Category Archives: Friends

May 12, 2015 · 4:25 am

Maui – the shirt

Tricia and I arrived at the time share in Maui where Bruce and Nancy Eng MacNeill met us. After words of greeting, they told me they had a Hawaiian shirt for me.

Shirt and MarkI cringed a bit as I generally don’t like such shirts. But they brought it out and it was awesome.

“It’s an XL,” said Nancy.

“Not sure I can wear that,” I replied.

“It’s cut a bit larger than other XLs,” she responded.

I took the shirt. Tried it on. It fit!

An XL. An XL. A year ago, I would have needed a 3X or 4X.

Much work remains. But I have made progress.

A great shirt from good friends and an XL. Good stuff.

See you around the Trail.

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May 7, 2015 · 10:03 pm

Celebrating Contributions and Enduring Racism: Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month

Grace Ji-Sun Kim reflects on Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

gracejisunkim's avatarGrace Ji-Sun Kim

AAPIMay is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.

I hope that many people will recognize AAPI contributions and also our struggles.  This is my latest Huffington Post, “Celebrating Contributions and Enduring Racism“.

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May 6, 2015 · 11:53 pm

Presbyterians celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

May is Asian Pacific Heritage Month.

My friend the Rev. Laura Mariko Cheifetz is celebrating the month with a series on her blog with guest writers “from many generations, different ethnic groups, and represent the diversity of what it means to be Asian Pacific American and Presbyterian.”

Check it out!

See you along the Trail.

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March 7, 2015 · 6:47 am

Career move?

As the Presbyterian participants in the 59th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women gathered for an orientation, I discovered that I had to hand write two name tags.

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Do I have a career in font design?

See you along the Trail.

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February 14, 2015 · 8:12 pm

Let your mentors know

10898187_10205565343713833_2358578664913363875_nMy mentor and friend, the Rev. Dr. Otis Turner, is having a heart procedure next week. Please hold Otis, his wife Patsy, their family, and his care team in your prayers. It is a procedure he has had in the past and is reasonably simple. But it is his heart; and he is my dear friend.I remembered that today.

Otis worked for racial justice in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), our country and the world for more years than I can remember. He gave himself in the struggle.

Otis and I met while I served on the staff of the Presbytery of the Western Reserve. He was on General Assembly staff.

He quickly became my mentor and we developed a deep friendship that has placed a significant role in my ministry and my life.

Otis recruited me to work on the Facing Racism: In Search of the Beloved Community paper of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). After the General Assembly adopted the paper, I went to Louisville to work on its implementation. With Otis, and others.

For two good, important, life-shaping (for me at least) years, we worked together.Otis retired for health reasons shortly after I moved to the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, but our friendship continued.

When he moved to Florida, we would talk on the phone every couple of months.And then, as it so often does, time slipped away. The time between calls grew longer and then extended to years.

Yesterday I spotted Patsy on Facebook. We became virtual friends. I asked about calling Otis. She said he would welcome a call.

When I called, it was as though no time had passed. Oh, he spoke more slowly and deliberately, but I likely did so as well.

We laughed. Tears welled in my eyes at times, and probably in his.

It was a sacred moment. A moment in which I learned of his upcoming surgery.

I have been praying since. I invite you to join me.

And I encourage you to contact one person who has been a mentor to you and let that person know!

Do it for the love of Otis.

See you along the Trail.

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January 29, 2015 · 12:29 am

The day draws to a close

The day draws to a close,
yet another day
after.

The day draws to a close,
yet another day
without you.

The day draws to a close,
the pain of friends
who grieve at death,
who mourn for the dying,
touches my grief
and sends my spirit flinching
as when a child
pokes an open wound.

The day draws to a close,
the love of friends
who reach out in kindness,
who share their sorrow,
touches my soul
and sends my spirit soaring
as when a bird
rises to the air.

The day draws to a close,
grief and love mingle;
I think of you and ache.
I think of you and smile.

The Shire
Manhattan, New York
28 January 2015

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January 20, 2015 · 11:25 pm

Companions

When the moment comes
and we realize that the fault is,
truly in us and not the stars,
we can but work to put right
what we have done wrong
and trust the community
will rally to our side.

See you along the Trail.

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January 2, 2015 · 10:31 pm

What’s in a name

I am at the Montreat Conference Center in North Carolina for the 2015 College Conference. I took this opportunity to take the photo below.

Some of my friends who know Montreat well wondered if the title of the blog relates to this road.

I confess to knowing about the road before I named the blog. However, the name draws from my understanding of life as a journey, a blossoming interest in walking, and – well take a look at my photo for the final piece of the puzzle.

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By whatever name, see you along the Trail.

 

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December 31, 2014 · 7:51 pm

As the year turns

In terms of self-care, 2014 proved a good year. I am down 80 pounds from my highest weight and 50 pounds from my starting weight when I got serious again in the Spring. I have, however, hit a bit of a plateau over the last three months. Hence, it is time to renew my efforts. Yet again. You can follow my efforts on Steps Along the Trail. My goals have changed a bit. Each day I want to eat well (between 2,000 and 2,200 calories); do 30 minutes of cardio of some sort; and walk for 12,000 steps. I will try to add the stretching exercises my massage therapist wants me to do. I have a couple new wrinkles to provide motivation and jump start this initiative. I have increased my goal for steps. It had been 10,000. I have instituted a reward program for when I meet all three goals for seven days. I have set a goal of running or walking or walking/running a 5K this year. I have signed up to do the virtual 5K to benefit Cutch’s Crew/Pirates Charities. I have set a tentative date of April 11 to do my 5K. I have set up steps challenges with family and friends. Most step wins. In January, the losers will donate $10 to the charity of the winner’s choice. I have resumed using My Fitness Pal to track eating and am using Run Keeper to track my outdoor walking. You can become my friend on either of those if you want to track my progress there. Another wrinkle or two will pop up as the year unfolds. It all starts tomorrow! Wish me luck. And again, feel free to follow. Or not. See you along the Trail.

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November 30, 2014 · 10:03 pm

Purple Flowers, Central Park 14

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Our friend Nancy Eng MacNeill received a liver transplant in May, 2014. As part of her rehabilitation, she trained for a half-marathon with other transplant recipients. Her husband, Bruce joined her. Her children supported her. The half-marathon occurred today.

We could not go to Seattle to watch Nancy and Bruce and Team Transplant. We could not stand and cheer. We could not welcome them at the end of their Half Marathon. So Tricia and I walked in New York. We walked 13.1 miles during the day – not consecutively. But we walked in friendship, in thanksgiving, in hope.

And when we paused in Central Park, we spotted these purple flowers.

Consider signing up to be an organ donor.

30 November
Central Park
Manhattan, New York

 

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