"Fingerprints" (thoughts on the passing of a sister-in-Christ)

My dear friend and sister-in-Christ, Paula Morse, passed away yesterday (3-9-16).  At the time of her diagnosis, she was told that she probably wouldn't see the spring of 2016. The "friend" part of me wanted her to see the Spring again.  For us, it is a visible reminder of resurrection.  As I think about Paula this morning, she has been looking toward and is now in the midst of a Resurrection that would pale the very best of Spring.  Paula was a UMC pastor and a potter ... and one who considered it her greatest ministry to tell others that they were beloved children of God.

FINGERPRINTS

The potter is careful

as she molds and shapes

the vessel that she has

thrown onto the potter’s wheel.

“Let no fingerprints remain,”

she whispers.

“Please, let there be smooth surfaces

and no fingerprints.”

Although never quite perfect,

she tries her best at

shaping a bowl

or molding a congregation

or bringing her own artistry and love

to a friendship.

She is humble

and signs her work

with what she claims

for herself

and what she has to offer

to others ...

“Beloved Child.”

As careful

as this potter might be

in leaving no signs

of her own fingerprints

on her bowls and chalices

and on other works in her life,

it is obvious that

the Master Potter,

joyfully careless

and lavish

and, with a great deal of love,

has left Holy Fingerprints

all over the humble potter

who is the masterpiece

of the Holy One.

How lovely

are the works

of the potter

and of the Master Potter …

one marked

by Perfect Fingerprints

and the other marked

by the perfect beauty

of her attempts.

And look! Both are signed

with the same reminder …

“Beloved Child.”