Rev. Michelle's Message April 10, 2025

I’m sitting here writing this at 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, with only 30 minutes left before my 54th birthday is officially over, and I thought I should impart some of the wisdom gained from my many years on this planet (ha ha ha) while I’m still in a “birthday frame of mind.”

First of all, I’ve had an amazing day, beginning with coffee in bed with my best dog Winnie and my best cat Stevie Wonder, while enjoying the balloons and fresh flowers Paco and Alexander surprised me with (pic below). I enjoyed texts and Facebook messages from family and friends, as well as a long-distance phone call with my dad in Boston.

Next, we went to lunch at Louie Linguini where we sat at that amazing table they have out on the balcony that faces the ocean, enjoying such delightful fruits of the sea as calamari, rock cod, and popcorn shrimp. Then I got myself one of those aqua massages where you lie in this tube-like contraption and your plastic-covered body is pelted with therapeutic streams of water for 15 minutes, until you come out of there a little dizzy and sleepy, but definitely relaxed.

Then, it was off to choir practice at the church, where we practiced our songs for Easter and then celebrated Paulinda’s and my birthdays (both April 9) and Suzanne’s birthday (April 10) with Denise’s homemade brownies and silly glasses (pic below).

Next, we did a little shopping at Kohl’s and finished up the night having dinner at Chili’s at about 9 p.m. I still hadn’t had any proper birthday cake though, so we stopped at Safeway on the way home where I picked up a single piece of birthday cake, which I enjoyed with some coffee before sitting down to write this message. All in all, a fabulous day.

At my ripe old age lol (actually, Deb thought I was 45, which was the best birthday gift I got today), the best wisdom I can come up with is to live each day to the fullest, filling your hours and days with the simple things in life that bring you joy—time in nature, chats with friends, meals with family, lots of snuggles with pets, reading good books, listening to good music, and seeking experiences of awe and wonder. No one on their death bed ever says they wish they had done more household chores or worked more hours at their job. Everyone says they wish they had spent more time with family and friends, doing the things they loved.

Time on this planet is the biggest gift we have been given—time to play, to rest, to fulfill our deepest purpose, to love one another, and to experience everything this human adventure has to offer. My heart is very full today, not because my life is perfect, but because I am alive, I am awake, and I am open to seeing and recognizing the miracles that are taking place all around me.

Today I saw an otter mama and baby rolling and playing in the waves, two pelicans standing together on a rock letting the sun warm their bodies, and small children jumping and playing in the sand. Miracles….miracles all around. I thank God for this beautiful planet and this amazing human experience, and I thank all of you for being my companions on this journey.

All are welcome to join us after the service on Sunday for celebratory homemade enchiladas and cake to keep the party going just a bit longer. Please come and eat, whether you stay for the class or not.

Miraculous Blessings,

Rev. Michelle