Greetings Siblings in Christ,

Beautiful spring days have arrived and I’m looking forward to spending time on my patio, working in my garden, and observing the wildlife in my yard. A perfect Sunday afternoon is time spent under the pines, just relaxing on the screened porch and watching the busy critters, listening to the songbirds, and breathing the fragrance of blossoms and budding trees. Feeling God’s closeness in the warm breeze that carries the sounds and scents of spring fills my soul with joy.

 Living next-door to a public park offers a whole other set of interesting observations. Families with little ones gather at the playground while neighborhood youth shoot hoops on the half court. There’s a sand pit for volleyball, but I don’t recall the last time there was a net there. From my solitude on the porch I can hear laughter, shouting, the thud-thud-thudding of the basketball, and sometimes a young person’s shriek or the wailing of a child with a skinned knee or palms (or perhaps resistant to depart).

 May brings Tee ball and Little League games to the baseball diamond, which includes cars parked up and down the street, parents toting camping chairs, lots of children, and frequent picnics held at the small shelter. People frequent the shelter for other gatherings as well - birthday parties and barbecues with friends. The smells of grilled food waft across the park accompanied by the sounds of chatter and laughter.

 A bike path wraps around a nearby lake, through the park, travels along the edge of our yard and into the neighborhood, eventually connecting to the Luce Line Trail. People are frequently on the path either biking or walking, often with dogs. Sometimes the dogs are off-leash to play fetch with frisbees or tennis balls in the park. My dog, Sadie, doesn’t appreciate strangers playing at the park. I, on the other hand, have come to appreciate the energy and diversity of life on the edge. I am curious about the people – who are they, where do they come from? What matters to them?

 I look for opportunities to connect with people, like walking my dog through the park so I can meet the families at the playground or the other dog “parents.” My husband and I ride our electric bikes (mine’s a trike) through the neighborhood and around the lake. We are sometimes asked about the bikes and start up conversations with neighbors we’ve never met. When talking about electric transportation the question, “What matters to you?” finds its way in rather easily!

We can connect with our church friends and neighbors through the monthly third Wednesday Community Cookouts (Triple B!) beginning on May 15th from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm and running through September. Come and listen for what matters to this community!

- In Christ, Deacon Kirsten Kessel