When I was a child, I was told the stories of my grandparents conversion to Protestantism from Catholicism. They later told me how the Catholic church had been dead, with no life, and no hope.

Seventy Five years later, the world has changed, and many things for the worse, and others for the better. Since 2013 I have followed and read Pope Francis's thoughts and words as well as even more, his actions to show the world that there is another way. His massive empahsis on mercy and compassion, caring for the least of these in Jesus' name impacted me greatly.

Partially, this all touched me more, as in a moment of walking through what my own faith means and what it means to daily practice it, has been in complete upheaval. Those in my past that I thought believed, I have seen through their lives and actions that power was more important that service. That control meant more than compassion and mercy. And that the Gospel to them was correct theology believed, held and preached, not actually walked in, lived and dealt with day and day out.

And in the midst of this moment came a humble man to be pope and say all the opposite things, and live them out. I love that in the first moments of his papacy he snuck out in the middle of the night to pray over NICU babies and serve food to the homeless.

And now, Francis has faded away, and in the flurry of pomp and circumstance, a new pope has been elected. An American, a Chicagoan who has lived much of his life outside of the world he grew up in. And, as someone that has done the same, I identify.

His emotion, his standfastedness, his conviction that the Holy Spirit has chosen him, has given me renewed hope as well as renewed heaviness for what we are all called to do. Love.

Pope Leo has a heavy job. The world is rife in conflict and war and governments that desire power and control and money over taking care of their people. And worse yet, a church, both protestant and catholic that has been convinced, just like many of the disciples that Jesus had, that government and Christian Rule is the answer.

This has been tried, and failed again and again. We have not learned from history's mistakes and have again allowed men and women controlled by their love of money and power to take over.

Because Love is hard. It's sacrificial. It doesn't seek glory or honor. It's quiet. It comes in cassarole dishes and hugs and visits and phone calls and prayers together and parties to celebrate and moments to grieve and heal and cure. It talks with people who are trans, gay, divorced, remarried, single, and never condemns or judges.

It only speaks strongly against those men and women who determine that morality is above law. That money rules above compassion and grace. And that the least of these, are disposible. The immigrant, the poor, the old the sick.

Personally, I am disgusted by many current events. I wonder how we have all gotten there. Especially those in my circle that I thought understood Jesus' teachings.

But due to unfortanatue personal experience, I understand. I have kept quiet for a long time in the public forum. Even here, I refuse to name names and even places. But if you have followed my notes, you know that for our (mine and Andrew's) dogged dedication to love, compassion, mercy and grace, we have been made fun of.

Mocked.

Told we weren't teaching the Gospel.

Ridiculed.

Had funding pulled.

Rejected from places. Asked, in so many polite and not so polite ways, to leave.

But, we continue. We have sat with people in hospitals and their death beds and prayed for peace.

We have sat at wells with women and men unaccepted by the holy people in their societes because they aren't living a "moral"life. And asked them for water.

We have eaten at tables and talked about bread and wine and water, knowing that behind those physical symbols, Jesus wants to show his body and eternal life and water quenching thirst for spiritual renewal.

We have walked miles and miles up and down hills and mountains and along seasides with bread, and fish and explained what faith in Jesus is.

And continue to ask God for His Kingdom to be done, and His work to be done, in a way that shocks us all. 

Today, as I write this, not knowing if anyone else will see it, I sit here crying for a miracle. One that will change the way this world where we live will see God's Holy Spirit moving. Crying out to God, saying you are Holy, make this place Holy.