Speak their names
June 21, 2016 -- "One year ago," Pastor John said on Sunday, "during the sermon I read the list of names of the victims of the shooting in Charleston." This time, in the aftermath of the massacre in Orlando, he wanted help. He had asked Paul and me to share the reading of the names during a prayer after the sermon. I thanked him for the opportunity to do something to help the families of the victims. Lifting their loved ones' names up in prayer was something we could do. After researching and practicing the pronunciation of the names given to me to read on Saturday, I was ready. I speak French, not Spanish, but I tried. I wanted to give the respect of saying these young people's names correctly. That was Sunday. The next day was Monday, yesterday, the longest day of the year. The full moon rose in the sky. Monday evening was also the time that most of our night-blooming cereus bloomed. These glorious, strange blossoms burst out exuberant...