Author Archives: Mark Ekstrom

[Jesus prayed] “The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have lovedContinue reading “Closing the Distance”

“You are a light. You are the light. Never let anyone — any person or any force — dampen, dim or diminish your light … Release the need to hate, to harbor division, and the enticement of revenge. Release all bitterness. Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that the battle of good to overcomeContinue reading “Shining Stars or Dim Bulbs?”

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.  (1 Corinthians 13:12) Grace to you and peace. I carry a phone with me literally all the time, but rarely use it to make a call. Continue reading “Who was that Masked Man?”

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”  (Exodus 20) Jesus said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath.”    (Mark 2) I don’t think we should judge the value of our lives by how efficient they are. Haruki Murakami, Novelist It never ceases to amaze me that GodContinue reading “Being There”

If I could have it this way I know I’dI’d wanna live where it’s like todayI’d wanna live where it’s always this wayI wanna live where it’s always Saturday (Guadalcanal Diary) For this is the reason the gospel was proclaimed even to the dead, so that, though they had been judged in the flesh asContinue reading “Always Saturday”

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves…Live the questions now.  Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.” Rainer Marie Rilke, poet Drop the Cadbury’s!  It’s been a long journey through the darkness of Lent and atContinue reading “Living the Questions”

First, how is everyone doing?  I think we’re all suffering from Covid fatigue and the closer we get to the end of the pandemic the worse it seems to get.  But, we need to stay the course.  We’re.  Almost.  There. We may also be suffering from Lenten fatigue.  That chocolate we gave up for LentContinue reading “Suffering and Sacrifice”

How is your Lenten journey going?  Have you been able to find time to be alone with God? This year we are confronted with a different sort of Lent.  Covid-19 has forced us to make changes in pretty much every area of our lives.  Like church.  A few churches have taken a business as usualContinue reading “A Return to Normalcy. Wait. What?”

How is everyone doing this second week of Lent? At least I think we’re in the second week.  I’ve kind of lost track of time.  As I mentioned in my last post, my Lenten journey began with spinal fusion surgery on Ash Wednesday.   Since then I’ve been struggling to keep my days and dates straight. Continue reading “Parts Is Parts!”

“Once a person has a center, all external impressions can find an anchorage there.  Anyone who lacks a center and is uncertain, is thrown off balance by the least impression, grows increasingly uncertain, while the center of the former grows more constant with every impression.” – Carl Jung I found her name in a footnote,Continue reading “Ashes and Prayer”