And along the way ...
Well, along the way, my baby daughter got cancer. Twice. And my journey through seminary to ministry took 8 years. And I wept bitter tears over my keyboard. Many of you cried with me. And prayed for us. And taught me as much about community, and love, and God, as anything else in my life.
Before any of that, newly in seminary, I looked around at some of the other great pseudonyms in the UU blogging world -- Philocrites, Errant Frogs, Peacebang, Fausto -- and chose "Lizard Eater," to reflect my status in theological puberty.
My friend and soul brother, the Hysteric Cleric, gifted me with an soul-satisfying slam poem on the occasion of my ordination. He ended it by noting that I was a Lizard Eater no longer.
I chafed a bit at that. And yet, he is right. While I will always be a student, I am a student who has graduated and is taking her place out in the world among the ranks of other ordained Unitarian Universalist ministers.
Little Wren has graduated, too.
Today, we met with her oncologist. She got another report of "NED" - No Evidence of Disease. Everything looks good - kidneys, lungs, developmentally appropriate and then some.
So now, she has been referred to "Long Term Survivor" care. She'll meet with those doctors once a year, they'll keep tabs on her for the rest of her life - keeping us informed of any possible future complications from the chemo or radiation she received. You never get the "You're cured!" announcement, but this is a good milestone. Better that that. Great.
So, Lizard Eater and Little Wren bid you farewell. Thank you for reading, for commenting, for arguing, for praying, for laughing. May you experience the same grand feelings of love that I have felt here.
Amen. I love you. May the spirit of love go with us all.
9 comments:
Thanks be to God for Little Wren's health, for Dr. M. and all those who helped in her healing, including you, The Husband, The Boy, The Princess, and Bo Peep.
And blessings on your ministry, The Reverend Formerly-Known-as-Lizard-Eater. This blog helped us make our initial connection, and even though I was the one who said your Lizard Eater days are now done...I will always be grateful for the Lizard Eater's blog for helping me find my prayer partner, soul sister, and best friend.
You are the beloved. Now go and love the hell out of the world.
It can't have been that many years! But it is, and you are moving on into the calling that has been yours throughout every challenge and joy. At least we can stay in touch via FB!
I am super happy for you and little wren, but I will greatly miss your blog! I can only wish you the best and hope you pop on here just to let us know you all are doing well.
Farewell, Lizard Eater! I have still been following your blog all of these years, since we first connected somehow. Our babies were the exact same age (about a week apart, if I remember right), only your baby had cancer and I was trying to raise my baby after finding out that I had cancer. Somehow, we all made it through. I wish you well, and I hope you'll still stop by my blog from time to time. Love, Cancer Girl
Amen and hallelujah! I'm grateful for the journey you shared with all of us, and so deeply grateful for the new chapters you and your family are now beginning.
Amen! This is wonderful!
you will be missed here, but best wishes on your next steps in the journey
Have often read your blog over the past few years - can't even remember how I stumbled upon it now, but I'm grateful for it. Blessings to you.
Wonderful news to end this chapter with. Best of luck to you in your next chapter -- I hope we get to hear about it.
Post a Comment