstocking show that I used to watch in Sweden when I was little. Yea, I sang Pippi Longstocking in Swedish all the way home. My kids got a big kick out of that.

Believers gather. We focus on the One we believe in. Church happens.