Faith & Equity

"The Great I Am" by Gerald Roulette 

“I Am From” by Tom McLaughlin

I am from my marriage bed,

from coffee cups and laptops.

I am from the Garden of Eden that is my backyard,

and walking barefoot through cool grass and the red door.

I am from the mountain called Tahoma by the Puyallup, and Mt. Rainier by the Whites,

the towering, sap sticky Douglas Fir

whose long limbs I remember

as if they were my own.

I’m from early morning coffee and conversations with Rebecca…and the small McLaughlin bladder,

from Laura Byrne and Tom McLaughlin.

I’m from reading books and learning from history so we don’t repeat it,

and from the arrogance of knowing I know best.

I’m from “You’re not Irish, you’re American, and you should be proud of it,” and “I know you better than you know yourself”

and “Now I lay me down to sleep.”

I’m from speed praying through grace before meals.

I’m from Baltimore, Maryland and the ancient, rebellious, myth-drenched west of Ireland,

from Grammy rolls and chocolate sauce,

from Dad overhearing his financially struggling parents decide to give him away,

and from his fear of trusting his heart to anyone who might abandon him – which is everyone –

from a drawing of that same wounded soul standing beside Bernie Whitebear

hanging in the entrance hall of my childhood home.

I’m from a Church that provided the foundation of my spiritual life, and then knowingly let loose a monster in my body, mind, heart, and soul.

I’m from “What did I just say Yes to?” and “You may not call God Father unless you also call God Mother.”

I’m from the dance of shadow and light, the ebb and flow of the seasons – all of them.

I’m from Love in the giving and receiving

I’m from the ability to reframe the narrative of my every story,

and the weariness of trying to break free from the gravity of my grief.

I’m from the journey from depression to joy to contentment.

I am from a Yes to Love, whispered and spoken and shouted,

lived  day after day, season after season.

From Yes, I am Yes.