What a gift to be able to journey with Robin. She was a remarkable woman that radiated love, kindness, compassion, and goodness coming from a deep well. Staying attentive to hope and goodness in the midst of suffering and challenge was precious to me. For over ten months, I journeyed the roads between our small town into the city, to a familiar parking garage at a hospital on the hill. Healthcare workers doing all they could preparing for a heart transplant. Seeing the smiles, tears, and open arms of reception from Robin as she moved in and out of unique levels of care, from the daily rounds to months of cancer treatment. Watching her resilience as she was given the gift of extended life via a heart machine while waiting for the perfect match. She was a trained counselor who allowed me to grow, learn, and develop as I walked this path with her and her children.

Driving to Portland to see her I found Spirit inviting me into a prayer that continues to be life-giving to this day. I would visualize my friend and offer her into the deep love of God. Praying, “God, I offer Robin to you, from her toes to her head, from her left to her right, from her back to her front, from inside out…” This became a centered place for me on those drives as well as being verbalized many times in various rooms holding a hand, listening, sitting in silence, or speaking with boldness in hope.

This offering prayer was a gift spoken on the day I was with Robin’s family as the heart machine slowed, stopped, and stillness mixed with sobbing filled her room. She did not walk out of that hospital on the hill, but left us in that space doing our best to express, to one another, the same compassion and love she modeled. The gift of her life continues to this day as I have prayed this simple prayer not only for Robin and her family, but for my children, Diane my beautiful wife, the Wayside community, countless others, and often my very self. To offer both the good and challenging places to the compassionate Spirit settles me in a moment of slowing down to remember that God is present and active at all times.

When I am tempted to give into anxiety, grasping for control, hopelessness, or frantic effort to fix or to solve, I allow Spirit to call me into the flow of this prayer. I am reminded that I was not in control of Robin, I am not in control of my family, and I am not in control of my very self. Spirit flows deep within and reassures me of love and goodness no matter what. Thank you Robin, for the gift of your life of kindness that continues to ripple out and flow through me and so many others.

Spirit, may we continue to offer ourselves and one another into your love…

            From our toes to our head…

            From our left to our right…

            From our back to our front…

            From inside out…