The question comes from that “sticky” place in us… the place that is longing for connection and grasping a bit at relationship. In the sermon today, Rev. Cari explores that graspy reaching in us, and compares it to two images. First, the painting of Leonardo da Vinci’s on the Sistine Chapel ceiling with God & Adam’s fingers almost touching, and second, a painting in the “Encounter” chapel at Magdala, of the moment in Luke 8:40-56 when the woman reaches for the hem of Jesus’ robe. (See the pdf attachment above with both images.)

If happy is a “state of grace” and not a “privilege” then we can’t squeeze it out of each other. It still has to come as a gift that we receive, and the rightful source is not another human being, but God in Christ.

In a nod to her partner, Rob, on their 29th anniversary, Cari closes the sermon with parts of a poem by Wendell Berry, written for his own life-partner, Tanya Berry.