Hello Diocese of Spokane!

I pray that you are having a glorious Easter season. I am still in Seattle working on recovering from my lung transplant and working to get stronger every day. It is a journey that has ups and downs, but the key is to keep going. I think about how our life with Christ it is like this. Our call is to keep walking with and trusting in Jesus in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. There have been times over the past six weeks I have not wanted to get off the couch and walk, or even do my seated exercises, but my sister pushed me. She has supported my recovery and pushed me to engage with the work needed to get better. She reminds me of the four friends who helped their paralyzed friend get to Jesus, doing what it takes to help bring healing. This is the power of friendship and community. This is the power of the church. A community that can be both gentle and firm with one another, a community that supports and carries and pushes one another to walk with Jesus, to engage in healing and reconciliation, and bring good news not only to ourselves, but our wider community. I am getting regular visits from members of Diocese of Olympia bringing communion on Sunday, again a great witness to how the wider church community reaches out to those in need. As the church we are called to live in a different way from the ways of the world, a way of love and respect, compassion and mercy, reconciliation, and healing. I find it way easier to live this way in the community of the faithful! And I give thanks for all of you who are showing up and faithfully engaged in the work of our congregations following Jesus in our communities.

I am uplifted by your prayers, it has meant a great deal to me knowing I am in prayers around the diocese, and indeed around the world. All of your cards and the newsprints of notes was overwhelming, and I am grateful for your support and love. I am not currently working, I am concentrating on my own health, and I have complete trust and confidence in the diocesan committees and staff to do the work in front of us. I do look forward to being home! It will probably be another couple of months, the doctors here are very cautious, which is good. In the meantime, please know you are in my daily prayers.

My love to you all,

+Gretchen