There seems to be a slight panic with the change in license requirements coming up. In order to fly around the country, you’ll soon need a new type of license. Either a Real ID and/or Enhanced ID will be required to get through TSA in just a few days.
So the joy-filled lines at the DMV are probably even more joyful I bet.
I went to the DMV a few weeks ago to get this all ironed out. I walked up to the cheery DMV worker and the conversation went like this:
Me: Hi.
CW (Cheery Worker): Hi. What do you need today sir?
Me: Nothing really. I just wanted you to know I’m all set.
CW: If you’re all set, why on earth are you in my line and making me less cheery?
Me: I just heard we needed to get Real ID and I just wanted you to know I have one already. In fact, it’s probably closer to an Enhanced ID.
CW: Do I need to call security sir?
Me: No I actually have security too. It comes with my ID!
CW: (Mumbles to themselves about how many more days until retirement)
Me: Yeah, I’ve got real, enhanced security through my baptismal ID!
CW: Sir, did you just come from a two-hour lunch at Duffs?
Me: Nope. Can you see it? (I press my forehead up against the plexiglass barrier). See? It’s the shape of the cross on my forehead from 53 years ago at St. Luke’s in Valarie NY. Still there, eh?!
CW: Sir, now I have an oily smudge on my window. Maintenance!!!
Me: Those are baptismal oils. Comes with the water. Oh, and the Holy Spirit. And…my spiritual gifts.
CW: You get all that at your baptism?
Me: You bet. Quite the deal.
CW: Well, I’m not sure you’re going to be able to get on planes with it, but it certainly makes you a more “interesting” person. Can you move on now?
Me: Interesting, indeed! Especially in the eyes of God. Interesting. Loved. Secure. Gifted. Yep, I can move on and forward and upward. Glad we got all this worked out!
CW: Glad we did too. NEXT!!!
See, I’m all set. The real, enhanced, secure ID is already in place. And people can still see the smudge of God’s promise.
Do you have your REAL ID yet?
Lord, thanks for the promises of our baptismal ID’s!Still in One Peace, ps
And I don’t mean weather forecast…although better experiences are coming on that front!
Here’s what Jesus’ forecast has in store…stormy conditions coming.
Even during the best time of the week when palms and coats were flying, people wondered and second guessed.
As he readies for a meal of grace, new covenant, new promise, new presence, someone is conspiring and plotting.
When he arrives in the garden to pray and reconnect and breathe and get strength, disciples sleep, swords are drawn and money is exchanged. And a kiss…of betrayal.
But as he enters the city and things are looking the bleakest, at least the government can help out. Until they don’t.
The beatings. The denying. The mocking commences.
The cross is dragged and erected. The nails are pounded. The screams are heard. And yet the criminals are welcomed and forgiven.
And then, the breathing stops. The doubts creep in. The denials speak out. The running away starts. The locking of doors takes place. The ladies do their job.
And they find that the forecast has cleared up. The storms of the tomb are empty.
And at the tail end of Jesus’ forecast this week, better experiences are coming….for our front.
Blessings during the Holy Week forecast.Still in One Peace, ps
ps from ps/pkLuke 22:39-46 – 39 He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”[e]41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me, yet not my will but yours be done.” [[43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. 44 In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.]][f]45 When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”Holy God, sometimes my waking is a prayer. Sometimes the song I have stuck in my head, rumbling around on repeat, is a prayer. Sometimes the way I talk to the children and the way I hug the dog is a prayer. Sometimes the way I take my phone out to get a picture of the sunset or of the people I love—that is a prayer. Other times, prayer is moments like this— heads bowed, eyes closed, hearts quiet for just a moment. And in all of it, I trust you to hear me. Help me to hear you in return. Gratefully we pray, amen. Still in One Peace, ps/pk
John 12:1-8 – 12 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped them[a] with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it[b] so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
God of open doors, We often long to come home to you, to love, and to ourselves, but we aren’t always sure how to get there. We know that we need you, but the road back to you is heavy with distractions. So if we can dare to be so forward, we pray— reach into the cacophony of our hearts and minds and make yourself known. Quiet everything but your Word for us today. Leave us awestruck. Drown out the distractions. Come as thunder or come as a still, small voice; we don’t care which, we just pray that you will come. Turn on the light. Speak through these words. Find the parts of us that are lost. With hope we pray, amen.
ps from ps/pk John 12:1-8 – 12 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped them[a] with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it[b] so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” God of open doors, We often long to come home to you, to love, and to ourselves, but we aren’t always sure how to get there. We know that we need you, but the road back to you is heavy with distractions. So if we can dare to be so forward, we pray— reach into the cacophony of our hearts and minds and make yourself known. Quiet everything but your Word for us today. Leave us awestruck. Drown out the distractions. Come as thunder or come as a still, small voice; we don’t care which, we just pray that you will come. Turn on the light. Speak through these words. Find the parts of us that are lost. With hope we pray, amen. Still in One Peace, ps/pk
Luke 22:39-46 – 39 He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 When he reached the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.”[
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